Minutes

The Subcommittee on the Review of Parliament’s involvement with Associations and Recognized Interparliamentary Groups of the Joint Interparliamentary Council met this day in camera at 3:05 p.m., in a hybrid format, the Hon. Dennis Dawson, Senator, and Lianne Rood, M.P., presiding.

Representing the Senate: Hon. Dennis Dawson, Hon. Don Plett and Hon. Raymonde Saint-Germain.

Representing the House of Commons: Marilène Gill, Lindsay Mathyssen, Lianne Rood and Ruby Sahota.

Others present:

From Parliamentary Associations:
Han Dong, M.P., Co-Chair, Canada-China Legislative Association;
Francis Drouin, M.P., Chair, Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie;
Julie Dzerowicz, M.P., Chair, Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association;
Hon. Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P., Director, Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly;
Hon. Stanley Kutcher, Senator, Co-Chair, Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group;
Marie-France Lalonde, M.P., Chair, Canada-France Interparliamentary Association;
Hon. Michael L. MacDonald, Senator, Co-Chair, Canada-United-States Inter-Parliamentary Group;
James Maloney, M.P., Chair, Canada-United Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Association;
Hon. David McGuinty, P.C., M.P., President, Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union;
Hon John McKay, P.C., M.P., Co-Chair, Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group;
Marc Serré, M.P., Chair, Canadian Section of ParlAmericas;
Brenda Shanahan, M.P., Co-Chair, Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association;
Francesco Sorbara, M.P., President, Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association.

From the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate:
Marie-Ève Belzile, Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Exchanges and Protocol;
Julie Geoffrion, Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations, Conferences and Logistics;
Andrew Lauzon, Acting Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations.

From the Library of Parliament:
Laura Barnett, Senior Manager, Human Rights, Immigration and Citizenship;
Nicole Sweeney, Senior Manager, International Affairs;
Jean-Philippe Duguay, Analyst, Human Rights, Immigration and Citizenship.

1. Adoption of minutes:

It was agreed – That the minutes of the meeting of August 10, 2022, be adopted.

2. Roundtable discussion:

The Subcommittee met with representatives of the multilateral associations to discuss the appropriateness of the current mandates and structures of parliamentary associations and interparliamentary groups; ways of increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of activities; reporting requirements, financial management and accountability mechanisms for associations; and the support provided by the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate and the Library of Parliament.

3. Roundtable discussion:

The Subcommittee met with representatives of the bilateral associations to discuss the appropriateness of the current mandates and structures of parliamentary associations and interparliamentary groups; ways of increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of their activities; reporting requirements, financial management and accountability mechanisms; and the support provided by the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate and the Library of Parliament.

4. Subcommittee business:

It was agreed – That the Chairs of the interparliamentary groups, the Chairs of friendship groups seeking to be recognized as parliamentary associations or interparliamentary groups, and representatives of the Interparliamentary and International Affairs Directorate and the Library of Parliament be invited to appear at the next meeting.

At 4:46 p.m., the Subcommittee adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs.

Jeremy LeBlanc

Clerk