Report

From 12–14 May 2024, Senator David Wells, Vice-Chair of the Canada–Europe Parliamentary Association (CAEU), participated in the 37^th German-Canadian Conference in Berlin, Germany.

While CAEU has not historically participated in the conference, the association executive voted unanimously, on 2 May 2024, to send Senator Wells on its behalf. It did so in recognition of the important role the event plays in strengthening German-Canadian relations and with the caveat that the executive would not support similar activities going forward.

Background on the German-Canadian Conference

The German-Canadian Conference is an annual event organized by Atlantik-Bruecke Canada – a not-for-profit and non-partisan organization dedicated to the development of positive relations between Germany and Canada – and Atlantik-Brücke, its partner organization.

The conference brings together German and Canadian politicians, business leaders, journalists, and academics to discuss areas of mutual concern, such as defence and security, the environment, and innovation.

The 37^th German-Canadian Conference

May 12, 2024

Senator Wells attended an opening reception at the official residence of the Embassy of Canada in Berlin, Germany.

Canada’s Ambassador to Germany, John Horgan, and Germany’s Ambassador to Canada, Sabine Sparwasser, welcomed participants and delivered opening remarks.

May 13, 2024

The conference, which took place at the Canadian embassy in Berlin, began with welcoming remarks by Ambassador Horgan; former German Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Affairs Minister, Sigmar Gabriel; and Nik Nanos, Chief Data Scientist, Nanos Research Corporation, and Chairman of Atlantik-Bruecke Canada.

Senator Wells then attended six sessions:

• Competing for Investment and Talent: Industry Challenges in Canada and Germany;
• Impulse – The Anticipant Organization: Navigating the Digital Future;
• Foreign Information Manipulation in a Globalized Digital World;
• Adapting to New Realities: The Future of Canada-Germany Security Cooperation;
• Sustainability of Global Food Systems: Consequences for Germany and Canada; and
• The Politics of Net Zero: Achieving Ambitious Climate Cooperation in Canada and Germany.

The sessions included the participants listed below.

Moderators:

• Yvonne Denz, President and CEO, Canadian German Chamber of Industry and Commerce;
• Heather Thompson, Programme Manager Digital Democracy, Democracy Reporting International;
• Denise Feldner, Founder and CEO, Bridgehead Advisor; and
• Grant Sprague, Counsel, Blue Rock Law.

Panellists:

• Marc-André Blanchard, Executive Vice-President, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec;
• Nathalie Martin-Hübner, Vice President Governmental Affairs, Robert Bosch GmbH;
• Michael Hüther, Director, German Economic Institute; Vice-Chairman, Atlantik-Brücke;
• Simon Kennedy, Deputy Minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada;
• Major General (ret) David Fraser, Former Commander, NATO Afghanistan South, Director, Open Text Corporation;
• Tom Jenkins, Chair, Open Text Corporation;
• Jean-Christophe Boucher, Associate Professor, University of Calgary;
• Ian Brodie, Professor, University of Calgary;
• Wolfgang Büchner, Deputy Spokesperson, German Federal Government; Deputy Head, Press and Information Office;
• Hanna Katharina Müller, Head of Division Political Systems, Hybrid Threats, Disinformation, German Federal Ministry of the Interior;
• Tjorven Bellmann, Political Director, German Federal Foreign Office;
• Deborah Düring (Alliance 90/The Greens), Member of the Bundestag (German Parliament);
• David Morrison, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Global Affairs Canada;
• Gerd Fleischer, Head, Competence Center Rural Development and Food Security, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit;
• Sebastian Graf von Keyserlingk, Head, Directorate International Cooperation, Global Food Policy, German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture;
• Guillaume Lhermie, Director, Simpson Centre for Food and Agricultural Policy, University of Calgary;
• Maira Kusch, Head of Office, World Energy Council Germany;
• Catherine McKenna, Chair, United Nations High-Level Expert Group on the Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities; and
• Jennifer Lee Morgan, State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Action, German Federal Foreign Office.

Following the sessions, Senator Wells attended a reception hosted by Mr. Nanos and Michael Hüther, Vice-Chair, Atlantik-Brücke.

May 14, 2024

Senator Wells participated in a group site visit to the pharmaceuticals division headquarters of Bayer AG, the German multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, which concluded the conference.

Respectfully submitted,

Francesco Sorbara, MP

President, Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association