Interparliamentary Activities and Reports

The meeting was attended by the Honourable Senators Jim Munson, Co-Chair; Salma Ataullahjan; René Cormier; Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia; and MPs Sven Spengemann, Co-Chair; Rob Oliphant; Terry Duguid, Yasmin Ratansi; and Gabriel Ste-Marie. First, they welcomed the Chargé d’affaires and a Minister representing the Kenya High Commission in Canada, who discussed current affairs in Kenya and answered questions from parliamentarians. Then, the President of the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business and the Chair of its Board of Directors introduced the organization by discussing its mission and activities in Canada and Africa. They also spoke with parliamentarians about co-operation opportunities between parliamentarians and the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business’ members. Lastly, the President of the Kigali Council on Foreign Relations made a presentation about his organization and discussed its mandate, activities and interest in Canada, as well as its role in Africa and other regions of the world regarding current major international issues.

On April 7, 2021, the Hon. Salma Ataullahjan, Senator, the Hon. Kim Pate, Senator, Ms. Iqra Khalid, MP, and Ms. Yasmin Ratansi, MP, attended a meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on women’s economic empowerment during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Ataullahjan highlighted that Canadian women have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. She also noted that the Government of Canada recently launched a “Feminist Response and Recovery Fund” to support women and girls impacted by this crisis. For her part, Ms. Khalid explained that the pandemic raises questions of physical and financial security for women.

During the meeting, Canadian delegates were able to hear from and exchange with parliamentarians from Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Ireland, Cyprus, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Madagascar, Seychelles, Montenegro, and Fiji. Panellists from the World Economic Forum, UN Women, Oxfam Great Britain and the Equal Pay International Coalition also made presentations. Panellists and parliamentarians discussed the unique ways in which this global crisis is affecting women and girls, as well as the various measures that have been taken – or that need to be taken – by governments.

This meeting was the first of a series entitled “Inter-Parliamentary Dialogue on Gender-Responsive Recovery Post COVID-19.”

The Executive Committee of the Canadian Branch of the CPA meets at least twice per year, among others to direct and manage the affairs and budget of the association. The committee is made up of a number of senators and MPs reflecting the proportionate share of the operating budget of the Branch as contributed by the Senate and the House of Commons, respectively. Committee members are elected at the CPA’s General Assembly. The Hon. Emilia Monjowa Lifaka, Chairperson of the CPA International Executive Committee, and Stephen Twigg, CPA Secretary General, attended this virtual meeting.

The Sub-committee on Open Parliament held its fourth virtual meeting and discussed its objectives and activities.

MP Leona Alleslev, a rapporteur for this committee, participated in a virtual visit to Germany, together with the Honorable Vernon White, Senator and MP Cheryl Gallant. The meeting was divided into two panels: the first addressed biological weapons and biosecurity, and the second addressed outer space. An informal discussion followed on the committee’s upcoming activities, scheduled to take place in France and Japan, which will be subject to the public safety measures in place at those times.

Mr. Scott Simms, M.P., President, CAEU; the Hon. David Wells, Senator; the Hon. Percy Downe, Senator; the Hon. Larry Bagnell, M.P.; the Hon. James Maloney, M.P.; Mr. Stéphane Bergeron, M.P. and Mr. Don Davies, M.P. , participated, despite connectively issues , in a videoconference call with the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Canada (D-CA). D-CA participants included Ms. Stéphanie Yon-Courtin, (Chair, France), Mr. Javier Moreno Sánchez (Vice-Chair, Spain), Ms. Sandra Kalniete (Latvia) and Mr. Javier Zarzalejos (Spain). Professor Leah West from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and Mr. Lutz Gueller, Head of Strategic Communications for the European External Action Service, were also present. The meeting began with an exchange of views on the cooperation between Canada and the European Union (EU) in addressing foreign interference and disinformation, and how social media can be regulated. Professor West outlined Canadian actions in these areas, while Mr. Gueller described European efforts. On behalf of the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation, Mr. Zarzalejos (Vice-President) and Ms. Kalniete (Rapporteur) shared some of the early findings of the committee. Other topics of discussion included recent developments in Canada–EU political and economic relations, such as the export of COVID-19 vaccines, the COVAX initiative for global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, and the need for transparent public procurement. Participants also discussed the recent work done by the Joint Committee of the Canada–European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement on March 25, 2021.