Interparliamentary Activities and Reports

The following members of the association participated in the activity: The Honourable Jim Munson, Senator (Co-Chair), The Honourable Salma Ataullahjan, Senator (Vice-Chair), The Honourable René Cormier, Senator (Vice-Chair), Mr. Sven Spengemann, M.P. (Co-Chair), Mr. Greg Fergus, M.P. (Vice-Chair), Ms. Heather McPherson, M.P. (Vice Chair), Ms. Yasmin Ratansi, M.P. (Counsellor). Representatives from Global Affairs Canada provided an update about the overall current situation in Africa with regards to COVID-19 and other political, economic and social regional issues related to countries such as : Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Mali and other countries. The update was followed by a session of questions and answers. Senior representatives from the Parliamentary Centre offered a presentation about its mission, projects and initiatives as well as opportunities for engagement with parliamentarians. The presentation was followed by a discussion with parliamentarians.

On 17 and 18 February, a delegation from the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) participated in the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) Annual Parliamentary Hearing at the United Nations. Held in a virtual format for the first time, the theme of this year’s annual hearing was Fighting corruption to restore trust in government and improve development prospects. Senator Salma Ataullahjan, Senator Marilou McPhedran, Hon. David McGuinty, PC, MP, Ms. Marilène Gill, MP, and Ms. Stephanie Kusie, MP participated in the event .

The hearing included remarks by United Nations General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir, and IPU President, Duarte Pacheco, as well as a video address from United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres. The keynote speech, entitled How corruption undermines democracy and development: the need for parliamentary engagement, was delivered by Ms. Delia Ferreira Rubio, Chair of the Board of Transparency International. During a panel on gender-sensitive anti-corruption policies, Senator McPhedran made a statement highlighting gender parity in the Senate of Canada and gender-sensitive aspects of the Government of Canada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as best practices and asked panelists about the role of gender quotas for members of parliaments in the fight against corruption.

During a panel on key anti-corruption measures, Senator Ataullahjan asked panelists how anti-corruption measures can be better designed to facilitate effective enforcement and implementation and Mr. McGuinty highlighted the effectiveness of imposing targeted sanctions against corrupt foreign officials, such as through Canada’s Sergei Magnitsky Law.

On February 16, 2021, members of the Canada–France Inter-Parliamentary Association (CAFR) Executive Committee attended a virtual meeting with the French ambassador, Kareen Rispal, and other members of the French diplomatic corps. Representing the CAFR were its Chair, Marie France Lalonde, MP, and two Vice-Chairs, the Honourable Senator René Cormier, and Jacques Gourde, MP. The other Executive Committee members in attendance were senators Jean Guy Dagenais and Pierre Dalphond, and Steven Blaney, MP.

The Ambassador began by providing an overview of the relationship between Canada and France, noting that the relationship is excellent, but that trade between the two countries could be increased. The Ambassador went on to discuss the COVID-19 situation in France and the measures taken by the French government to contain the health crisis and stimulate the economy. Members of the Executive were given the opportunity to ask questions. The discussion then moved on to the role the digital sector will play in France’s economic revitalization plan, as well as possible areas of collaboration between France and Canada in this regard. Other topics of discussion were the French tax on digital companies, the French presidential election coming up in 2022, domestic and international terrorism, France’s relationship with China and ideas for potential partnerships between different regions of France and Canada. Lastly, the issue of protectionism as it relates to the Canada–European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and vaccine supply was raised.

The Honourable David McGuinty, P.C., M.P., President of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Executive Committee Vice-President for the Twelve Plus geopolitical group, and Sven Spengemann, M.P., member of the Bureau of the IPU Committee on Democracy and Human Rights, were invited to an informal virtual meeting of the Twelve Plus Group’s Steering Committee on 15 February 2021. They joined other delegates from Belgium, France, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom who also hold offices on the four standing committees of the IPU. Arda Gerkens (Netherlands) chaired the meeting, her first since being elected to the position by the Twelve Plus Group membership on 26 October 2020. Attendees were briefed on developments at the IPU’s recent Executive Committee meetings. They also discussed various administrative matters in anticipation of future decision-making meetings of the geopolitical group.

The Twelve Plus Group is a collective of 47 IPU member states that caucus together to discuss key issues and coordinate action regarding IPU matters.

Canada as a whole makes up one of the regions of the CPA, and its 14 branches correspond to the provincial and territorial legislative assemblies and the federal Parliament. Within the Canadian region, legislators can take part in a wide range of exchange programs, conferences and seminars. The Canadian region also has its own publication, Canadian Parliamentary Review. The Regional Council is the decision-making body for the Canadian region. Ms. Yasmin Ratansi, M.P., Chair of the Canadian Branch, is a member of the Regional Council.

The Honourable Vernon White, Senator, attended the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council (UNIC) meeting on February 8, 2021. The Council meets twice a year to discuss issues concerning both Ukraine and NATO. The latest edition was an opportunity to discuss Ukraine’s political situation and recent developments to allow for constructive exchanges between the various NATO member countries and to reiterate their support for the Ukrainian people.