Interparliamentary Activities and Reports

The Geneva Center for Security Sector Governance (DCAF), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), and the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) co-hosted a webinar on the gendered dimensions of defence spending. The event was part of a series of webinars organized by DCAF, UN Women and ODIHR to explore emerging gender and security issues. The Honourable Dr. Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P., head of the Canadian delegation to the OSCE PA and the OSCE PA Special Representative on Gender Issues, participated as a panelist. Among other points, she spoke about the need for diverse and inclusive parliaments to ensure that gender perspectives are integrated into parliamentary oversight of the defence sector. She also highlighted the role of parliaments in supporting the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

The Can/Am BTA is a coalition of businesses, public-sector organizations and individuals with an interest in bilateral trade and tourism. Its mission is to maximize commercial activity and ensure the continued growth of cross-border trade, as well as improving border-crossing capabilities. The Can/Am BTA holds two meetings each year: a spring meeting in Ottawa, Ontario, and a fall meeting in Washington, D.C. This year, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Can/Am BTA is holding its meeting virtually.

On December 3, 2021, two Canadian parliamentarians participated virtually in the 58th Meeting of ParlAmericas’ Board of Directors. The participants were: Marc G. Serré, M.P., Chair of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM), Member of ParlAmericas’ Board of Directors (North America) and Chair of the ParlAmericas Corporation; and the Honourable Rosa Galvez, Senator, Vice-Chair of CPAM, President of ParlAmericas’ Parliamentary Network on Climate Change (PPCC), 2nd Vice-President of ParlAmericas’ Board of Directors and Treasurer of the ParlAmericas Corporation.

The meeting was chaired by Bridgid Annisette-George, Vice-President of ParlAmericas’ Board of Directors and Speaker of Trinidad and Tobago’s House of Representatives. Speaker Annisette-George provided updates on ParlAmericas’ recent and upcoming activities, and welcomed two new Board members: Claudel Francis, Speaker of St. Lucia’s Senate; and Veronica Camino Farjat, a member of Mexico’s Senate and President of ParlAmericas’ Parliamentary Network for Gender Equality (PNGE). During the discussion of corporate business, Mr. Serré provided the report of the Corporate Board of Directors, and, as Treasurer of the ParlAmericas Corporation, Senator Galvez explained the annual audit.

Speaker Annisette-George summarized the first two sessions of ParlAmericas’ 18th Plenary Assembly, which had been held virtually in recent weeks, and reviewed the draft declaration on the topic of “rebuilding the social contract” which the participants approved at the final plenary session the following week. ParlAmericas’ International Secretariat then provided information about the upcoming Board of Director elections on December 10, 2021.

Finally, Javiera Vega, from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, made a presentation to Board members about how parliamentarians in Latin America and the Caribbean are working to combat hunger through the Parliamentary Front Against Hunger.

Her Excellency Susannah Goshko, recently appointed British High Commissioner to Canada, invited the Canada–United Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Association (RUUK) Executive Committee to attend an informal reception at her residence on 2 December 2021. Ms. Goshko opened the event by underscoring the important relationship between Canada and the United Kingdom (U.K.) and by sharing her priorities for her term as High Commissioner. In his reply, RUUK chair, the Honourable John McKay, P.C., MP, welcomed the High Commissioner to her new role and highlighted areas of mutual interest for Canada and the U.K. A wide-ranging discussion in which all delegates participated followed.

On December 2, 2021 the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) hosted a virtual workshop entitled How NHRIs [National Human Rights Institutions] and Parliaments can Protect and Promote Disability Rights. The objective of the workshop was to discuss the role of NHRIs and Parliaments in protecting and promoting the rights of Commonwealth citizens with disabilities. The session consisted of a series of presentations by the following panelists:

• The Honourable Dennitah Ghati, Member of the National Assembly of Kenya and Chairperson of Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities

• Caroline Waters OBE, Deputy Chair of the UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission

• The Honourable Eugene Mussolini M.P., Member of the Rwandan Chamber of Deputies for Persons with Disabilities

• Richard Rieser, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Disabled Person's Forum

• Bonface Massah, Commissioner, Malawi Human Rights Commission

The presenters took turns sharing initiatives undertaken by NHRIs and Parliaments within their jurisdictions to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities. They also discussed some of the challenges faced by persons with disabilities within their countries during the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken by NHRIs and Parliaments to mitigate them. During their presentations and the question-and-answer portion of the workshop, the panelists stressed the importance on both the signing and implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The workshop was attended by the following member of the Canadian Branch of the CPA: the Honourable Chantal Petitclerc, Senator.

In recent years the hemisphere has been witnessing growing social discontent, which has manifested in social mobilizations and protests in several countries as well as general citizen distrust of institutions. In addition, the health and socioeconomic crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the already glaring inequalities in the Americas and the Caribbean. In the face of this complex panorama, civil society and youth organizations have challenged governing institutions with demands that insist on the rebuilding of the social contract.

This session offered parliamentarians the opportunity to hold dialogue with representatives of civil society and youth about their visions, expectations, and proposals to rebuild the social contract under democratic and inclusive paradigms.

For more information, see the report: Report of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas