Interparliamentary Activities and Reports

On 20 October 2020, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU )hosted a virtual briefing for parliamentarians on “UN processes: Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1) and the UN definition of poverty.” Presenters included former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, Philip Alston, Dr. George Gray Molina from the United Nations Development Programme and Barbara Adams, President of the Global Policy Forum. The panelists presented a critical analysis of how global poverty is being measured by the UN, World Bank and other international policymakers. Discussion also included an evaluation of the state of poverty alleviation around the world, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the steps necessary to make the achievement of SDG 1 – “End poverty in all its forms everywhere” – a reality. The Honourable Kim Pate, Senator, joined the discussion, asking how international poverty reduction efforts can be made relevant to domestic reform initiatives in high-income countries like Canada and whether there were studies which estimated the cost of poverty on economies around the world.

The 12+ Geopolitical Group met to hear from the candidates for the presidency emanating from within its membership and to vote on a consensus candidate. The Hon. Salma Ataullahjan presented her platform and answered questions.

The Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) was represented at this meeting by a delegation composed of the Honourable David McGuinty, P.C., M.P., President of the UIPU and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Executive Committee Vice-President for the 12+ geopolitical Group, the Honourable Salma Ataullahjan, Senator, the Honourable Rob Black, Senator, the Honourable Raymonde Saint-Germain, Senator, Ms. Marilène Gill, M.P., Ms. Iqra Khalid, M.P., Ms. Lindsay Mathyssen, M.P.

The 12+ Group is a collective of 47 IPU member states that caucus together to discuss key issues that will be presented to the Governing Council of the IPU, the Union’s main administrative and policy-making body.

The Political Committee of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) considers policy issues and the rule of law in francophone countries, relations with the institutions of La Francophonie, the APF’s overall priorities, and legal issues concerning its statutes and enforcement provisions. With Senator Dennis Dawson, rapporteur of the Canadian Branch, in attendance, the committee addressed a number of topics. Rapporteurs from the APF’s various committees and networks discussed study subjects and asked member branches to participate, notably through the completion of surveys on their practices in those areas. The committee’s meeting began with an overview of the political situation in each APF member country. The situations in Lebanon and Mali were monitored closely in association with the APF’s democratic vigilance mechanisms. The committee heard from Antoine Michon, Director of Political Affairs and Democratic Governance at the International Organisation internationale de La Francophonie. Senator Dennis Dawson then went on to present his report on the freedom of the press in francophone countries and suggested creating a new francophone organization dedicated to the freedom of the press. Lastly, participants reviewed a draft report on the relationship between the executive and legislative powers in times of crisis, were briefed on the evolution of the death sentence in francophone countries, and considered requests from new APF members. A draft agenda for the committee’s next meeting was adopted.

In the third and final webinar of a series on climate change legislation hosted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law, participants discussed the risks to social stability posed by climate change and the various domestic, regional and international approaches to addressing these risks, including through legislation. The role of parliaments in meeting these challenges was highlighted by presenters, who noted the importance of socio-economic factors in determining the vulnerability of communities to climate change. The webinar included pre-recorded messages from IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong and Vice-President of the German Bundestag Claudia Roth.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association held the second of its CPA High-Level Roundtables with Commonwealth High Commissioners based in London and representatives of Overseas Territories. The newly appointed CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg spoke on the topic of the ‘Working Towards a Common Future’ ahead of #CHOGM2021 and the roundtable also heard from guest panellists, Ms. Yasmin Ratansi, M.P., Chair of CPA Canadian Branch and Her Excellency Rethabile Mokaeane, High Commissioner of Lesotho to the UK.

Meeting of the Network of Women Parliamentarians – October 6, 2020 In 2002, the Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) created the Network of Women Parliamentarians to encourage women to participate more in political, economic, social and cultural life, both at a national level and across all francophone countries. Member of Parliament Marie-France Lalonde attended the videoconference meeting of the Network of Women Parliamentarians of the APF, held October 6, 2020. Parliamentarians from more than 20 APF branches participated. Ms. Lalonde, rapporteur for the Canadian Branch of the APF, presented the report of the Canadian Branch of the APF on cyberviolence against women and children, as well as a proposal for a report by the Canadian Branch on the economic empowerment of francophone women. Rapporteurs from the APF’s various committees and networks discussed study subjects and asked member branches to participate, particularly through answering a survey on their practices in those areas. In addition to these two issues, the parliamentarians discussed a future policy on preventing and addressing harassment within the APF, women’s role in the extractive industries, and women’s contribution to the fight against COVID 19. To conclude, members discussed subjects on the agenda for the Network’s next meeting.