Interparliamentary Activities and Reports

On 5 April 2023, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) hosted a web dialogue entitled “Dialogue on Future Generations” organized by Ms. Farah Karimi (the Netherlands), OSCE PA Special Representative on Youth Engagement, and Mr. Askar Shakirov (Kazakhstan), OSCE PA Vice-President and Special Representative on Sustainable Development Goals. Opening remarks were delivered by Ms. Karmini and Mr. Shakirov, followed by remarks by Ms. Margareta Cederfelt, OSCE PA President and Ambassador Yoka Brandt, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations. Participants then heard presentations by Mr. Thomas Hale, Professor of Global Public Policy at the University of Oxford, Ms. Cat Zuzarte Tully, Director of the School of International Futures, and Mr. Jacob Ellis, Lead Change Maker in the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales.

During the open debate, several OSCE PA members took the floor to discuss ways to ensure the safety and wellbeing of future generations in the context of current and emerging challenges, and to bring increased political attention to the issues they face. The Canadian parliamentarians who participated in the meeting were Mr. Dave Epp, Member of Parliament (M.P.), Mr. Earl Dreeshen, M.P., Ms. Andréanne Larouche, M.P., and Mr. Philip Lawrence, M.P.

The biannual meetings between the Canadian and French groups are the Association’s core activity. They enable parliamentarians to discuss subjects of common interest from differing points of view prompted by the unique political dynamics of Canada and France. The outcomes of the dialogue can then be relayed by members to their respective parliaments and governments. The last annual meeting in Canada (Vancouver and Whistler, British Colombia) took place in October 2022.

The Bureau of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly is composed of the President, five Vice-Presidents, the Treasurer, and the Secretary General. It meets three times per year prior to the Standing Committee meetings and can hold additional meetings if deemed necessary.

The Bureau’s main function is to ensure the overall guidance and coherence of the Assembly’s policies and activities in the interval between meetings of the Standing Committee; it also acts as the “first responder” when internal or external events require a decision or statement by the Assembly.

The Standing Committee is the Assembly’s governing body. It consists of one member from each member country (normally the Head of delegation). Each delegation can also appoint one non-voting alternate member. However, each country is only given one vote.

The Standing Committee performs a wide range of both political and administrative tasks. It determines the rights and obligations of non-member delegations and evaluates applications for non-member status which, if approved, are forwarded for the consideration of the full Assembly. It coordinates the overall work of the Assembly: it must approve all planned meetings and provides guidance to the committees on the treatment of subjects to avoid duplication and ensure that the overall work of the Assembly is coordinated. The Standing Committee also serves as the Assembly’s finance committee.

On 21 March 2023, two Canadian parliamentarians participated virtually in the 64th ParlAmericas Board of Directors Meeting. The participants were Marc Serré, MP, Chair of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas, Canada’s representative on ParlAmericas’ Board of Directors and Chair of the ParlAmericas Corporation Board of Directors; and Senator Rosa Galvez, Vice-Chair of the Canadian Section and Treasurer of the ParlAmericas Corporation.

The International Secretariat provided introductory remarks, followed by an update from Paraguayan Senator Blanca Ovelar, President of ParlAmericas. Mr. Serré acted as a moderator and guided participants through the agenda. The Board approved the report from the 63rd Board of Directors meeting and Senator Galvez presented the organization’s proposed budget for 2023–2024, which was approved along with the 2023–2024 workplan. The Board discussed business related to the ParlAmericas corporation. Finally, the International Secretariat provided an update on current work and priorities, as well as details related to the upcoming 7th Gathering of the Open Parliament Network, planned for April 2023.

The 2023 Westminster Seminar on Parliamentary Practice and Procedure organized by the United Kingdom Branch of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association gathered 65 parliamentarians and clerks from every region of the Commonwealth to exchange ideas and build knowledge around topics relevant to Westminster-style democracies.