28/06/2024 | 11:03:21 Dear colleagues, Earlier this month, on World Environment Day, the United Nations Secretary-General spoke about the climate crisis, emphasising that now “is our moment of truth;” that “tomorrow it will be too late.” Echoing that call to action, I’d like to pay tribute to the rapporteur’s work, which highlights the need to question what kind of environment we’re leaving future generations, and above all, how we can protect them today so that they can have a greener tomorrow. The climate crisis... 27/06/2024 | 19:04:31 Dear colleagues, Like many, I am horrified by the appalling loss of innocent lives caused by indiscriminate attacks by Hamas and the Israeli Defence Forces. Both sides have deliberately and carelessly targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure that all people and nations of conscience must categorically condemn. This must stop immediately. We need a ceasefire now. We need international assistance to the Palestinian civilian population now. We need all hostages and political prisoners... 26/06/2024 | 20:15:47 (Undelivered speech, Rules of Procedure Art. 31.2) Thank you to the Rapporteur for presenting such compelling arguments for the creation of a new mediation process under the auspices of the Council of Europe. I commend his approach: “to look holistically at resolving highly complex matters between States by involving a neutral third party in finding solutions” and try to improve the probabilities of securing greater buy-in from states and victims and of enforcing a peaceful and lasting... 25/06/2024 | 11:24:03 Honourable colleagues, Earlier this year, the Pew Research Center released public opinion data that should alarm us all in this hemicycle. In 11 of 22 countries surveyed, including Canada, research found a significant decline in the share of the public describing representative democracy as a very good way to govern. There were several unsurprising reasons for this. For one, many said that they don’t feel that politicians care what they think. And moreover they don’t feel that anyone is... 22/06/2023 | 20:03:20 (Undelivered speech, Rules of Procedure Art. 31.2) In Ancient Greece, an “Olympic Truce” allowed athletes and spectators to travel to and from the Olympic Games in complete safety. Wars were halted during the Games, creating peace during the period of competition. I believe everyone in this Chamber hopes that this profound spirit might manifest itself today. In its absence, we ask ourselves whether athletes from Russia and Belarus ought to be banned from Olympic participation to express our... 21/06/2023 | 18:37:56 Dear colleagues, In Canada, we believe that diversity is our strength. Newcomers, both migrants and refugees, bring their skills, perspectives, and cultural practices to Canada, benefitting our country as a whole. As Canadians, we can relate with what Mr Domagoj HAJDUKOVIĆ's report highlights: integrating migrants is not only just, but "a long-term investment in human capital," with highly beneficial dividends. I will share with you just a few initiatives taken in Canada that match some of... 20/06/2023 | 19:32:46 Colleagues, It’s a privilege to rise today to discuss a topic that affects us all: public health emergencies and universal approaches to multilateralism and health care. The Covid-19 pandemic showed that infectious disease knows no borders. That’s why global equity in access to health services and therapeutics is crucial. As the rapporteur notes, the pandemic revealed “gross inequities” unfortunately, in access to essential health care supplies and therapeutics. Vaccines against Covid-19... 14/10/2022 | 13:21:00 (Undelivered speech, Rules of Procedure Art. 31.2) Honourable colleagues: As parliamentarians, we must always be sensitive to the potential for discrimination in public policies. In the context of our transition away from pandemic emergency measures to a “new normal” of longer-term public health policies, it is critically important that these policies respect both science and individual rights. Over the past two and a half years, we have collectively lived through one of the largest real-time... 14/10/2022 | 10:44:48 Dear colleagues, It is my pleasure to rise to address a critical and globally relevant issue: the future of work. Although all societies have faced a constant evolution of work practices for centuries, we have seen an accelerated rate of transformation in the last decade, and uniquely over the past two years as a result of the COVID‑19 pandemic. Traditionally, the examination of the future of work has concentrated on its technological aspect. Most recently, this has focussed on how automation... 13/10/2022 | 18:34:35 Honourable colleagues, It is a privilege to rise today to discuss a topic of wide importance: discrimination against women in sports. Rapporteur Ms Edite ESTRELA's report is a powerful call to action to address long-standing fundamental gender bias and discrimination. It brings a special focus on discrimination against particular groups of women including lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women. The report highlights that LBTI women face unique barriers such as a lack of support...