On March 31st 2015, the Chair of the Canadian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (CAPPD) MP Rathika Sitsabaiesan submitted a question to the Order Paper. The question (in full below) requested an update on spending within the context of the Muskoka Initiative on maternal, new born and child health, with a specific focus on family planning and reproductive health care.

June 8, 2015

The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A2

Dear Hon. Mr. Nicholson,   I write to you on behalf of the Canadian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (CAPPD), an all-party parliamentary association that works to advance issues related to population, health, women’s empowerment and development. CAPPD is made up of members from the House of Commons and the Senate, representing all major political parties.

The Canadian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (CAPPD) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM). The AGM was well attended by CAPPD members representing all major federal political parties and both the House of Commons and the Senate and included discussion of amendments to CAPPD’s constitution, elections to the 2015-2016 Executive Committee and a special presentation from Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development, Lois Brown.

From April 16 to 17 2015, CAPPD members Isabell Morin (MP – Notre-Dame-de-Grâce-Lachine) and Alexandrine Latendresse (MP – Louis-Saint-Laurent) attended the annual G7/G20 parliamentarians conference which took place in Berlin, Germany. Hosted by the German All Party Parliamentarians’ Group on Population and Development, in collaboration with European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development and DSW (Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung), the conference took place in the lead up to the G7 Summit taking place this June.

From April 16-17, CAPPD members Alexandrine Latendresse and Isabelle Morin will attend the annual G7/G20 parliamentarians conference taking place in Berlin, Germany. The conference is hosted by the German All Party Parliamentarians’ Group on Population and Development, in collaboration with European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development and DSW (Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung).

In 2014, the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE) began its study on the ‘Protection of Children and Youth in Developing Countries.’ The Study is examining the role Canada can play in the protection of children and youth; with a focus on the prevention of human trafficking, early and forced marriage, the sex trade, female genital mutilation and the online abuse of children.

The 59th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women came to an end Friday, March 20th. In New York for the session was CAPPD’s Vice-Chair, Mylène Freeman, who took the opportunity to meet with representatives from Canada’s Permanent Mission to the UN, civil society partners and UN agencies, including the United Nations Population Fund. Ms. Freeman was also invited to participate in a closed-door rountable discussion on Measuring Progress for Adolescent Girls: A Discussion on Post-2015 Indicators, hosted by the Girl Declaration Joint Advocacy Group.