Opening session of the G7 Speakers’ meeting

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Honourable Speakers,

Distinguished guests,

Mesdames et Messieurs,

Thank you, Elder McGregor, for welcoming us to this space. We are grateful to come together on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg people.

I’m honoured to welcome you to the opening session of the 23rd Meeting of the Speakers of the Lower Houses of the G7.

Thank you for making the journey to Canada and for your commitment to this forum.  

I would like to begin by offering Chairman Stefanchuk and all Ukrainian parliamentarians our condolences over the recent assassination of Andriy Parubiy, the former Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada. As we will discuss during our meetings today, acts of political violence such as this one have no place in any society.

I would also like to recognize the immense courage that you, Chairman Stefanchuk, and all the Ukrainian people have shown in the face of Russian aggression. On behalf of the Speakers of the lower houses of the G7, let me reiterate the enduring G7 commitment to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and to assist in bringing about a comprehensive, just and lasting end to the war. We stand with the Ukrainian people.

As President of the G7 this year, Canada has been proud to showcase the geographic, cultural and linguistic diversity of our country. From the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in my home province of Quebec to the Leaders’ Summit and Finance Ministers’ Meeting in Alberta, we have sought to highlight and celebrate the Canadian mosaic on the international stage.

Today’s summit, held on the traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation, marks an important milestone in Canada’s presidency of the G7. Here, in the small community of Chelsea, we can bask in the splendour of Quebec’s great outdoors just minutes away from the Parliament of Canada, the heart of our nation’s democracy.

This location, Willson House, overlooks Meech Lake and has been the site of many important meetings. In 1987, the late former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney convened a meeting of provincial premiers here with the purpose of hammering out a constitutional agreement. His goal, by choosing this location, was to bring decision makers away from their advisors and other officials, so that there could be frank discussions and eventually consensus. Those discussions led to what is known today as the Meech Lake Accord. I will let you delve on your own into modern Canadian history to discover the fate of that accord.

But let me just say that I share the same hopeful optimism of the former prime minister, that by bringing you here, to this beautiful and peaceful setting, we have set the stage for candid discussions on how we, as Speakers and presidents of our respective assemblies, can help position the G7 to tackle some of the significant challenges facing democracy today.

Together, in the face of an increasingly unpredictable global order, we must work harder and recommit to democratic ideals and principles, including to free and fair elections, political checks and balances, respect for human rights, and a steadfast commitment to the rule of law.

Today’s working sessions will give us a chance to carefully consider three of the major challenges we face in our role as legislators, speakers and presiding officers, namely: to tackle online disinformation and the threat it poses to democracy; to foster respectful debate within the lower houses and beyond; and to protect parliamentarians from violence of every kind.

These themes reflect a social and geopolitical landscape that has become more complex and divisive in recent years. They also focus our attention on an essential task: to preserve the democratic space and protect a culture where truth and dialogue prevail over fear and deception.

During our meetings, I look forward to a frank exchange of ideas about how we—as Speakers—can facilitate this dialogue to encourage political consensus, while reducing polarization within our respective legislative chambers yet always encouraging robust debate.

Thank you for travelling the distance to Canada once again.

I look forward to our discussions and to strengthening our partnership and our friendships during this summit.

And now, let’s get started.