I would like to start by pointing out that we are on the ancestral territory of the Mohawk nations. I would also like to take a moment to note that, while we have talked about different situations around the world, we have also recognized and discussed our relationship with Indigenous communities in Canada, and particularly with Indigenous women. We acknowledged the milestone achieved yesterday in the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls as well as on criminal justice mechanisms.
Last year, under Italy’s Presidency, the G7 held the very first Ministerial meeting on gender equality.
This year, Prime Minister Trudeau set a new precedent for the G7 by creating the Gender Equality Advisory Council.
| Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
| speeches
It is my distinct pleasure to speak to you today. I say this for two reasons. One, as the CRTC’s Commissioner for the Atlantic Region, it’s not often that I’m called upon to speak on behalf of the Commission in my own backyard. I was born and raised in New Brunswick—about 90 minutes from here. I have spent my career working in Atlantic Canada. I even rent a cottage each summer just a few blocks away from this hotel, so being here in St. Andrews is like coming home.
Specifically, I will speak about Bill C-79, the legislation before members today to implement the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership – otherwise known as the CPTPP.
As we gather on the territory of Treaty #4 and the homeland of the Metis, it's an honour to bring greetings and good wishes from Prime Minister Trudeau and the Government of Canada.
Canada and Germany have a long history of working together in multilateral institutions. For example, we helped create the International Criminal Court, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. We are allies in the fight against climate change and in our support for the Paris Accord—a fight lent fresh urgency by the fires this summer in Potsdam here in Germany and in British Columbia in my own country.
