ParlAmericas Podcast

Energy security has become an increasingly urgent priority as countries respond to geopolitical uncertainty, supply shocks, changing trade dynamics, and the need for reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy.
In this episode, Dr. Monica Gattinger, Director of the Institute for Science, Society and Policy at the University of Ottawa’s School of Political Studies and Fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, discusses how energy trade can strengthen energy security and how countries can build more resilient energy systems. Her remarks address the importance of regulatory frameworks, infrastructure, public and investor confidence, diversified partnerships, and inclusive energy projects.
The conversation also considers the role of parliamentarians in shaping public understanding of trade, supporting energy cooperation, and helping move regional and international initiatives from dialogue to implementation.
This episode was recorded during the 22nd ParlAmericas Plenary Assembly and 10th Gathering of the Open Parliament Network, titled “Parliamentary Leadership for Shared Prosperity: Advancing Trade, Innovation, and Security in a Changing World,” held in Ottawa, Canada, from May 19 to 22, 2026. Please find the meeting content available at the following link.

Food security in the Americas and the Caribbean is shaped by a complex set of factors, including access to food, food literacy, market opportunities, local production, supply-chain resilience, and regional cooperation.
In this episode, Dr. Jean-Charles Le Vallée, Country Representative in Canada for the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), discusses how agricultural trade can contribute to food security and human security. He reflects on the role of the Americas as a major agricultural region, the importance of supporting farmers and rural communities in accessing markets, and the need to strengthen certification, reliability of supply, and sanitary and phytosanitary standards.
His intervention also explores how parliamentarians can support more resilient food systems by advancing policies that improve market access, promote local economic opportunities, reduce vulnerabilities to supply-chain disruptions, and strengthen cooperation across regional blocs.
This episode was recorded during the 22nd ParlAmericas Plenary Assembly and 10th Gathering of the Open Parliament Network, titled “Parliamentary Leadership for Shared Prosperity: Advancing Trade, Innovation, and Security in a Changing World,” held in Ottawa, Canada, from May 19 to 22, 2026. Please find the meeting content available at the following link.

Small island economies in the Caribbean operate within a trade environment shaped by their size, geographic characteristics, reliance on imports, exposure to climate-related shocks, and strong dependence on sectors such as tourism. At the same time, regional integration and emerging sectors such as the blue, food, and creative economies offer opportunities to strengthen economic resilience.
In this episode, the Honourable Dr. Dessima Williams, President of the Senate of Grenada and Member of the ParlAmericas Council, examines these realities through the experience of the Caribbean. She discusses the role of regional integration, the consequences that changes in international trade arrangements can have for small economies, and the importance of flexibility and diversification in responding to economic vulnerability.
Her intervention also considers the role of parliaments in helping to shape trade systems that strengthen resilience and distribute benefits more equitably. She highlights the importance of investment and training, particularly for women and rural communities, and of expanding economic opportunities in ways that support more inclusive and resilient development.
This episode was recorded during the 22nd ParlAmericas Plenary Assembly and 10th Gathering of the Open Parliament Network, titled “Parliamentary Leadership for Shared Prosperity: Advancing Trade, Innovation, and Security in a Changing World,” held in Ottawa, Canada, from May 19 to 22, 2026. Please find the meeting content available at the following link.

Las transformaciones tecnológicas, la reconfiguración de las cadenas globales de valor y los cambios en el comercio internacional exigen que los parlamentos desarrollen nuevas capacidades para legislar con una visión de largo plazo. En este contexto, las Comisiones de Futuro están emergiendo como una innovación parlamentaria que fortalece la capacidad de anticipar tendencias, identificar riesgos y aprovechar oportunidades en escenarios cada vez más dinámicos.

En este episodio escuchará al diputado Rodrigo Goñi, presidente de la Cámara de Representantes del Uruguay, quien comparte la experiencia de la Comisión de Futuro del Parlamento uruguayo y reflexiona sobre el valor de la gobernanza anticipatoria para fortalecer la labor legislativa. Su intervención destaca la necesidad de complementar los mecanismos parlamentarios tradicionales con espacios que promuevan la creatividad, el pensamiento prospectivo y la incorporación sistemática de evidencia, así como del conocimiento proveniente de la ciudadanía, el sector privado y otros actores clave.

La conversación también explora cómo estas innovaciones institucionales pueden contribuir a una participación parlamentaria más efectiva en materia de comercio internacional y parlamento abierto, permitiendo que las legislaturas respondan con mayor agilidad a un entorno global en constante transformación y fortalezcan la confianza ciudadana en las instituciones democráticas.

Este episodio fue grabado durante la 22ª Asamblea Plenaria de ParlAmericas y el 10º Encuentro de la Red de Parlamento Abierto, titulados “Liderazgo parlamentario para la prosperidad compartida: promoviendo el comercio, la innovación y la seguridad en un mundo en transformación”, celebrados en Ottawa, Canadá, del 19 al 22 de mayo de 2026. Por favor, consulte el contenido de la reunión en el siguiente enlace.

Trade can create economic opportunities, but its benefits are not always distributed equitably. Inclusive and gender-responsive trade policy seeks to address these imbalances by considering how trade rules and outcomes affect women, Indigenous Peoples, small and medium-sized enterprises, and other underrepresented groups.

In this episode, Dr. Judit Fabian, visiting researcher at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa, fellow of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, and founding member of the World Trade Organization Gender Research Hub, examines Canada’s experience incorporating gender equality into trade policy.

Her intervention outlines several policy tools, including Gender-based Analysis Plus, dedicated gender chapters and provisions in trade agreements, and the gradual use of soft-law approaches to introduce, test, and strengthen inclusive trade measures. She also reflects on Canada’s longer-term policy development in this area and the importance of maintaining progress across changes in government.

The episode also looks at regional mechanisms that support cooperation on trade and gender, including the Global Trade and Gender Arrangement and the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity. These examples demonstrate how collaboration across countries and policy forums can contribute to trade systems that are more inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to inequality.

This episode was recorded during the 22nd ParlAmericas Plenary Assembly and 10th Gathering of the Open Parliament Network, titled “Parliamentary Leadership for Shared Prosperity: Advancing Trade, Innovation, and Security in a Changing World,” held in Ottawa, Canada, from May 19 to 22, 2026. Please find the meeting content available at the following link.