CPC News Bulletin writer Ms Rajaa Azzakani spoke with CPC delegates about several issues.
Asked about inclusive governance, the Speaker of Canada’s Yukon Legislative Assembly, Ms Yvonne Clarke, said inclusive governance starts with ensuring Indigenous people are part of government decision-making.
“We cannot operate in silos. We have to be partners with Indigenous people, First Nations,” she said. Ms Clarke said she believes this approach is particularly important as Yukon confronts serious challenges, including addiction, substance abuse and mental health problems. She said addressing these issues requires government to work directly with communities and ensure that policies respond to their realities.
Ms Clarke said the 69th CPC provides an important opportunity to learn from how other parliaments are tackling similar challenges. “We get an opportunity to learn what others are doing in their parliaments and vice versa,” said Ms Clarke.
She intends to take those lessons back to Yukon, particularly around policies and programmes supporting Indigenous communities, women, youth and adolescents. But translating ideas into action requires political commitment and adequate resources. Ms Clarke stressed that governments must ensure that budgets are available to support programmes aimed at vulnerable communities.
She is also realistic about the pace of government, acknowledging that meaningful change will not happen overnight. However, she believes parliamentarians can help drive progress by identifying policies that need to change or improve.
For Ms Clarke, the value of parliamentary cooperation lies in exchanging practical experience. The challenges facing communities may differ across the Commonwealth, but learning from one another can help Parliaments find better ways to respond. She said governments cannot work in isolation. Lasting solutions require partnership, listening and ensuring that the people most affected have a voice in the decisions that shape their lives.
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