The Global Council for Political Renewal

On Tuesday April 5, 2022 I spoke on a Member's statement about the Global Council for Political Renewal, an organization which I and others have been involved in founding. My comments are below.

Global Council for Political Renewal

Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, March 31st was a significant day. Elected politicians representing countries around the globe signed off on a constitution and executive for a new organization: the Global Council for Political Renewal.

It is an organization which is badly needed. It will focus on promoting and improving ethics in politics; on promoting human rights and relieving human suffering through engagement; on promoting social, environmental and economic justice through policy dialogue; on promoting global peace through diplomacy; and on advancing human development through research, education and training.

The president of the organization is Bridget Masango, a South African Democratic Alliance politician with extensive international experience who served as the shadow minister of social development in South Africa since October 2015.

We're well aware, in Manitoba, that there's a need for political reform. Our Speaker, herself, wrote recently to all MLAs to say: The lack of decorum and attacks in the House have been noticed. The public deserves better.

Improvements are also needed to Manitoba's conflict of interest legislation, particularly so with allegations of problems occurring almost daily.

The situations in Afghanistan and Ukraine speak to the importance of emphasizing human rights and achieving peace. The climate crisis speaks to the need for politicians around the world to work together to achieve environmental improvements and equitable development. The emphasis on research and education is needed for progress on all fronts.

I thank Dr. Nurul Mozumder from Bristol, England, whose family background is from Bangladesh, for his work on ethics and politics and his initiative and perseverance in the establishment of the Global Council for Political Renewal.

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