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POLITICAL ISSUE WATCH - CAN

Welcome to the Political Issue Watch platform for Canadian issues.

Current issue:

> Proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) and the
> delegation of powers to the World Health Organization (WHO) in the event of a
> global or national pandemic.

The IHR are an instrument of international law that is legally-binding on 196
State Parties, including the 194 WHO Member States. The IHR, in their version
adopted in 2005, have been amended twice – in 2014 and 2022 (the most-recent
amendments will come into force in May 2024). The newest proposed amendments
come in response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. source

Member States of the World Health Organization have agreed to a global process
to draft and negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument
under the Constitution of the World Health Organization to strengthen pandemic
prevention, preparedness and response. The World Health Assembly mandated the
INB to submit its final outcome to the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly in
May 2024. source

Deadline: 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) - May 27th to June 1st, where

 * Proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) will be
   discussed and voted on.
 * The final treaty adoption will take place.

Share your concerns to your MP via this following letter :

Support Form

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 * Summary and Description of the File
 * Purpose of the Research
   * The two active WHO documents
     * IHR
     * Pandemic Treaty
   * The bodies in charge of the process
   * Monitoring of meetings
 * Debates in Canada
   * Questions raised by Leslyne Lewis
   * Letters to MPs
     * Constituencies
       * NB
     * Encouragement to participate
   * Petitions
 * International Entities
   * Debates in other nations

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SUMMARY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE FILE

This document provides an overview of the WHO’s current efforts to develop and
amend key international instruments related to global public health, notably the
International Health Regulations (IHR) and the International Treaty on Pandemic
Prevention, Preparedness, and Response. It highlights key meetings, the entities
in charge, and the important documents associated with these efforts. Moreover,
it emphasizes the importance of public engagement and public debate regarding
these developments. It serves as a tool to maintain national sovereignty in the
face of international pressures to adopt these new legal instruments.

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PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH


THE TWO ACTIVE WHO DOCUMENTS

The following two documents are in the final stretch before their signature in
May 2024. These documents represent crucial components of the World Health
Organization’s (WHO) ongoing efforts to strengthen global health security and
governance. The International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) and the
International Treaty on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response
(Pandemic Treaty) are essential for establishing a framework for international
cooperation and response to public health emergencies. The development and
amendment of these documents involve extensive negotiations and consultations
with member states, reflecting the collective ambition to improve global
preparedness against future pandemics. These efforts underline the importance of
a coordinated international approach to public health threats, focusing on the
need for transparency, equity, and shared responsibility.

IHR

Here is the document showing the amendments; accompanied by comments from the
WHO’s internal committee for change analysis.

 * Reference document: amendment proposals and technical recommendations

PANDEMIC TREATY

The most recent draft document on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and
response:

 * Proposal for the text of the WHO Pandemic Agreement submitted for negotiation


THE BODIES IN CHARGE OF THE PROCESS

 1. For the document International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR):
    * Entity in charge: Working Group on Amendments to the International Health
      Regulations (WGIHR).
    * More information on the WGIHR.
 2. For the document International Treaty on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness,
    and Response (Pandemic Treaty):
    * Entity in charge: Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB).
    * INB information site. Note: this link is translated by google.translate
      since the French version inb.who.int is yet to be found.


MONITORING OF MEETINGS

Visit the page for monitoring the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body responsible
for drafting and negotiating a convention, agreement, or other international WHO
instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.

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DEBATES IN CANADA

Canada’s position on the IHR: Canada and the International Health Regulations
(IHR): Overview. Note: Date modified: 2023-06-29

Canada’s position on the development of the Pandemic Treaty: Canada’s role in
the development of an international pandemic agreement. Note: Date modified:
2024-02-07


QUESTIONS RAISED BY LESLYNE LEWIS

Leslyne Lewis, the MP elected by the counties of Haldimand - Norfolk in Ontario,
has mentioned in the chamber some points related to our cause.

 * Leslyne Lewis’s site:
   * leslynlewismp.ca
 * Counter-article:
   * Leslyn Lewis claims that the WHO’s pandemic pact is a step towards a “world
     government”. Link: www-cbc-ca


LETTERS TO MPS

A letter has been sent to the representatives of the territories below. This
letter aims to highlight the importance of conducting thorough analyses with
democratic support in the context of the legal changes proposed by the efforts
of the WHO and its member countries.

CONSTITUENCIES

NB

Madawaska-Restigouche

 * ❌ Reply from the MP.
 * [?] Clear position affirmed.
   [?] Favorable to the cause.

Tobic-Mactaquac

 * ✅ Reply from the MP.
 * ✅ Clear position affirmed.
   ✅ Favorable to the cause.




ENCOURAGEMENT TO PARTICIPATE

Show your support for the open letter that was put forward to highlight the most
important points on the issue and that was sent to certain MPs.

Note: This communication is in a public format so that everyone can show their
support across the Canadian territory.

See the template of the letter that was sent for the Madawaska-Restigouche
constituency.

Visit the letter details page for more information.


PETITIONS

 * Petition to the House of Commons and Petition to the Government of Canada:
   Citizens are asking that any signature of an international pandemic treaty by
   the WHO be approved by public referendum.

See the notes on Canadian petitions.

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INTERNATIONAL ENTITIES


DEBATES IN OTHER NATIONS

See the debates in the United Kingdom following petitions similar to ours.