OTTAWA, May 6, 2019 /CNW/ - Creating more open, transparent and inclusive democracies in an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world is the challenge being taken up by the Open Government Partnership as Canada co-chairs this international organization of 79 countries and 20 sub-national governments.
From May 29 to 31, Canada will play host to the world at the 2019 Open Government Partnership Global Summit in Ottawa, a gathering of global thought leaders and key government ministers from Canada and its fellow OGP member countries.
Confirmed speakers include the Honourable Joyce Murray, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality, and the Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Democratic Institutions.
The ministers will be joined by Sanjay Pradhan, CEO of the Open Government Partnership, Mary Robinson, former United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights and former President of Ireland, Halla Tómasdóttir, CEO of The B Team, and Blanca Ovelar, Senator of Paraguay and President of the ParlAmericas Open Parliament Network. Other speakers will be announced shortly.
Canada is currently the lead government chair of the Open Government Partnership, sharing this role with civil society partner Nathaniel Heller, Executive Vice President of Results for Development. In this capacity, Canada is focusing on better collaboration between governments and citizens through 3 themes: inclusion, participation, and impact.
Summit sessions will explore open government from a range of perspectives, while acknowledging the changing environment created by an increasingly digitally connected world. The opening plenary will discuss how an engaged citizenry requires safe civic spaces for healthy debate. Other plenary sessions will explore the shifting geopolitics of democracies, how governments can be more inclusive and inviting to women and underrepresented groups, and how open government policies are having tangible impacts.
The summit is free and open to the public, but seating is limited, so anyone wishing to attend must register on the official website. Many of the summit's main sessions will be livestreamed.
Registered delegates, civil society, media, and speakers currently represent over 130 countries.
Quote
"Advancing the legitimacy and trust of our open democracies has become a global preoccupation in the digital age. Hundreds of proposals from countries worldwide have helped shape the direction of this Open Government Partnership summit, and we've worked hard with civil society to create an agenda that is both timely and beneficial to Canadians and the international community."
- The Honourable Joyce Murray, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government
Quick Facts
- Canada is hosting this 6th summit, following the 5th summit in Georgia.
- Over 2,000 people are expected at the summit that will be held at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa.
- Over 700 proposals for sessions were submitted from over 90 countries and reviewed by TBS, OGP and civil society.
- A final agenda will be released in advance of the summit.
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SOURCE Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
(media) Farees Nathoo, Media Relations, Office of the President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government, 613-369-3170; Media Relations, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Telephone: 613-369-9400, Toll-free: 1-855-TBS-9-SCT (1-855-827-9728), TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired): 613-369-9371, Email: [email protected]
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