Regional Councils

OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, was established as an intergovernmental organization during the Baghdad Conference in 1960, with five founding members. The organization, headquartered in Vienna, Austria, is dedicated to co-ordinating and unifying petroleum resources among its member countries, to ensure an efficient economic supply of oil around the world. With common objectives, OPEC hopes to secure a stable price for producers, resulting in a fair return on capital investments in the industry. Additionally, OPEC has had a rich history in promoting national control and development of oil fields, guaranteeing permanent sovereignty in its 1968 ‘Declaratory Statement of Petroleum Policy in Member Countries.’ Membership to OPEC has increased significantly since founding, with 12 members in agreement in 2022.

As a governmental organization, OPEC’s member and non-member states send delegations to the organization, aimed at securing their country’s interest, while improving relationships with other nations, and creating a positive global image. Each delegate within VIHSMUN’s OPEC committee will represent a delegation from a member or non-member observer state, and they will debate for their nation’s values, while collaborating with others, creating realistic solutions to combat real-world problems.

OPEC is a regional organization ‘council,’ responsible for maintaining the global oil supply chain. Intermediate to advanced delegates looking for intense debate around this subject, and realistic problem solving, are encouraged to consider OPEC for VIHSMUN 2027.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries follows standard Model UN procedure, with delegates engaging in moderated and unmoderated caucuses, with an emphasis on the drafting and passing of resolution ‘working’ papers.

Largely unregulated, global oil prices continue to descend into instability. Many factors, including conflict in the middle east, lack of environmental concern, and the increase of domestic production in non-member states contribute to the unreliability of OPEC in the present era. With no future sign of halting usage of petroleum, OPEC countries are forced to continue their oil production, even with significant barriers in terms of transportation and differing regulations. Additionally, nations around the world rely heavily on certain oil producing countries, a reliance that has been proven to be threatened in times of conflict. Maintaining steady prices during conflict is essential to the effective operation of services, as well as the profits of oil producers. While diversifying trade partners has been effective in certain scenarios, it can often lead to disproportionate pricing and supply chain issues. This topic will challenge delegates to introduce innovative solutions, which will be put to the test in debate.

While OPEC’s influence upon founding and into the years that followed was undeniable, recent oil booms in foreign non-member states, and the global urge to diversify trading partners, has made many member-nations wary of the organization’s actual power that exists. Furthermore, some countries, like the UAE, a major global oil producer, have already left the committee. The departure of key allies further complicates the control that OPEC has over its resources and governmental decisions. With little ability to set definitive oil prices, the economy of the industry could rapidly fluctuate, deepening concern for investors and customers. OPEC delegates at VIHSMUN must work together to retain control of the global oil market, introducing multipartisan policies that are effective in terms of price control.

The Canadian House of Commons traces its roots back to Canadian Confederation in 1867 with the passage of the British North America Act that established the nation as a dominion within the British Empire. Modelled after the Westminster system, the House of Commons has since developed into a central institution for Canadian Democracy. In the status quo, the House of Commons serves as the lower house of Parliament, responsible for debating and passing legislation, approving budgets, and holding the Prime Minister and his government in vigorous questioning and scrutiny. The Canadian House of Commons remains the centerpiece within Canadian political life, embodying the democratic will of the people.

Unlike the typical MUN committee, the Canadian House of Commons will pursue a distinct set of rules of procedure. Delegates are expected to engage in party politics and represent the perspectives of Canadian constituencies, participate in questioning periods, and perform the essential duties of a Member of Parliament.

The HOC is an intermediate committee that offers a dynamic and engaging experience for delegates with an interest in Canadian politics and a parliamentary form of debate.

The Canadian House of Commons follows its own rules of procedure for the first half of committee sessions, modelled after the real Standing Orders of the House of Commons. During the second half of VIHSMUN scheduled committee sessions, crisis procedures will be used. Due to the nature of the committee, HOC crisis procedure may be slightly different than other crisis committees. The dais will explain all rules of procedure in committee sessions to ensure all delegates are in common understanding. Delegates in the Canadian House of Commons at VIHSMUN must submit special position papers known as a Private Member’s Resolution (PMR). The VIHSMUN PMR guide will be linked closer to VIHSMUN 2027’s start date.

In a time when Canada’s economic situation can regress and improve any day, the uncertainty regarding our country’s future is transparent in the current geopolitical state of the world. While it is clear that prioritizing the wellbeing of our own citizens is important, Canada recognizes that facilitating the growth of foreign economies through investment can have a significant impact on both Canada’s domestic economy in the short term, and the country’s reputation as a humane power on the world stage. The question remains, should Canada’s parliament explicitly serve domestic interests through intra-national investment into large Canadian corporations, or should the central government focus on maintaining a more recognized global stance, guaranteeing a standard of living for both Canadians and human beings around the world? Does ‘Canada Strong’ refer only to strong domestic production, or does it promote the vision of Canada as a global hub of equity and opportunity, while fostering mutually beneficial relationships between close allies? How will Canada go about this journey while respecting the culture of our people and their traditions, recognizing their similarities to those all around the world?

The House of Commons will initially be responsible for amending a proposed bill, formed by merging individual delegate PMRs in a bipartisan matter. The final, post-amendment bill created after hours of debate, will include the exact processes in which the Canadian House of Common shall take to enact their theoretical law.

After voting on the bill, the committee will enter an unknown crisis scenario, where delegates must navigate their roles within the parliament to mutually resolve the crisis. Like a crisis committee, each delegate will be given roles and responsibilities by the dais, and it is their job to ensure they are able to effectively share and debate their opinions with the committee. The crisis will last for the entirety of the second half of VIHSMUN committee sessions, longer than any other non-crisis committees. Delegates will not be informed about the topic of the crisis they must handle beforehand, and they are not permitted to research or use technology during committee deliberations. Instead, delegates are expected to research their MPs thoroughly, so that they have a general understanding regarding the potential stances of their characters in the given crisis scenario. The House of Commons Committee is a good choice for delegates who want to experience a longer crisis scenario, but feel they are not ready for the more advanced dedicated crisis committees.