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The parliamentary delegation of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF), which attended the APF bureau meeting in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) on July 4, 2011 and the XXXVIIth session of the APF, also held in Kinshasa from July 5 to 8, 2011, is honoured to present its report. The delegation was led by the Hon. Andrée Champagne, Senator and President of the Canadian Branch, and included the following parliamentarians: the Hon. Pierre De Bané, Senator; the Hon. Rose-Marie Losier-Cool, Senator; Shelly Glover, MP; and Louis Plamondon, MP. Accompanying the delegation were François Michaud, Branch Association Secretary, and Jean-Luc Bourdages, analyst with the Library of Parliament. The following branches were represented at the XXXVIIth session: Belgium/ Francophone Community/Wallonia-Brussels, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Central African Economic and Monetary Union (CEMAC), Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Georgia, Greece, Haiti, Jura, Luxembourg, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Switzerland, Togo, Vanuatu, Vaud and Vietnam. Bureau business Senators Andrée Champagne, Vice-President of the APF, Rose-Marie-Losier-Cool, Chair of the Women’s Parliamentary Network, and Pierre De Bané, Chair of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee, attended the Bureau meeting. The APF Bureau meeting was held in Kinshasa on July 4, 2011, and was chaired by Jacques Chagnon, President of the Quebec National Assembly and President of the APF, following the resignation of Yvon Vaillières. Opening of Bureau meeting Evariste Boshab, President of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), opened the meeting with a brief address of welcome to Bureau members. He highlighted the progress made by the DRC in recent years during what he called "this difficult phase for a post-conflict State". After adopting the minutes from the meeting held in Quebec City on January 31 and February 1, 2011, Bureau members expressed their support for lifting the suspension of the Niger Branch and for conferring observer status to the Forum des francophones du Parlement européen. The Parliamentary Secretary General’s activity report was tabled by Henriette Martinez, Member (France), in place of Senator Jacques Legendre. This comprehensive report covered such topics as APF participation in international meetings, the activities of the general secretariat, interparliamentary cooperation programs, the APF’s role in promoting democracy, and various internal matters. The Hon. Andrée Champagne, Vice-President of the APF and President of the Canadian Branch, commented on the timely submission of working documents and suggested that a minimum of 72 hours be required in the future. Committee Business André Schneider, Member (France) and Chair of the Political Committee, presented his committee's activity report. Didier Berberat, State Councillor (Switzerland), presented the report for the Education, Communication and Cultural Affairs committee, which he chairs, and the report of the Parliamentary Network to fight AIDS/HIV, which falls under his committee. The Hon. Senator Pierre De Bané (Canada), Chair of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee, reported on his committee’s work. Lastly, Mahama Sawadogo, Member of the National Assembly (Burkina Faso), and Chair of the Cooperation and Development Committee, presented his report. Reports from regional chargés de mission France Gélinas, MPP (Ontario), representing Jean-Marc Lalonde, MPP (Ontario), the chargé de mission for the America Region, presented the region’s activity report. Mahama Sawadogo, Member (Burkina Faso) and Ngo Quang Xuan, Member (Vietnam), both acting chargés de mission, presented the reports from the Africa Region and the Asia-Pacific Region respectively. Jean-Paul Wahl Member (Belgium/Francophone Community/Wallonia-Brussels) and regional chargé de mission, presented the report from the Europe Region. Follow-up on the work of the APF’s Women’s Parliamentary Network The Hon. Rose-Marie Losier-Cool, Senator (Canada) and Chair of the Women’s Parliamentary Network, presented her activity report. In the report, she mentioned her participation in a regional seminar in Ouagadougou whose theme was "Legislating against violence against women and girls: the role of parliaments and parliamentarians in Central and West Africa". Treasurer’s report on the 2010 financial statements and the amended 2011 budget Michel Wolter, Member (Luxembourg) and Treasurer, presented his report. Following discussion, the Bureau approved the 2010 financial statements and the amended 2011 budget. With the adoption of the report, and pursuant to section 20.10 of the regulations, the Guinea-Bissau Branch ceased to be a member of the APF. Interparliamentary cooperation programs Representing the Parliamentary Secretary General, Henriette Martinez reviewed the APF’s cooperation programs. She stated that the Noria program, designed primarily to help upgrade parliamentary information systems in legislatures in the southern hemisphere, is one of the APF's major cooperative activities involving member parliaments. She also discussed internship programs, seminars, election observers’ missions and the Parlement francophone des jeunes (PFJ), the Francophone youth parliament. Bureau positions President Chagnon informed Bureau members that the General Secretariat had received nominations from the regional assemblies for Bureau positions. He moved that the Bureau approve the candidates for the various Bureau positions in advance. President: Roch Marc Christian KABORE, President of the National Assembly – Burkina Faso First Vice-President: Andrée CHAMPAGNE, Senator - Canada Vice-Presidents: - Évariste BOSHAB, President of the National Assembly – Democratic Republic of Congo - Mathurin COFFI NAGO, President of the National Assembly - Benin - Jacques CHAGNON, President of the National Assembly – Quebec - Christian DUPONT, Member - Belgium/Francophone Community/Wallonia-Brussels - Henriette MARTINEZ, Member - France Treasurer: Michel WOLTER, Member - Luxembourg Members: - Pontien NIYONGABO, Vice-President of the National Assembly – Burundi - Hilarion ETONG, First Vice-President of the National Assembly - Cameroon - André BURRI, Member - Jura - Adbdelouahed RADI, President of the National Assembly - Morocco - Michel SAMSON, MLA - Nova Scotia - Mamadou SECK, President of the National Assembly – Senegal - André BUGNON, National Councillor - Switzerland Regional chargés de mission: Africa Region: Salvador Yaméogo, Member - Burkina Faso America Region: Yvon Bonenfant, MLA – New Brunswick Asia Pacific Region: Koukeo Akhamountry, Member - Laos Europe Region: Jean-Paul Wahl, Member - Belgium/Francophone Community/Wallonia-Brussels Other Business As the result of a proposal made by the Hon. Andrée Champagne, President of the Canadian Branch, the Bureau decided to no longer use the questionnaires sent to branches in the preparation of committee and network reports. As the result of a comment made by the Hon. Andrée Champagne, President of the Canadian Branch, the Bureau decided to provide branches that wish to do so the opportunity to pay support fees higher than the basic amount. As the result of a proposal made by the Hon. Rose-Marie Losier-Cool, Senator (Canada) and Chair of the Women’s Parliamentary Network, the Bureau decided to amend the schedule of the sessions to allow women parliamentarians in the Bureau to be able to take part in the Bureau’s theme day. . Ordre de la Pléiade The Bureau met as a Council of the Order and adopted the list of nominations submitted by several branches, including the Canadian Branch. For more details on this meeting, please visit: http://apf-francophonie.org/IMG/pdf/2011_Bureau_Kinshasa_CR.pdf Network of Women Parliamentarians The APF Network of Women Parliamentarians met in Kinshasa on July 5, 2011. The Hon. Rose-Marie Losier-Cool (Canada) chaired the meeting. Following approval of the draft agenda and minutes from the meeting held in Dakar on July 5, 2010, Senator Losier-Cool delivered her report as chair. The Network heard presentations from Marie-Ange Lukiana Mufwankol, the Congolese Minister of Gender and Family, and from Rachel Boketa, representing UN Women. Stéphanie Vallée, MNA (Quebec) and one of the Network’s rapporteurs presented her follow-up report on "Women’s Economic Empowerment". Joséphine Nze Mouenidiambou, Member (Gabon) and another of the Network’s rapporteurs, presented her report on "Human Trafficking". Stéphanie Vallée then presented her preliminary report on the follow-up to the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women together with a report on the follow-up in Burkina Faso by Mariam Marie-Gisèle Guigma Diasso, Member, and Canada’s report presented by France Gélinas, MPP (Ontario). France Gélinas, MPP (Ontario) presented her report on making the term “droits de l’homme" gender neutral. Her report was adopted and Ms. Gélinas was authorized to continue her research. Following discussion, members of the Network decided to ask the Secretary General of the Francophonie a question about rape as weapon of war. Shelly Glover, MP, and Vice-President of the Canadian Branch, commented on Canada’s actions to combat rape as a weapon of war in the DRC. For more information on this meeting, please visit: http://apf-francophonie.org/spip.php?article134 Parliamentary Affairs Committee The Hon. Pierre De Bané, Senator (Canada), chaired the meeting of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee held in Kinshasa on July 6 and 7, 2011. Following adoption of the agenda and the record of decisions from the Clermont-Ferrand meeting, Senator De Bané delivered the chairman's report Sylvie Roy, MNA (Quebec), and Blaise Lambert Kyelem, Member (Burkina Faso), presented a report on political nomadism. Martine Bondo, Senator (Gabon), presented her report on interparliamentary cooperation. Fatiha Layadi, Member (Morocco) presented her report entitled “Parliament, Press, Media and Democratization”. The Hon. Pierre De Bané, Senator (Canada) and Chair of the committee, presented the document entitled "Legislative assemblies in the francophone sphere: procedures and practices". Louis Vlavonou, Member (Benin), presented his report on discrimination and free and transparent elections. Ndéye Gaye Cissé, Member (Senegal), presented her report on human rights, religion and parity. Committee members reviewed the follow-up reports on interparliamentary cooperation programs: election observation missions, parliamentary seminars and internships, the Noria program, the Francophone youth parliament and national youth parliaments. As a former participant and spokesperson, Anne Soisson provided a lively testimonial to the Francophone youth parliament. Chairman De Bané reminded participants that, under section 12.4 of the APF’s regulations, each committee must elect its officers during the session, for a mandate that ends at the end of the second session following their election. The regional Assemblies had considered their nominees, whom he submitted to the committee for approval. The America Region proposed the reappointment of Senator Pierre De Bané as Chairman of the committee. For the two Vice-Chair positions, the Europe Region proposed Michele André (France) and the Africa Region proposed Martine Bondo (Gabon). For the four rapporteur positions, the Europe Region proposed Jean-Claude Maene (Belgium/Francophone community/Wallonia-Brussels), the Africa Region proposed Martin Balikwisha Nyonyo (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Louis Vlavonou (Benin) and the America Region proposed Sylvie Roy (Quebec). The proposals were accepted. For more information on this meeting, please visit: http://apf-francophonie.org/IMG/pdf/2011_comparl_Kinshasa_CR.pdf Political Committee A meeting of the Political Committee was held in Kinshasa on July 6 and 7, 2011 and chaired by André Schneider, Member (France). Following adoption of the agenda and the record of decisions from the Liège meeting, Mr. Schneider delivered the chairman's report. Henri-François Gautrin, MNA (Quebec) presented a report on the institution of the ombudsman in the francophone world. Shelly Glover, MP (Canada), presented a report on natural resources and conflicts. This is a complex and sensitive issue on a number of levels; it has a direct impact on the daily lives of millions of people, many of whom live in the countries of the Francophonie. The issue includes situations in which people living near or working on natural resource operations see their human rights compromised. This brings with it discontent and unrest, including violent conflicts between factions that are generally inside a country or on its borders. The main resources and industries principally affected are oil, mining (diamonds, gold, tin and coltan), and forestry. But agricultural products (cacao and coffee) can also be involved. The UN Secretary General for human rights and multinationals is very interested in this issue. Wherever natural resource extraction projects are carried out, governments and the national and multinational companies involved have a responsibility to implement and comply with the appropriate governance mechanisms. The Canadian mining industry is very active beyond our borders, with many companies developing some of the largest deposits around the world, particularly in Africa and South America. Two private member’s bills have been introduced in the House of Commons regarding the corporate social responsibility of Canadian extraction companies working abroad. The preliminary report was adopted. Denise Mekamne, Member (Gabon), presented a report on political situations in the Francophone world. Resolutions were passed about the following countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Syria, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Haiti, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and the Sahelo-Saharan zone. The committee decided to submit a proposal to the Plenary Session (Kinshasa, July 2011) to suspend the Syria Branch. Françoise Fassiaux-Looten, Member (Belgium/Francophone Community/Wallonia-Brussels), presented a report on demographic challenges in the 21st century. Regional Assemblies made their nominations for Chairman Schneider to submit for committee approval. The Europe Region proposed the reappointment of André Schneider as Chairman of the committee. For the two Vice-Chair positions, the America Region proposed Henri-François Gautrin (Quebec) and the Africa Region proposed Alioune Souaré (Senegal). For the four rapporteur positions, the Europe Region proposed Françoise Fassiaux-Looten (Belgium/Francophone Community/Wallonia-Brussels), the Africa Region proposed Denise Mekamne (Gabon), the America Region proposed Bernard Trottier (Canada) and Henri-François Gautrin (Quebec). The proposals were adopted. For more information on this meeting, please visit: http://apf-francophonie.org/spip.php?article442 Cooperation and Development Committee The Cooperation and Development Committee met in Kinshasa on July 6 and 7, 2011, chaired by Mahama Sawadogo, Member (Burkina Faso). Following adoption of the agenda and the record of decisions from the Phnom Penh meeting, Mr. Sawadogo delivered the chairman's report. Étienne Alingué, Director of Sustainable Development and Solidarity at the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, gave a presentation on sectors of the economy and sustainable development in the Francophonie. Specifically, he described the Francophonie’s involvement in making submissions to the G8 and G20, the key points from the Conference on the Least Developed Countries, recently held in Istanbul, innovations in finance, the effectiveness of aid, and the OIF’s support for target communities as a factor in achieving sustainability in local development. Jean Pierre Dufau, Member (France), presented a report on economic partnership agreements. Ouali Diawara, Member (Mali), and Patrick Dupriez, Member (Belgium/Francohone Community/Wallonia-Brussels), presented a report on the security of land titles in the francophone world. The report dealt with the first steps into the topic and with regulating land titles from the perspective of food sovereignty. Louis Plamondon, Member (Canada), presented a follow-up report on the Ouagadougou summit and described the background to this issue, which the committee deals with on an ongoing basis. The report provided an overview of the programming of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) and its main agent on the matter, the Institut de l’énergie et de l’environnement de la Francophonie (IEPF). The report explored issues such as biodiversity, ways to enhance the synergy between parliamentarians, governments and nongovernmental organizations as a way to maximize the Francophonie’s contributions to sustainable development, the political visibility of the IEPF’s activities, and national sustainable development strategies. The report concluded by stating that the committee must continue its consideration of the action required at the Rio+20 conference, and its work on the IEPF objectives. Mahama Sawadogo, Member (Burkina Faso), and Germain Chevarie, MNA (Quebec), presented a follow-up report on trade negotiations conducted under the auspices of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Alioune Souaré, Member (Senegal), presented a report on biodiversity. Regional Assemblies put forward their nominations for Chairman Sawadogo to submit for committee approval. The Africa Region proposed Joseph Ndong (Senegal) as Chairman of the committee. For the two Vice-Chair positions, the America Region proposed Germain Chevarie (Quebec) and the Africa Region proposed Boris Mbuku Laka (DRC). For the rapporteur positions, the Europe Region proposed Jean-Pierre Dufau (France) and the Africa Region proposed Bernard Ateawung Foju (Cameroon). The proposals were adopted. Education, Communication and Cultural Affairs Commitee The Education, Communication and Cultural Affairs Committee met in Kinshasa on July 6 and 7, 2011, chaired by Didier Berberat, State Councillor (Switzerland). Following the adoption of the agenda and the minutes from the meeting held in Quebec City, Chairman Berberat delivered the chairman's activity report. Dr. Omar Ndoye, Member (Senegal) and committee rapporteur for HIV/AIDS presented his activity report. Representing the Val d’Aoste Branch, Dr. Ndoye presented a report on EVRAS (education on relationships, and emotional and sexual life) for girls and boys as a weapon in the fight against HIV. Jacques Ki Boureima, Secretary General of the Conférence des ministres de l'Éducation des pays ayant le français en partage (CONFEMEN) made a presentation on the second millenium goal, which focuses on education. Anne Laure Folly-Reimann, the head of UNESCO’s Kinshasa office, reported on the recent UNESCO report entitled "The Hidden Crisis: Armed Conflict and Education". Yvon Fontaine, Chairman of the Board of the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), Bernard Cerquiglini, Rector of the AUF, and Alain Ondoua, AUF Regional Director for Central Africa and the Great Lakes Region, made a presentation on AUF. Established in 1961, the organization operates in the Francophonie and has 780 members in 84 countries, which provide 95% of its funding. Jean-Pierre Cuq, President of the Fédération internationale des professeurs de français, made a presentation on his federation. Gilles Robert, MNA (Quebec), provided a summary of a follow-up report on the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and on the Inter-Parliamentary Conference on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. Regional Assemblies put forward their nominations for Chairman Berberat to submit for committee approval. The Europe Region proposed the reappointment of Didier Berberat as Chairman of the committee. For the Education Subcommittee, the Europe Region proposed the reappointment of Alberto Cerise (Val d’Aoste) as Chairman of the Committee. For the two Vice-Chair positions, the Europe Region proposed René Dozière (France) and the Africa Region proposed Ibrahima Lanceni Coulibay (Mali). For the rapporteur positions, the Europe Region proposed Georgica Severin (Romania) and the Africa Region proposed Muyumba Ngoye (Senegal). The proposals were adopted. For more information on this meeting, please visit: http://apf-francophonie.org/IMG/pdf/2011_07_cecac_cr.pdf Plenary Session The Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) held a plenary session in Kinshasa (RDC) from July 6 to 8, 2011. Jacques Chagnon, President of the National Assembly of Quebec and President of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, chaired the two days of debate. Some 250 participants attended the opening ceremony, in which Joseph Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, took part. The APF granted membership to the Greece Branch, lifted the suspension of the Niger Branch and granted observer status to the Forum des Francophones du Parlement européen. The APF began the session by hearing from Abdou Diouf, Secretary General of the Francophonie, who answered questions from parliamentarians. Because of the lack of time, it was not possible for the Canadian Branch to ask a question. As part of the general discussion, the plenary session examined the topic "Peace, democacy and elections". On behalf of the Canadian Branch, the Hon. Andrée Champagne participated in the debate. One of her comments was "at the same time as Canada is ensuring that its own democratic system is fair and transparent, we are supporting international efforts to promote democracy. For the Canadian International Development Agency, the goal is for all citizens of developing countries to be able to actively and meaningfully participate in the exercise of power and in the public decisions that affect their lives". The assembly adopted the activity report by Jacques Legendre, Senator (France) and APF Parliamentary Secretary General and the financial report by Michel Wolter, Member (Luxembourg) and APF Treasurer, that presented the 2010 financial statements and the amended 2011 budget. The assembly adopted draft reports and the following resolutions from standing committees and the Network of Women Parliamentarians: vEducation, Communication and Cultural Affairs Committee ØResolution on UNAIDS, the Global Fund, and the French language ØResolution on EVRAS (education for young people on relationships, and emotional and sexual life) as a way to prevent HIV/AIDS. ØResolution on women’s rights and the response to AIDS ØResolution on the follow-up to the Quebec City Declaration vParliamentary Affairs Committee ØResolution on Interparliamentary Cooperation vCooperation and Development Committee ØResolution on economic partnership agreements (EPAs) vPolitical Committee ØResolution on the political situations in the Francophone world vNetwork of Women Parliamentarians ØResolution on eliminating all forms of sexual violence, especially in armed conflicts The resolutions and transcripts of the speeches are available on the APF website: http://apf-francophonie.org/spip.php?rubrique139 The Assemblée took formal note of the activity reports of the regional Chargés de mission. Outside the session, Shelly Glover, MP and Vice-President of the Branch, met with Harriet Solloway, a Canadian lawyer and the Director of the Rule of Law Unit in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO). The members of the APF Canadian Branch delegation wish to express their warmest thanks to Jean-Pierre Bolduc, Canadian chargé d’affaires to the Democratic Republic of Congo, for his generosity, his cooperation and his great professionalism. Because of its participation in this annual gathering, the Canadian Branch achieved its goals of meeting its international obligations, of representing the Canadian Branch’s budget interests, of actively participating in discussions with the Secretary General of the OIF, of obtaining approval for the Branch’s nominations to the Ordre de la Pléiade, of strengthening international ties and of representing Branch interests.
Respectfully submitted,
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