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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 held in Paris, France, on July 2, 2009, and the XXXVth Session of the APF also held in Paris from July 3 to 6, 2009, has the honour to present its report. The delegation was led by the Honourable Andrée Champagne, Senator and President of the Canadian Branch, and included the following parliamentarians: the Honourable Pierre De Bané, Senator; the Honourable Rose-Marie Losier-Cool, Senator, and Shelly Glover, MP. Accompanying the delegation were Jean Michel Roy, Branch Executive Secretary, and Jean-Luc Bourdages, Analyst with the Library of Parliament. The following branches were represented at the XXXVth Session: Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Bénin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Catalonia, Central African Economic and Monetary Union (CEMAC), Central African Republic, Chad, the Comores, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, France, the Francophone Community of Belgium (Wallonia-Brussels), Gabon, Georgia, Haiti, Hungary, Jersey, Jura, Laos, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Mali, Mauritius, Monaco, Morocco, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Poland, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, Valais, Val D’Aoste, Vaud and Vietnam. Thursday, July 2, 2009 Senators Andrée Champagne, Vice-President of the APF, Rose-Marie Losier‑Cool, Chair of the Network of Women Parliamentarians, and Pierre De Bané, Chair of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee, attended the Bureau meeting. An opening address was given by APF President Guy Nzouba Ndama (Gabon). Bernard Accoyer, President of the French National Assembly, then welcomed the participants. In his address, Mr. Accoyer focused on the global economic recession and such fallout as the overindebtedness of countries, the stagnation of trade and the food crisis. He also made reference to environmental issues, including sustainable development and climate change. Mr. Accoyer expressed the view that these problems have created tension in international politics. Committees’ work Senator De Bané, Chair of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee, reported on the work done by the Committee, which last met in Fribourg, Switzerland, on March 24 and 25, 2009. At that meeting, the Committee reviewed the reports on the following interparliamentary cooperation programs: Les missions d’observation des élections; Les séminaires parlementaires et les stages de formation; Le programme Noria; Le Parlement francophone des jeunes et les parlements nationaux des jeunes [election observation missions; parliamentary seminars and internships; the Noria program; the Francophone youth parliament and national youth parliaments]. Other reports were reviewed as well: La vie des assemblées dans l’espace francophone : recueil des procédures et des pratiques parlementaires; L’accès à l’information parlementaire pour tous les citoyens; Les défis et enjeux de la globalisation pour l’aire francophone [Francophone assemblies: consolidation of parliamentary practices and procedures; access to parliamentary information for all citizens; globalization issues and challenges for Francophone communities]. It should be noted that as a lead-in to that meeting, a seminar to establish criteria for evaluating the democratic nature of Francophone parliaments was held jointly by the APF and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on March 23. The purpose of the seminar was to validate and amend a working paper entitled La réalité démocratique des Parlements : Quels critères d’évaluation ? [criteria for evaluating the democratic nature of parliaments]. Reports from regional chargés de mission Michel P. Samson (Nova Scotia), chargé de mission for the American Region, reported on the Region’s activities. In his report, while Mr. Samson stated that the Region asked the General Secretariat to start the APF’s July Session on July 3 or 4 rather than on July 2 because July 1 is Canada Day, the APF General Secretariat and the host branch for the Summer 2009 Session were not able to meet the request. Senator Champagne strongly supported the proposal. The Parliamentary Secretary General, Jacques Legendre (France), responded by stating that he would take the request into account for future annual sessions. Regarding elections to executive positions in the American Region and in keeping with the rotation of positions in the APF Bureau, Quebec will chair the APF from July 2009 to July 2011, and Canada will serve as a vice-president of the APF, chair of the Conference of Branch Chairs of the American Region and chair of the Network of Women Parliamentarians. Further, with a view to advancing French language and culture in the Americas, the Region would be very happy to have the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador join the large family of Francophone parliaments. Follow up on the work of the Network of Women Parliamentarians The Chair of the Network, Senator Losier-Cool, presented the report. There have been three major Network meetings since the last APF Session. The Network took part in the international meeting entitled Du dire au faire : égalité entre les femmes et les hommes dans l’espace francophone [from words to actions: equality between Francophone men and women] held September 10 to 13, 2008, in Quebec City. The meeting was organized by the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) in partnership with Laval University’s Claire-Bonenfant chair on the status of women. Senator Losier-Cool and Lise Thériault (Quebec) attended the meeting to represent the APF in the session on the cost of women’s rights legislation, De la loi à la mise en œuvre [from legislation to implementation]. On February 12 and 13, 2009, the Network steering committee met in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with Senator Losier-Cool acting as Chair. On March 30 and 31, 2009, Senator Losier-Cool chaired a Network seminar in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, for women parliamentarians in Congo and bordering countries on the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the role of women parliamentarians in resolving conflict. Other business Senator De Bané informed the members of the Bureau that he has prepared an audio-visual presentation on La Francophonie aimed primarily at giving new members of the APF a better understanding of how La Francophonie and its institutions work. Friday, July 3, 2009 Senator Losier-Cool began by chairing the meeting of the steering committee of the Network of Women Parliamentarians. She then chaired the meeting of the Network, during which she presented the report on the Network’s activities. The first item on the agenda was a presentation on the links between women’s health and women’s rights given by Professor Henry-Jean Philippe of the Faculty of Medicine in Nantes, President of Gynécologie sans frontières. The Network then reviewed the following reports: · Les droits de l’Enfant : suivi de la Convention internationale des droits de l’Enfant. Les enfants et la guerre. [children’s rights: follow-up to the International Convention on the Rights of the Child: children and war] · La traite des personnes. [human trafficking] · La situation des femmes réfugiées. [female refugees] · Le suivi de la mise en œuvre de la Convention sur l’élimination de toutes les formes de discrimination à l’égard des femmes (CÉDEF). [monitoring implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEADW)] Saturday, July 4, 2009 The various committees met simultaneously on Saturday, July 4. Shelly Glover presented to the Political Committee a report entitled La mise à jour du règlement de l’Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie [updating the APF rules]. Ms. Glover reiterated that the last changes to the rules in 2002 had two specific objectives: official integration of the Network of Women Parliamentarians in to APF bodies, and strengthening of measures to ensure payment of dues. Ms. Glover added that the APF Bureau decided at its meeting in Bujumbura, Burundi, in February 2008 to entrust the overhaul of the APF rules to the Political Committee and that the committee designated the Canadian Branch to prepare a report on the changes. The Bureau also agreed to limit inasmuch as possible the review of the rules to four items: bringing the rules in line with the new OIF documents; the adoption of declarations by APF bodies; the status of branches and terms of membership; and the suspension mechanism. Ms. Glover also proposed, on behalf of the Canadian Branch, a new work theme on natural resources and conflict in Francophone jurisdictions. This is an issue that has a direct impact on the daily lives of millions of people, many of them from countries of La Francophonie. Two types of analysis could be considered as part of the Political Committee’s study. First, there are situations where the rights of thousands of people living near or working at natural resources facilities are ignored. Second, there are violent conflicts between multiple factions within a given country. The following reports were also reviewed: · La protection des droits et libertés dans le contexte de la lutte contre le terrorisme. [protection of rights and freedoms in the context of the war on terrorism] · Les situations politiques dans l’espace francophone. [political situations in Francophone countries] · Le suivi du Séminaire APF-PNUD du 8 avril 2009 et les amendements au document intitulé « La réalité démocratique des Parlements : Quels critères d’évaluation ? ». [follow-up of the April 8, 2009, APF-UNDP seminar and amendments to the document on criteria for evaluating the democratic nature of parliaments] Senator Losier-Cool submitted to the Committee a resolution of the Women Parliamentary Network on children in armed conflicts. Senator Losier-Cool also presented to the Cooperation and Development Committee a report entitled Le suivi du Sommet de Ouagadougou : La contribution de la Francophonie à l’adoption de stratégies de développement durable et à la formulation de politiques de gestion des écosystèmes et des ressources naturelles [follow-up to the Ouagadougou Summit: the contribution of La Francophonie to the adoption of sustainable development strategies and the formulation of ecosystem and natural resources management policies]. The Senator reiterated in her report that when the APF met in Quebec City from July 4 to 7, 2008, it made 15 requests related to cooperation and development. Essentially, the resolution called on member countries to: · sign and ratify the international conventions and agreements on environmental protection and incorporate sustainable development into their legislation and national strategies; · increase efforts to stop desertification and deforestation by using tangible multifaceted approaches, such as the creation of a compensation fund for countries that work to reduce deforestation; · implement tools for evaluating the status of ecosystems and introduce policies on the protection of nature; · urge governments to put in place strategies for evaluating ecosystems; · promote awareness of sustainable development by improving access to information in French and by targeting youth and taking their interests into account when developing national sustainable development strategies; · urge the Institut de l'énergie et de l'environnement de la Francophonie (IEPF) to carry out more field cooperation initiatives and foster a closer relationship between parliamentarians and the government representatives who develop the programs implemented by the IEPF. The following reports were also reviewed: · Le suivi des négociations commerciales internationales menées dans le cadre de l’Organisation mondiale du commerce (OMC). [follow-up to international World Trade Organization (WTO) trade negotiations] · L’intelligence économique. [economic intelligence] · La crise alimentaire « Vie chère ». [the food crisis: the high cost of living] · La gouvernance économique. [economic governance] Jacques Girard, President of the Réseau Normalisation et Francophonie and Director of the Bureau de Normalisation du Québec, addressed the Committee on the issue of standardization and development in countries that are part of La Francophonie. Senator De Bané chaired the Parliamentary Affairs Committee. Senator De Bané began by reporting on the work done at the Committee’s last meeting and the UNDP seminar, which took place in Fribourg, Switzerland, in March 2009. He also gave a slide presentation on La Francophonie and spoke about the Canadian Parliament’s Parliamentary Officers’ Study Program. Raphaël Bartolt, Director of the Agence nationale française des titres sécurisés, also addressed the Committee. The Committee reviewed the following reports: · La réalité démocratique des Parlements : Quels critères d’évaluation ? [criteria for evaluating the democratic nature of parliaments] · La liberté de presse parlementaire en Francophonie. [freedom of the parliamentary press in Francophone countries] · Les défis et enjeux de la globalisation pour l’aire francophone. [globalization issues and challenges for Francophone communities] · La vie des assemblées dans l’espace francophone : recueil des procédures et des pratiques parlementaires. [Francophone assemblies: consolidation of parliamentary practices and procedures]. The following reports under parliamentary cooperation programs were reviewed: · Les missions d’observation des élections. [election observation missions] · Les séminaires parlementaires et les stages de formation. [parliamentary seminars and internships] · Le programme NORIA. [the NORIA program] · Le Parlement francophone des jeunes et les parlements nationaux des jeunes. [the Francophone youth parliament and national youth parliaments] Senator Champagne sat on the Education, Communication and Cultural Affairs Committee. The meeting started with Soungalo Ouedraogo, the OIF’s Director General of Education and Training, and representatives of the Association francophone internationale des directeurs d'établissements scolaires (AFIDES), namely Secretary General Denise Bergeron, Anne-Françoise Deleixhe, President of the European Branch, and Laurent Feux, Vice-President of the European Branch, speaking to the Committee on the subject of education challenges and priorities in Francophone countries. François Delmotte, President of the Institut francilien de médecine du sport, and Michel Rieu, a scientific adviser with the Agence française de lutte contre le dopage, also addressed the Committee on the subject of sports medicine in French-speaking Africa. Last to address the Committee was Michèle Jacobs-Hermès, Director of La Francophonie, institutional relations and promotion of French at TV5 Monde, who spoke about follow-up to the Quebec City declaration on TV5 Monde. The following reports were reviewed: · Le suivi du rapport sur les politiques du manuel scolaire dans l’espace francophone. [follow-up to the report on school textbook policies in French-speaking countries] · Le suivi de la Convention sur la protection de la diversité culturelle. [follow-up to the Convention on the Protection of Cultural Diversity] Sunday, July 5, 2009 The official opening of the XXXVth Annual Session of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie took place on Sunday, July 5. The ceremony included speeches by Bernard Accoyer, President of the French National Assembly; Alain Joyandet, Secretary of State for Cooperation and La Francophonie (France), Abdou Diouf, Secretary General of La Francophonie, and Guy Nzouba Ndama (Gabon), President of the APF. Following his remarks, Mr. Diouf answered questions from the delegates. Senator Champagne asked the Secretary General on behalf of the Canadian Branch regarding the findings and conclusions made by Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Grand témoin de la Francophonie at the Beijing Olympics, following his visit to Vancouver and the follow-up that will be carried out by the new Grand témoin, Pascal Couchepin. Mr. Diouf reiterated that many people questioned the need to appoint a Grand témoin de la Francophonie for the Olympic Games in Vancouver since Canada is an officially bilingual country. He added, however, that the position of Grand témoin was supposed to be a permanent position. He went on to say that Jean-Pierre Raffarin was chosen by VANOC (Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games) to be part of its advisory committee on official languages and that an agreement would be signed between VANOC and the new Grand témoin, Pascal Couchepin. A general debate followed on the subject of the financial crisis, the fight against poverty and development. Senator Champagne presented a report on behalf of the Canadian Branch. In her report, Senator Champagne stated that the international community may be grappling with a deep depression, but it cannot ignore its commitments to the billion people in the world who are starving. She also touched on the problem of HIV/AIDS and urged developed countries to honour their recent commitment to triple their funding (an additional $5 billion) in order to stop the pandemic. Monday, July 6, 2009 Senator Losier-Cool attended a meeting of the steering committee of the Network of Women Parliamentarians during which it was decided that the committee’s next meeting would be held in Ottawa in early 2010. Following the meeting, the Assemblée carried on with its work. The Assemblée first address a current issue: French as a world language and preferred means of promoting cultural diversity. Claude Hagège, linguist and professor at the Collège de France in Paris, address the delegates on that subject. Senator Losier-Cool then presented a statement from the Network of Women Parliamentarians, Senator De Bané reported on the work of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee, and Ms. Glover asked the Assemblée to approve the Political Committee’s report on changes to the APF rules; approval was granted. On a motion from the Political Committee, the Assemblée adopted resolutions on the political situation in Francophone countries regarding: Ivory Coast, Guinea, Madagascar, Mauritania; Democratic Republic of Congo; Niger; Georgia; the Middle East situation; and children of war (in support of a motion from the Network of Women Parliamentarians). On a motion from the Education, Communication and Cultural Affairs Committee, the Assemblée adopted resolutions on: The requirement to carry the TV5 Monde signal; La Francophonie’s efforts to reduce HIV/AIDS (joint motion by the Committee and its parliamentary network to reduce HIV/AIDS); school textbooks; and implementation of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. On a motion from the Cooperation and Development Committee, the Assemblée adopted resolutions on: The environmental and development aspects of desertification; and the food crisis and the high cost of living. On another motion from the Cooperation and Development Committee, the Assemblée adopted a statement on the financial crisis. On a motion from the Parliamentary Affairs Committee (in support of a recommendation by the Network of Women Parliamentarians), the Assemblée adopted a recommendation to create in each member parliament of the APF an entity dedicated to women’s rights and the promotion of equality between men and women. Finally, Senator Andrée Champagne, President of the Canadian Branch, was re-elected Vice-President of the APF, Senator Pierre De Bané was re-elected Chair of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee; and Senator Rose-Marie Losier-Cool was re-elected Chair of the Network of Women Parliamentarians. The term of office is two years. Further, the Canadian Branch will continue to have rapporteurs at meetings of the Political Committee and the Cooperation and Development Committee. The last item on the APF’s agenda was a joint session with the Francophone youth parliament. At the end of the session, it was agreed that the next annual session of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie would be held in Dakar, Senegal, in July 2010.
Respectfully submitted,
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