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From September 16 to 19, 2009, the Nova Scotia Legislature hosted the 25th Regional Assembly of the Americas of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) as well as the Conference of Branch Chairs. The delegation from the Canadian Branch of the APF was made up of the Hon. Andrée Champagne, PC, Senator, Chair of the Canadian Branch and Chair of the Conference of Branch Chairs; and the Hon. Rose-Marie Losier-Cool, Senator. The delegation was accompanied by Mr. François Michaud, Branch Executive Secretary, and Mr. Jean Michel Roy, former Branch Executive Secretary. In addition to the Canadian Branch, the Alberta, Louisiana, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan branches also participated in the working sessions. Senator Martine Bondo, the acting Chargé de mission for Africa, observed. A number of representatives from Acadian organizations and recipients of the Nova Scotia Ordre de la Pléiade joined the delegates for the opening dinner of the Assembly. September 17, 2009 (Conference of Branch Chairs) The Conference of Branch Chairs, chaired by the Hon. Andrée Champagne, heard a report from the Chargé de mission for the Americas about the activities in the Americas Region from July 2008 to July 2009. The Conference also heard about the state of finances for the APF Americas Region for the 2008–09 fiscal year and budget estimates for 2009–10. The Conference reviewed the 25th Ordinary Session of the APF (Paris, July 1 to 7, 2009) and accepted the Louisiana Branch’s invitation to host the winter 2010 meeting in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Louisiana. The Conference studied the draft schedule of regional activities for 2009–10. September 17, 2009 (Regional Assembly of the Americas) The Hon. Charlie Parker, Speaker of the Nova Scotia Legislature, hosted the opening reception on September 16, following which Mr. Jean-Marc Lalonde, Chargé de mission for the Americas and Ontario MLA, officially opened the Assembly for business. MLA Wayne Gaudet welcomed all the delegates on behalf of the Chair of the Nova Scotia Branch, Mr. Michel Samson. Delegates then heard from the Nova Scotia Minister of Acadian Affairs, Mr. Graham Steele. Mr. Jean-Marc Lalonde, Chair of the Ontario Branch, gave the first presentation, speaking about French as an integral part of linguistic duality in the Americas. At the second working session, the Hon. Andrée Champagne gave a follow-up report on the reflection of linguistic duality at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Gabonese Senator Martine Bondo gave an overview of the current political situation in Gabon. Ms. Carmel Robichaud, Deputy Speaker of New Brunswick’s Legislature, spoke on updates of the New Brunswick’s education system. September 18, 2009 Mr. Dinu Bumbaru, Associate Professor at the University of Montreal School of Architecture and guest of the Quebec Branch, spoke about the values and challenges related to preserving cultural heritage. The Hon. Rose-Marie Losier-Cool, Chair of the Network of Women Parliamentarians of the APF, spoke on the history and objectives of the Network. The last working session was reserved for a representative from the host branch, Mr. Chris D’Entremont, Vice-Chair of the Nova Scotia Branch. He spoke on the French Language Services Act and the situation of the Francophone and Acadian community in Nova Scotia. Parliamentarians then passed resolutions relating to the business of the 25th Regional Assembly of the Americas.
Respectfully submitted,
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