Visit of Canadian Parliamentarians to Ethiopia and Senegal
Ottawa, October 5, 2011 – Six members
of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association, led by the Association
Co-Chair, the Honourable Mauril Bélanger, P.C., M.P., will visit
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Dakar, Senegal from October 9 to 14.
The Association Co-Chair will be
accompanied by Mr. David Christopherson, M.P., and Mrs. Lois Brown, M.P., Vice-Chairs of the Association;
as well as by the Honourable Terry Stratton, Director of the Association, and
by the Honourable Jim Munson, Senator, and Ms. Cheryl Gallant, M.P.
In Addis Ababa and Dakar, the delegates
will meet parliamentarians and government officials so as to strengthen bilateral
relations and parliamentary cooperation. The delegates will also engage
parliamentarians on democracy, governance, and economic issues; strengthen
relations with regional organizations, most particularly the Economic Community
of West African States (ECOWAS); learn about the role
of the media; and acquaint themselves with Canada’s activity
in the region, through contacts with parliamentarians, government officials,
civil society groups, journalists, and businesses.
In addition, Addis Ababa is home to the
African Union and the United Nations Economic
Commission for Africa. The delegates will meet with
officials of these organizations to discuss their work and to learn about
Canada’s contribution.
Established in 2003, the Canada-Africa
Parliamentary Association promotes exchanges between African and Canadian
parliamentarians, proposes initiatives likely to lead to better mutual
understanding of national and international problems, and works to develop
cooperation in all the fields of human activity. In addition, the Association
works to develop ties with regional parliamentary groupings and the Pan-African
Parliament.
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For information, please contact:
The Honourable Mauril Bélanger, P.C.,
M.P., Co-Chair of the Canada-Africa
Parliamentary Association – 613-992-4766
The Honourable Raynell Andreychuk,
Senator, Co-Chair of the Canada-Africa
Parliamentary Association – 613-947-2239
Mr. Maxime Ricard, Association Secretary, Canada-Africa
Parliamentary Association – 613- 944-7369