Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (CAPF)

Meeting of the Permanent Delegation of the APF Bureau – November 30, 2020 The permanent delegation of the APF Bureau meets when convened by the APF’s President. It has the power to decide on exceptional administrative matters. It also monitors the implementation of interparliamentary cooperation programs in accordance with the guidelines given by the plenary assembly and presents the APF’s programs and annual budget to the Bureau. Between meetings of the Bureau, it exercises all the powers of the Bureau and reports on its activities at the next Bureau meeting. MP Francis Drouin, President of the Canadian Branch and First Vice-President of the APF, chaired the meeting on behalf of the APF’s President. The members of the permanent delegation discussed the political situations in Armenia, Lebanon and Mali. They also discussed security in the G5 Sahel region and a partnership agreement between the APF and the Interparliamentary Committee-G5 Sahel. It was also decided to send future APF missions to Armenia, Lebanon and Mali when delegates’ security can be assured. Members also discussed the election observation mission to Côte d’Ivoire and the rights of Ivorian parliamentarians. They also discussed the OIF fact-finding mission on the November 22 presidential and legislative elections in Burkina Faso. Together with APF Parliamentary Secretary General Jacques Krabal, the mission studied the pre-election phase and voting and counting. The defense of French and multilingualism within European institutions and on the APF’s digital portal was also touched on, as well as the international conference planned in partnership with the AUF. Finally, it was proposed that the APF should carry out two types of missions in the future: political missions and thematic missions.

Meeting of the Ministerial Conference of the Francophonie – November 24, 2020 MP Francis Drouin, President of the Canadian Branch and First Vice-President of the APF, participated in the 37th Ministerial Conference of the Francophonie on behalf of the APF’s President. The Ministerial Conference of the Francophonie (MCF) is one of three bodies enshrined in the Francophonie Charter, along with the Summit and the Permanent Council of the Francophonie (PCF). The MCF ensures the political continuity of the Summit. Members listened to the report of the Francophonie Secretary General, Louise Mushikiwabo, who is also the PCF President, on political and economic issues as well as cooperation, administrative and financial issues dealt with during the PCF’s meetings in 2020. The Secretary General also addressed the challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic for the Francophonie and “La Francophonie avec Elles” fund. She also raised the issue of respect for multilingualism within international organizations in the particular context of the pandemic. Members also heard from several ministers of Francophonie member countries on the impact of Covid 19 in their respective countries. Mr. Drouin, replacing the APF’s President, spoke at the conference on the impact of the health crisis on the APF’s work and called on the Francophonie to rally around its values of solidarity and humanism and embrace a new post-pandemic multilateralism.

Parliamentary Network on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (CECAC): November 23–24, 2020 The Parliamentary Network on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) is a forum to share and debate ideas and strategies to fight the three diseases. The network is also a place to raise awareness and promote actions and activities in this fight, as well as a tool for French-speaking parliaments to share information and exert influence. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, MP and Vice-Chair of the Canadian Branch of the APF, participated in the work of the network. During a round table discussion, he reported on the COVID 19 pandemic’s impact on Canada’s health care systems and presented the most recent developments regarding HIV/AIDS in Canada. The network also heard from several French-speaking experts on the fight against HIV/AIDS and malaria, the role of international governance in public health and the pandemic response, the deteriorating situation of the rights of sex workers in French-speaking African countries during the COVID-19 pandemic and the expansion of health care and vaccination efforts. Lastly, the network adopted a declaration to emphasize the importance of a universal and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. The network is calling on APF member parliamentarians to speak up in their legislative assemblies and interparliamentary associations and advocate for universal access to vaccines and products to prevent, detect and treat COVID-19. The network is also urging heads of state and governments to define COVID-19 vaccines as “universal public goods.” The attendees also discussed the planning of the next meeting.

The Political Committee of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) considers policy issues and the rule of law in francophone countries, relations with the institutions of La Francophonie, the APF’s overall priorities, and legal issues concerning its statutes and enforcement provisions. With Senator Dennis Dawson, rapporteur of the Canadian Branch, in attendance, the committee addressed a number of topics. Rapporteurs from the APF’s various committees and networks discussed study subjects and asked member branches to participate, notably through the completion of surveys on their practices in those areas. The committee’s meeting began with an overview of the political situation in each APF member country. The situations in Lebanon and Mali were monitored closely in association with the APF’s democratic vigilance mechanisms. The committee heard from Antoine Michon, Director of Political Affairs and Democratic Governance at the International Organisation internationale de La Francophonie. Senator Dennis Dawson then went on to present his report on the freedom of the press in francophone countries and suggested creating a new francophone organization dedicated to the freedom of the press. Lastly, participants reviewed a draft report on the relationship between the executive and legislative powers in times of crisis, were briefed on the evolution of the death sentence in francophone countries, and considered requests from new APF members. A draft agenda for the committee’s next meeting was adopted.

Meeting of the Network of Women Parliamentarians – October 6, 2020 In 2002, the Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) created the Network of Women Parliamentarians to encourage women to participate more in political, economic, social and cultural life, both at a national level and across all francophone countries. Member of Parliament Marie-France Lalonde attended the videoconference meeting of the Network of Women Parliamentarians of the APF, held October 6, 2020. Parliamentarians from more than 20 APF branches participated. Ms. Lalonde, rapporteur for the Canadian Branch of the APF, presented the report of the Canadian Branch of the APF on cyberviolence against women and children, as well as a proposal for a report by the Canadian Branch on the economic empowerment of francophone women. Rapporteurs from the APF’s various committees and networks discussed study subjects and asked member branches to participate, particularly through answering a survey on their practices in those areas. In addition to these two issues, the parliamentarians discussed a future policy on preventing and addressing harassment within the APF, women’s role in the extractive industries, and women’s contribution to the fight against COVID 19. To conclude, members discussed subjects on the agenda for the Network’s next meeting.

Conference of Presidencies of the Americas Region – October 5, 2020 MPs Francis Drouin and Chris d’Entremont both participated in the Conference of Presidencies of the Americas Region of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) on October 5, 2020. The chargé de mission for the Americas Region reported on the past year’s activities and financial situation. Parliamentarians discussed possible steps to implement the APF’s strategic framework, including the possibility of creating an institutional sustainability plan for the organization. The Nova Scotia branch gave an update on preparations for the 36th Session of the Americas Regional Assembly, scheduled to take place in Halifax in August 2021.

The Education, Communication and Cultural Affairs Committee considers issues relating to cultural expression in French, education, training, communication, information and communications technologies and audiovisual media. MP Richard Martel represented the Canadian Branch at the committee meeting. Members in attendance were briefed on the reports on activities for both the committee and the Parliamentary Network to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The committee also heard from Prof. Abdel Rahamane Baba-Moussa, General Secretary of the Conference of the Ministers of Education of French speaking countries (CONFEMEN); Georges Malamoud, Strategic Advisor to the Rector of the Agence Universitaire Francophonie (AUF); and Arnaud Mercier, Professor of Communication and Information Science, Université Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas on the theme, “Disinformation in health: reflections during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Committee members also considered an interim report on teaching during a crisis, received an update on the implementation of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, and shared how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the sphere of culture. To conclude, members discussed subjects on the agenda for the Committee’s next meeting.

Bureau Meeting – July 6 The Bureau is delegated the authority to oversee the implementation of Plenary Assembly decisions. It ensures the implementation of the motions adopted, the resolutions made, and the advice and recommendations issued by the Plenary Assembly, and it can make any decisions it deems useful for that purpose. It considers, on the basis of a report from the General Secretariat, issues involving branch membership and changes to their status, and it adopts the APF’s budget. Francis Drouin, MP, Chair of the Canadian Branch and First Vice-Chair of the APF; Chris d’Entremont, Vice-Chair of the Canadian Branch; and Joël Godin, MP and Chair of the APF’s Parliamentary Affairs Committee, each participated in this meeting by videoconference. Parliamentarians in attendance discussed new requests for APF membership. Branches represented at the meeting gave status updates on the pandemic situation in their nations, with Mr. Drouin giving the update on the situation in Canada, and they also discussed the effects of the pandemic on the general operation of the APF’s International Secretariat. Several reports on activities were presented, and the report on activities for the Parliamentary Secretary General and the cooperation programs were considered. The Treasurer’s report on the 2019 accounts was also discussed. Lastly, the chairs of the committees and networks shared the results of their proceedings: Mr. Godin, the Chair of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee, gave an update on the work of his committee, including a Canadian initiative under the leadership of Mr. d’Entremont on how parliaments are operating during the pandemic. Lastly, an update was given on the status of the APF’s statute review and the APF’s regional activities.