Report

The parliamentary delegation from the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) that participated in the Cooperation and Development Committee meeting held at the headquarters of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, Italy, from May 2 to 4, 2018, is honoured to present its report.

The delegation was composed of Mr. Darrell Samson, MP and President of the Canadian Branch, Mr. Francis Drouin, MP and rapporteur for the Canadian Branch, Mr. Joël Godin, MP and member of the Canadian Branch and Ms. Chloé Forget, analyst for the Canadian Branch.

About 50 parliamentarians from some 30 branches, representing the four regions of the francophonie, attended this meeting. In addition to the Canadian Branch, the following branches were represented: Belgium/Wallonia-Brussels Federation, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Gabon, Jura, Macedonia, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Quebec and Switzerland.

The meeting was presided over by the Chairperson of the Committee, Ms. Angélique Ngoma, Member (Gabon).

Opening of proceedings

At the opening of the proceedings, the Chairperson of the Committee, Ms. Angélique Ngoma, thanked the FAO for hosting the meeting and invited Ms. Maria Helena Somedo, Deputy Director-General of the FAO, to present her message.

The latter pointed out that food insecurity continues to take on worrying proportions. This is due to several factors, including climate change, conflict and humanitarian crises. She commented that it is a paradox that the people suffering from hunger are mainly found in rural areas, and indeed, work in agriculture. Ms. Somedo indicated that women and girls suffer most from hunger. She added that obesity, which is also a problem related to nutrition and poor eating habits, is becoming more and more prevalent. She pointed out that excess weight is also a public health problem that affects states and health systems. She stressed that parliamentarians have a significant role to play, and that cooperation is very important in this area. She recalled that one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to eradicate hunger, malnutrition and poverty. Ms. Somedo suggested that this objective can be achieved through a number of changes. She commented that the FAO assists countries in establishing credible statistical systems to inform governments in their decision making. Ms. Somedo concluded by stressing that the FAO is aware of the importance of parliamentarians in eradicating hunger.

The Committee then heard from the Parliamentary Secretary General of the APF, Mr. Jacques Krabal, Member (France). Mr. Krabal thanked Ms. Somedo for her remarks. He also thanked all those who had helped organize the meeting at FAO headquarters. He said that hunger cannot be eradicated in isolation and that the meeting was a testament to the willingness of various organizations to work together. He pointed out that promoting environmentally friendly agriculture remains a challenge in the francophonie, as does family farming that improves the living conditions of peasants. He added that collaboration among the various partners is essential, and welcomed various recent initiatives in that regard.

The Committee Chairperson, Ms. Ngoma, then invited all members to introduce themselves.

Adoption of the agenda

The Chairperson next provided an overview of the Committee’s activities since the last meeting in Luxembourg in July 2017. She recalled that among the resolutions adopted by the Committee at that meeting was a draft resolution on shared growth, which had been presented by Mr.Drouin , MP (Canada).

Adoption of the minutes and record of decisions from the meeting held on July 9 in Luxembourg

The Committee then adopted the amended agenda and the minutes and record of decisions from the previous meeting of the Committee, which was held in July 2017, on the sidelines of the Annual Session in Luxembourg.

Hearings

The Committee then went on to hear from a variety of experts:

• Mr. Moncef Follain, Economic and Sustainable Development Advisor (OIF). Mr. Follain discussed the OIF’s activities in the area of digital technology.

• Mr. Jean Leonard Toadi, Coordinator of the FAO Parliamentary Alliances team, and Mr. Fernando Ayala, Special Advisor to the FAO Parliamentary Alliances team. Mr. Toadi made a presentation on the role of the FAO and its work with parliaments and parliamentary alliances. He indicated that the team’s work focuses on the SDGs, including SDG1 on eradicating poverty and SDG2 on eradicating hunger. He pointed out that it is imperative that all stakeholders be involved in order to achieve food and nutritional security, and the SDGs in their entirety. He stated that one of their objectives is to focus on working more closely with parliamentarians to implement their mutual commitments to food and nutritional security, including the right to sufficient food. He pointed out that parliamentarians have an important role and that studies have shown that improving food security and nutrition is directly linked to policies and frameworks for action in legislation.

  Parliamentarians can be important players in this regard through their role as legislators, as well as through oversight, budget approval and constituency commitments, among other things. He mentioned that another objective is to enact the laws and policies necessary to ensure food and nutritional security, and to place the issue of food and nutritional security at the highest level of government agendas. As such, Mr. Toadi indicated that the FAO’s approach is to work with parliamentarians at the national and regional levels, including through the sharing of effective and proven laws and policies.

  He stated that the FAO can provide support by facilitating the sharing of good practices pertaining to legislative frameworks and monitoring mechanisms, providing technical equipment, facilitating links between the various parliamentary bodies and supporting capacity building. He added that parliamentary alliances can facilitate South-South cooperation, generate a legal framework, promote relevant legislative measures and engage with other actors to advance these issues. Mr. Toadi listed the various parliamentary alliances that already exist. He mentioned that Burkina Faso has included the right to food in its constitution. He said that together we can create a world free from hunger, poverty and malnutrition. Mr. Ayala of the FAO then invited parliamentarians to the Global Parliamentary Summit against Hunger and Malnutrition to be held on October 29 and 30, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. He also called for the creation of parliamentary fronts in the countries of the Francophonie.

• Mr. Samson, MP (Canada), warmly thanked the FAO representatives for their welcome and their contributions to the Committee’s work. He said the FAO’s work is extremely important and unifying for the international community. Indeed, all countries can join together in working toward a common goal of global food security and combatting hunger. He indicated that Canada considers the work of the FAO to be fundamental, and is one of that organization’s principal donors. He mentioned that the FAO is an important platform where leaders from different countries can exchange views on the international stage. He said that this is an excellent opportunity to discuss issues surrounding food security and the fight against hunger. Mr.Samson noted that he was very proud that the Canadian Branch would be presenting two reports: one on the use of digital technologies for sustainable agriculture and the other on corruption as a barrier to economic development. He added that these two topics are extremely important in the fight against hunger, the redistribution of wealth and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs.

• Mr. Francis Drouin, MP (Canada), said he would like a better understanding of the FAO’s program with regard to access to land. There is a new phenomenon in Canada and the United States wherein the farmland is not always owned by the farmers, and this increases their costs. He asked if this problem was occurring elsewhere. In response to Mr. Drouin, Mr. Touadi indicated that this is a critical issue in Africa, where land is being sold to multinational companies to the detriment of farmers. He pointed out that the FAO has developed a control and governance instrument in this regard that has been signed by all FAO Member States. He mentioned that it is up to parliaments to ensure that these rules are respected.

• Mr. Andrea Cattaneo, Chief Economist, FAO. He provided an overview of food security and nutrition in the francophonie, indicating that conflicts are the main causes of food insecurity. He stressed that activities to combat food crises must take into account the issues surrounding the conflict and the importance of peace efforts. This is essential for accomplishment of the 2030 Agenda. Mr. Cattaneo indicated that in 2016, about 816 million people worldwide were undernourished. Specifically, in Africa, the number of undernourished people increased from 191 million in 2010 to 243 million in 2016. He pointed out that the State of Food and Agriculture report proposes a strategy that would allow for taking advantage of the enormous untapped potential of food systems to increase the productivity and income of small farmers, but above all to create non-farm employment. He concluded by indicating that it is important to make rural transformations more inclusive.

• Following the presentation, Mr. Samson, MP (Canada), said that the Deputy Director-General of the FAO had referred to the fact that women are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity. He indicated that Canada has adopted a feminist international aid policy that seeks to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. He pointed out that this policy is consistent with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He added that Canada believes that promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls is the most effective way to reduce poverty and build a more inclusive and prosperous world. He therefore asked the FAO representatives what the FAO is doing to support the cause of women and food security and nutrition. Mr. Andrea Cattaneo indicated that there is a gender component in all FAO domains that includes opportunities and actions to benefit women. He indicated that the FAO also carries out many projects and research in member countries related to the status of women.

• Ms. Federica Leonarduzzi, FAO expert. She made a presentation on the work of the FAO’s Digital Innovation Unit. She described technological innovations as drivers of change, and mentioned various technologies, including the Internet and mobile phones, that allow for innovations in agriculture. Among other things, these tools enable farmers to better connect with each other and have access to real prices for agri-food products on the markets. She discussed the FAO’s approach to digital services in relation to agriculture. She mentioned the e-agriculture strategy, which is a framework to assist developing countries establish strategies in this area, and the WaPOR (Water Productivity Open-access portal), which uses remote sensing technology to monitor and report on water productivity in Africa and the Near East.

• Mr. Drouin , MP (Canada), thanked Ms. Leonarduzzi for her presentation and asked how industry stakeholders decide on Internet access areas, noting that this is an issue in Canada. He also asked if there were any translation problems involving the mobile applications available to farmers. Ms. Leonarduzzi pointed out that Internet access is an issue in all countries and that the FAO works with the relevant national ministries and telecommunications companies when implementing projects. She also added that the FAO is working with NGOs and farmers’ cooperatives to translate applications.

• Mr. Said El Hachimi, Parliamentary relations counsellor, World Trade Organization (WTO). Mr. El Hachimi pointed out that these are momentous times in international trade for the entire international community, and that there is a trade war in the making. He commented that the WTO is doing its utmost to preserve multilateralism and the system for the peaceful resolution of trade disputes. He indicated that the WTO wants more involvement from parliamentarians on this front, as they are the key individuals ratifying agreements.
• Mr.Drouin said that he strongly supports free trade. He stated that this risk does indeed exist and may well increase. He commented that populations must be equipped to cope with this change.
• Ms. Nayé Bathily, Head of Global Parliamentary Engagement (World Bank). Ms. Bathily commented that parliamentarians are key contacts and partners of choice for the World Bank. She explained that civil society and parliamentarians are increasingly involved with the World Bank. She also indicated that multilateral cooperation through parliamentary cooperation is essential. She mentioned several programs.

Review of draft reports

Taxation and corruption in the Francophonie

The Committee Chairperson invited Mr. Godin, MP (Canada), and Mr. Ndoula Thiam, Member (Mali), to present their reports on corruption in the Francophonie.

Mr.Godin began by describing corruption as a global scourge. It is a phenomenon that affects all nations: the most developed, the least developed, the richest and the poorest. He said that corruption can be defined as any abuse of power for personal gain, and that it can take numerous forms, including bribery, abuse of office and tax evasion. He added that corruption has serious consequences. It is a vehicle for numerous criminal activities, including terrorism and human trafficking. It also poses a threat to the rule of law, democracy and human rights. He explained that it has been recognized for a number of years that corruption has serious consequences for development and economic growth. He indicated that the first version of the draft report he was presenting to the Committee focuses on that issue.

Mr.Drouin explained that the draft report provides a portrait of corruption globally, describes the international commitments in place to fight corruption, and discusses the consequences of corruption on development and economic growth. He also noted that the draft report includes significant detail and numerous statistics, but that his comments would focus on providing an overview of the main issues.

He began with a brief overview of corruption. He said that although it is difficult to measure corruption because of its hidden nature, some tools have been developed to approximate its extent. He indicated that the figures and results obtained using these tools demonstrate the scale and scope of corruption, although their margin of error may be quite large. He pointed out that the annual cost of corruption is generally estimated at more than 5% of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP). In addition, it is estimated that more than US$1,500 billion is paid out in bribes each year. He mentioned that according to the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), empirical studies have consistently shown that the poorest people pay the highest percentage of their income in bribes. In addition, Mr. Godin said that according to the results of Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer survey, which was conducted between March 2014 and January 2017 among nearly 160 000 adults from 119 countries, territories and regions of the world, one in four respondents had paid a bribe in the year preceding their survey response in order to obtain public services.

Mr.Godin expressed his satisfaction that the international community, including APF member countries, had made several commitments to fight corruption. He highlighted one instrument in particular, the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which was adopted in 2003 and is the first legally binding international instrument aimed at fighting corruption.

He then explained how corruption represents a barrier to economic growth and has been generally demonstrated to have a negative impact on the growth and economic development of states. He indicated that his draft report examines the impact of corruption on economic growth and development from three different perspectives: private sector productivity, government revenue and government spending.

With regard to private sector productivity first of all, Mr. Godin pointed out that corruption impacts on private investment, competition and entrepreneurship and investment decisions. First, corruption discourages investment by increasing the cost of economic activity, which reduces the profitability of investments. Indeed, according to the OECD, bribes, which have the effect of a “hidden tax,” increase the costs of transactions. He pointed out that studies have shown that corruption has a significant negative impact on foreign investments, which are more susceptible to corruption because they are subject to considerable state control. Moreover, it is estimated that corruption is equivalent to a 20% tax on foreign companies when they move from a country with a low level of corruption to a country with a medium or high level of corruption. He added that foreign investment normally positively affects states’ economic growth and often plays an important role in the transfer of technology and know-how in recipient countries. However, it can sometimes have negative effects, particularly when it is a source of corruption. Mr. Godin then explained that a reduction in foreign investment also has consequences for the benefits of competition and entrepreneurship. Corruption can undermine the effective competition that promotes productivity and innovation. The OECD explains that in the absence of competition, companies have fewer incentives to innovate and increase their efficiency.

Next, Mr. Godin discussed the consequences of corruption on the public revenues of states. He explained that here, corruption can have a negative impact, particularly because it undermines states’ capacity to collect taxes, their main means of mobilizing resources.

He indicated that tax evasion is an obstacle to this mobilization of resources. Where there is corruption, citizens with less confidence in the state may be disinclined to pay their taxes since they perceive this government activity to be an unfair practice that will be used to finance a corrupt system. According to the International Monetary Fund, there is a negative correlation between Transparency International’s corruption index and total tax revenues for states. Mr. Godin explained that another consequence of corruption is that it contributes to the development of an informal economy. Indeed, the presence of corruption can discourage entrepreneurs from starting a business in the formal economy. When the informal economy grows, the government’s tax base shrinks.

Mr. Godin then discussed the consequences of corruption on public spending. He explained that according to the OECD, when policy decisions, such as the use of budget allocations, are distorted by corruption, they are more likely to cause economic losses. He added that where there is corruption, the general well-being of society, the most pressing needs and the best value for money may not be the basis for government decisions. Indeed, corruption can lead governments to direct public spending to areas where it is easier to obtain and conceal bribes and income. He pointed out that large and very complex projects, which sometimes exceed actual needs – such as major infrastructure projects or defence-related projects – represent opportunities for corruption. These types of projects require governments to invest significant resources, but then make cuts in other sectors, such as in social sectors that are important to the population, or in functioning and operations. Mr. Godin indicated that corruption tends to increase the cost of goods and services purchased by the government, including through public procurement, and to reduce the quality of purchased goods and infrastructure. Indeed, public procurement processes, which involve many steps, are government activities that are highly vulnerable to corruption. He explained that corruption in public procurement can take several forms, such as bid-rigging or paying bribes to avoid having to respect certain requirements. Corruption in procurement results in the loss of significant public funds. Indeed, the funds allocated to procurement represent a significant part of public expenditures. The impact that a corrupt public procurement system can have on the economic growth of states is not negligible.

He concluded by stating that this was a first draft report and that it would be supplemented with additional information. He then invited his colleague from Mali to present his contribution to the draft report.

Mr. N’doula Thiam (Mali) then made a presentation on corruption in Mali. He said that corruption persists in Mali and that it is important to focus on the separation of powers in order to fight that corruption.

A discussion ensued on corruption in the Francophonie.

The use of digital technologies for sustainable agriculture

The Committee Chairperson then invited Mr. Drouin , MP (Canada), to present his draft report on the use of digital technologies for sustainable agriculture.

Mr. Drouin expressed his pleasure at presenting this draft report at the headquarters of the FAO, an organization that is leading international efforts in food security and the eradication of hunger. He thanked the FAO representatives for their presence and interventions at the meeting. He pointed out that the draft report is based on several publications and statistics published by the FAO.

He indicated that the draft report first looks at the challenges facing the various agriculture sectors, namely climate change, population growth in some regions and water scarcity. He added that it then goes on to explain what intelligent agriculture in the face of climate consists of and demonstrates how digital technologies can play a decisive role in this context. Thirdly, the draft report briefly addresses the issues related to access to digital technologies in various regions of the world.

Mr. Drouin stated that, according to the FAO, a profound transformation of food and agricultural systems is required around the world in order to meet the dual challenge of eradicating hunger and poverty and stabilizing the global climate. In addition, world food demand in 2050 is expected to increase by at least 60% from 2006 levels, due in part to population growth and urbanization. This is in addition to demographic growth that will be more concentrated in regions considered to be at high risk from the consequences of climate change, such as Africa. He added that consideration must also be given to the fact that the agriculture and forestry sectors, as well as land-use change, are currently responsible for one-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions. The agricultural sector will therefore have an important role to play in the fight against climate change.

He pointed out that according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the effects of climate change that have been observed on food security are mainly related to crop production and yield. He indicated that it is believed that the increased frequency of extreme events, such as heat waves and floods, will have consequences for access to food and price stability. Although some agricultural regions may benefit from higher temperatures, the negative consequences of climate change are expected to outweigh the positive ones. Developing countries, due to their geographic location, will generally be more likely to suffer the negative effects of climate change. He stated that the potential impacts of climate change on agriculture could also make the people who depend on it even more vulnerable. According to the FAO, by 2030, between 35 and 122 million more people could fall below the poverty line due to the impact of climate change on incomes in the agricultural sectors.

Mr. Drouin then stated that according to the United Nations (UN), one in nine people worldwide is currently undernourished. As the global population continues to grow, by 2080, millions more people may be suffering from hunger, according to IPCC estimates. He added that the World Bank has reported that agricultural production will have to increase by 70% by 2050 to meet population growth, as well as the higher demand for calories and more complex food as a result of rising incomes in developing countries. He pointed out that for this increase to materialize, the FAO believes that 80% of the increase in agricultural production will have to result from higher yields.

He went on to point out that the impact of climate change on access to water for drinking and irrigation will be significant for farmers and livestock breeders in semi-arid regions, particularly due to droughts and increased variability in rainfall. At present, while about one billion people around the world do not have access to drinking water, approximately 70% of the water extracted from lakes, rivers and aquifers worldwide is used for irrigation. Mr. Drouin said that the World Bank estimates that between 25% and 40% of water in arid regions will have to be reallocated to other sectors due to population growth, urbanization, industrialization and climate change. He explained that given the large proportion of water used for agriculture, it is expected that a major share of that reallocation will come from this sector.

He indicated that the FAO generally believes that the widespread degradation of natural resources, which are essential for food production, combined with the already observable effects of climate change in some agricultural sectors, threatens the achievement of global food security. He pointed out that the challenge facing the agricultural sector will be to produce more with less, under increasingly difficult production conditions, while trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions so as not to amplify the effects of climate change.

Mr. Drouin explained that this is why it is important for parliamentarians to look at this issue and examine possible solutions. He stressed that the solution he is proposing focuses on the importance of intelligent agriculture and the benefits of digital technologies. Indeed, according to the FAO, intelligent agriculture has three main goals: it must ensure sustainable growth in agricultural productivity; it must encourage adaptation measures; and it must support mitigation measures, which involve human intervention to reduce greenhouse gas sources or enhance greenhouse gas sinks.

He emphasized that it is imperative to recognize and acknowledge that digital technologies can be extremely beneficial for intelligent agriculture. Indeed, in a 2016 report, the World Bank looked at the impact of digital technologies on economic development and identified agriculture as one of six sectors of interest. It determined that digital innovations can improve the well-being of rural populations in several ways.

Mr. Drouin commented that digital technologies can increase on-farm productivity. According to the World Bank, global variations in agricultural productivity are due to sub-optimal agricultural practices and lack of management capacity. A wide variety of products and techniques to increase productivity are available to farmers. These products and techniques have not been widely adopted in developing countries, however, partly because of the challenge of making them known to farmers and ensuring that they understand how to use them.

He pointed out that access to information on this front is difficult. Indeed, agricultural extension service officers, who provide this type of service, often have to travel to meet farmers on site. Digital technologies can provide farmers with quick access to information on best agricultural practices. Mr. Drouin explained, for example, that some organizations offer extension services using calls, text messages, videos and the Internet. The same technology can also be used to send information related to weather conditions or to alert the most distant farmers of the risk of flooding or pest infestation. He added that a more sophisticated way to obtain this type of information would be for farmers to have their own weather station on their land. For instance, by uploading weather data directly to the Internet, ISAGRI’s Météus station and rain gauge in France allows farmers and wine producers to access very accurate weather data through a mobile application.

He also explained that large producers who want to increase their productivity can also use technologies such as digital soil mapping, remote sensing, satellite imagery, robotics or remote irrigation systems. These technologies allow precision farming but require significant investments. He mentioned that in addition to on-farm productivity gains, precision farming systems can lead to more sustainable farming practices by providing for accurate resource optimization and monitoring. Indeed, in a 2016 study on the subject, the European Parliament identified several environmental benefits associated with precision farming techniques. Mr. Drouin noted for example, that sensors and remote sensing can be used to remotely assess crop and soil health and detect plant diseases, allowing for decreased and more targeted use of herbicides or pesticides.

He went on to say that digital technologies can improve market transparency by allowing farmers to access more accurate market information without the need for an intermediary or having to visit the market in advance. They also reduce price differences for the same product and reduce losses. Use of a cell phone connects more remote farmers with a greater number of vendors, enabling them to obtain more information on the price of products in different markets. This tool allows for circumventing a common problem in developing countries, which is that agricultural supply chains are often dominated by intermediaries who are more knowledgeable than farmers about sales conditions and prices. In recent years, there have also been digital platforms that enable farmers to access information about the products available on the market and their prices. These platforms also make it possible to bring buyers and sellers of agricultural products together in a virtual market.

Mr. Drouin added that digital technologies can strengthen logistics and quality control by optimizing the supply chain, improving the coordination of transport and product traceability, and facilitating payments and cash transfers. According to the World Bank, studies show an increasing use of cellular phones in transport coordination and in the dissemination of information among the various stakeholders in the supply chain. This allows farmers, for example, to contact transport companies to indicate that they have a given quantity of products to transport to the market. In return, carriers may also contact farmers to inform them that a truck is available to return unsold products to the village. He indicated that other types of initiatives can also strengthen logistics and quality control, such as radio frequency identification chips to track production and collect information on temperature and deterioration.

He indicated that despite all of this, the usefulness of digital tools and their benefits depend on several contextual factors. According to the United Nations, about 1.4 billion people, the majority of them in rural areas, still do not have access to electricity. In fact, according to the World Bank, there are more people in developing countries with cell phones than with access to electricity or drinking water. He explained that access to digital technologies has spread rapidly over the past decade. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) indicates that between 2005 and 2016, the number of cellular subscriptions worldwide increased from 2.2 billion to 7.5 billion. In Africa, subscriptions increased eightfold from 2005 to 2016. The number of individuals using the Internet tripled between 2005 and 2016. In Africa, that number has risen from 15 million to 190 million.

Mr. Drouin pointed out, however, that only 40% of households in developing countries have access to the Internet at home, compared with 83% in developed countries. The African continent has the lowest penetration rate, with only 16% of households having Internet access at home. According to the World Bank, in developing countries, cell phones are the main form of Internet access. Although the Internet is available in almost all countries, intensity of use is much lower in certain countries given that not all regions have access. Therefore, although the globalization of cellular and Internet access has made it possible to develop digital initiatives in the agricultural sector, there are still several obstacles to overcome before the benefits can be globally maximized.

Mr. Drouin concluded by stating that he would present a second version of this draft report in Québec City in July. That version would provide more detail on digital technologies in agriculture in the Francophonie and initiatives from APF member countries.

He terminated by reiterating that digital technologies have the potential to contribute to intelligent agriculture and thereby to efforts towards food security and the eradication of hunger. It is crucial that parliamentarians address this important issue.

The Committee Chairperson thanked Mr. Drouin for his contribution.

A discussion ensued on digital technology for sustainable agriculture in the Francophonie.

Other reports

Mr. Benoit Charrette, Member (Quebec), then presented his draft report on the economic strategy for the Francophonie, as well as his report on the follow-up to international trade negotiations.

The Chairperson then invited Mr. Baritse Dametoti, Member (Togo), to present the draft report on health systems in the Francophonie. That report covers the following topics: the importance of health systems for the development of countries, health system governance, the organization of health systems, the financing of health systems and the performance of health systems.

Discussions on future Committee work

The Committee then discussed its future work. The French Branch proposed producing a draft report on the impact of the digital revolution on employment in the Francophonie, and the Quebec Branch proposed a draft report on access to digital technology. The Chairperson indicated that it remained to be determined who would be the rapporteur for the draft report on transport and tourism and economic impact. The Burkina Faso and Senegal branches both volunteered.

Date and location of the next Committee meeting

The Committee Chairperson indicated that the next meeting would take place on July 8, 2018 in Québec City.

Respectfully submitted,

Darrell Samson, M.P.
President of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (CAPF)