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JOINT STATEMENT ON THE
CANADA-AFRICA PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION DELEGATION’S BILATERAL VISIT TO
Ouagadougou, September 7 to 12, 2010
As part of a bilateral visit, a delegation from the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association travelled to Burkina Faso from September 7 to 12, 2010.
The delegation was led by Mauril Bélanger, MP, Co-Chair of the Association. He was accompanied by Lois Brown, MP, Vice-Chair of the Association; Paul Massicote, Senator, Director of the Association; and Robert Carrier, MP, Director of the Association. The delegation was assisted by Maxime Ricard, Secretary of the Association, and Michael Dewing, Analyst for the Association.
The objectives of the visit were as follows:
- to strengthen bilateral ties and parliamentary cooperation; - to engage parliamentarians on the issues of democracy, governance and the economy; - to strengthen relations with regional organizations, particularly the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); and - to inform the delegates about Canada’s activities in the region through contacts with parliamentarians, government officials, civil society groups and businesses.
To meet these objectives, the delegation met with Burkinabe parliamentarians, government officials and representatives of political parties, representatives from Burkina Faso institutions and civil society organizations. In addition, the delegation made site visits and saw some of the country’s socioeconomic progress and also that made by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
During their stay, the delegation was granted an audience with His Excellency Roch Marc Christian KABORÉ, Speaker of the Assemblée nationale. The two parties exchanged information on life in their respective institutions, parliamentary cooperation and issues of mutual interest.
Mr. Bélanger and his delegation were also received by His Excellency Blaise COMPAORÉ, President of Burkina Faso and President of the Council of Ministers, together with the Speaker of the Assemblée and Burkinabe parliamentarians. The discussions with the President of Burkina Faso touched on peace in that region of Africa, democracy, the vision and the priorities for an emerging Burkina Faso, and bilateral relations with Canada.
The Canadian delegation also took part in working sessions with the Commission électorale nationale indépendante, the Conseil supérieur de la communication, parliamentarians from the majority and from the opposition, civil society groups, and the national media.
Several ministers, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation, Economics and Finance, Mines, Quarries and Energy, Health, and Women’s Equality made highly informative presentations to the Canadian delegation.
During an information session on Burkina Faso’s Assemblée nationale, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, the African Parliamentary Union, the Africa-Caribbean-Pacific–European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the ECOWAS Parliament, the UEMOA Inter-Parliamentary Committee, and the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Member States, the Canadian parliamentarians and the Burkina Faso–Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group learned about each other’s democratic experiences and the role of the Burkinabe parliament in regional and international bodies. They also had exchanges on international cooperation and parliamentary diplomacy, the latter with a focus on inter-parliamentary action for peace, inter-parliamentary cooperation and democracy.
At the end of their discussions, the parties congratulated each other for the emerging consensus on the matters discussed and on the warm and constructive working atmosphere throughout the sessions.
The Canadian delegation also travelled to locations where socio-economic progress is being made. They visited the Essakane gold mine in the Sahel region, the local CIDA offices, a dairy farm and the Fédération des caisses populaires du Burkina Faso. The delegation met with Canadian companies doing business in Burkina Faso, saw the Laongo granite sculpture park and visited Ouagadougou’s handicrafts village.
At the end of their stay in Burkina Faso, the head of the delegation, Mr. Bélanger, thanked the Speaker of the Assemblée nationale and all the Burkinabe parliamentarians and officials for their warm welcome and for all their hospitality throughout the Canadians’ visit. In particular, the Canadian delegation mentioned how helpful the Burkina Faso–Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group and its president, Dr. Tiémoko KONATE, had been. Mr. Bélanger promised to welcome them with the same enthusiasm when the Group decides to make a trip to Canada. Mr. Bélanger also thanked His Excellency Jules SAVARIA, Canada’s Ambassador to Burkina Faso, and his assistants for their valuable help in preparation for and during the visit.
Ouagadougou, September 12, 2010 President of the Burkina Faso-Canada Co-Chair of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Friendship Group Parliamentary Association
Deputy Tiémoko KONATE Mauril BÉLANGER, MP
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