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Canada's Participation in La Francophonie
Membership in La Francophonie is one of the main thrusts of Canada's foreign policy. From a domestic perspective, Canada's involvement in La Francophonie highlights the country's linguistic duality and supports and promotes Canada's French community. Internationally, La Francophonie is a natural sphere of influence for Canada, similar to the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Commonwealth. It is also a multilateral forum for cooperation and dialogue in which Canada can use its influence to promote the values its citizens wish to share.
In La Francophonie, Canada endeavours to further the development of democratic institutions, human rights, the rule of law, and peace and human security. It can also benefit from the political, cultural, scientific and other contributions made by its fellow members.
Political Objectives
promote increased cooperation with other international organizations working in the same fields;
develop flexible, speedy monitoring and intervention mechanisms to respond to sudden changes that disrupt the international climate;
and devote more effort to issues related to peace and human security, democratic development, human rights and conflict prevention.
Economic Objectives
promote the integration of La Francophonie's least developed country members into the global economic system;
promote the principles of sound economic management and policies aimed at ensuring greater transparency in public administration;
promote the private sector's involvement with young people and encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship.
Cooperation Objectives
encourage the design of aid programs that are enshrined on the principles of aid efficiency and results-based management;
encourage programs aimed at eradicating poverty and promoting the rule of law, good governance and the protection of human rights;
encourage action that is respectful of gender equality.
Canada's ultimate goal is to contribute to the development of a true community that will strengthen its members' interdependence and foster an atmosphere of solidarity.
Provincial Involvement
To make it possible for the provinces to take part in the activities of La Francophonie, the Government of Canada proposed an innovative approach in the early 1970s: the status of participating government was granted to Quebec in 1971 and to New Brunswick in 1977.
This spirit of openness also allowed Quebec and New Brunswick to be associated with the summits of La Francophonie from the outset. Under agreements negotiated with the federal government in 1985, these two provinces are full participants in matters of co-operation. Also, after consulting with and obtaining the approval of the Prime Minister of Canada, Quebec and New Brunswick can act on global economic issues of interest to them. The agreements also give them status as "interested observers" when international political issues are discussed during the summits. For a number of years, the Government of Canada has invited the governments to take part in the summits by appointing a representative to the Canadian delegation.
Canadian management of La Francophonie
The Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) (La Francophonie), the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, is in charge of this file in Cabinet.
Day-to-day responsibility for managing Canada's participation in La Francophonie has been assigned to the Francophonie Affairs Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, which coordinates all aspects of this participation at the departmental and interdepartmental levels. The Division also manages the bulk of budget resources that Canada devotes to the Organisation internationale de La Francophonie and to Francophonie institutions.
La Francophonie Affairs Division works in close cooperation with the Canadian Prime Minister's personal representative for La Francophonie in order to prepare for and follow up on Summits and ministerial conferences. The Prime Minister's personal representative sits on the Permanent Council of la Francophonie (Conseil permanent de la Francophonie), which facilitates, coordinates and referees the political, economic and cooperative aspects of activities undertaken by la Francophonie's institutions.
Canada's presence in La Francophonie is also supported by a small team in Paris, led by the National Correspondent for La Francophonie (Correspondant national pour La Francophonie), who manages Canada's relations with the various Paris-based organs of La Francophonie. In addition to acting as the special liaison with the Organisation internationale de La Francophonie (OIF) for all programming-related matters, the national correspondent represents Canada on the Permanent Council's commissions, as well as in the various ad hoc groups charged with preparing for the ministerial conferences and the Summits.
The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is the main source of funds granted by Canada to Francophonie cooperation programs.
With cooperation within La Francophonie having become increasingly specialized and multidisciplinary, the Department consults regularly with other interlocutors on issues of the day. In addition to CIDA and Canadian Heritage, which play an essential role in La Francophonie, other departments, such as Industry Canada (information technologies), Justice Canada (democracy, legal cooperation) and Environment Canada are also involved.
