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Canada in La Francophonie
The Honourable Bernard Valcourt is appointed Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and la Francophonie.
Since 1990, every year, we celebrate the International Day of La Francophonie on March 20th around the world, to recall the day in 1970 when the treaty creating the first intergovernmental body of the Francophonie, called Agence de coopération culturelle et technique (ACCT), was signed in Niamey (Niger). Since that day, the ACCT has evolved and is known today as the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.
This anniversary is an opportunity for us to celebrate our attachment not only to the French language and the rich and diverse Francophone culture, but also to the values of peace, democracy and respect for human rights. These are all elements that unite the members of the International Organization of La Francophonie.
Canada’s involvement in La Francophonie reflects our country’s linguistic duality and the importance we place on our shared values. French is an essential component of Canada’s history and heritage, and a vital asset for our future.
Today there are 75 states and governments in the International Organisation of La Francophonie, including 56 members and 19 observer countries. Spoken by 220 million people around the world, French is an official language in 32 states and governments of La Francophonie.
Acknowledging the importance of the French presence within its borders and determined to support the role of its francophone community internationally, Canada was one of the first countries to promote La Francophonie by helping establish and develop its institutions. For instance, Canada was one of the founding members of the Agency for Cultural and Technical Co-operation (ACCT), established in 1970 in Niamey, Niger. Canada has since assumed a leadership role, and is a member of all of the multilateral institutions and ministerial conferences of La Francophonie. The Government of Canada is the second largest donor after France, contributing approximately $40 million per year to the International Organization of La Francophonie and Francophone institutions.
Canada hosted the Second Summit of Heads of State and Government Using French as a Common Language, held in Quebec City in 1987, the Eighth Summit, held in Moncton in 1999, and the 12th, held in Quebec City in 2008, the year of the 400th anniversary of the founding of that city, which is one of the oldest in the Americas.
On becoming a member of La Francophonie, Canada joined an extensive network of 75 states and governments using French as a common language. They are located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, and North America. Through this network, Canadians have greater opportunities to play an international role in the areas of language and culture, politics, the economy, new technology and co-operation; and the rest of the world can observe Canada's unique contribution to the development of a modern and diverse international francophone community.
2010 News
Prime Minister Stephen Harper attended the 13th Francophonie Summit; in Montreux, Switzerland from October 22 to 24, 2010. Representatives from some 70 states and governments using French as a common language and from all five continents took part in the Montreux Summit. Prime Minister Harper was accompanied by Josée Verner, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister for La Francophonie. Minister Verner attended the 26th Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie which preceded the Summit, on October 20 and 21, 2010.
As outgoing chair and host of the last Conference of the Heads of State and Government of Countries using French as a Common Language, held in Quebec City in 2008, Canada handed over presidency of the Summit to Switzerland.
The Summit, the highest authority in La Francophonie, is held every two years and gathers the Heads of States and Governments of all member countries of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) around themes of discussion.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of La Francophonie. The Charter of La Francophonie was signed at the Niamey Conference in Niger on March 20th, 1970. The Montreux Summit was an opportunity to recall all the work accomplished during the past four decades and to reflect on the challenges that lie ahead.
This is why during this year's Summit, under the main theme "Challenges and Outlook for La Francophonie", the delegates were invited to hold discussions on three specific thematics: La Francophonie, international relations actor; La Francophonie and sustainable development; and the French language and education in the era of globalisation.
