The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that the Honourable Robert Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will travel to Yaoundé, Cameroon, to participate in the 44th session of the Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie on November 4 and 5, 2023.

“The French language is a central element of our national identity. Its promotion, along with the democratic values enshrined in the Charter of La Francophonie, plays a key role in international relations. I look forward to participating in the Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie to reiterate the importance of La Francophonie to Canada.”

- Robert Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

• Canada is a founding and active member of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), where it has maintained a strong and sustained commitment for over 50 years.

• On November 20, 2022, at the Sommet de la Francophonie in Djerba, Tunisia, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada’s investments in support of Francophonie institutions.

• The Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie oversees the implementation of decisions made during La Francophonie Summit and approves the OIF’s budget and financial reports.

Associated links

• Canada and La Francophonie
• Prime Minister strengthens ties with the French-speaking world at the Sommet de la Francophonie

Isabella Orozco-Madison
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Isabella.Orozco-Madison@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
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