August 26, 2005
No. 155
Jacques Saada, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the
Regions of Quebec and Minister responsible for La Francophonie, today announced
that St. Boniface, Manitoba, will host a La Francophonie ministerial conference in the
spring of 2006 on conflict prevention and human security. Mr. Saada made the
announcement alongside Treasury Board President Reg Alcock and St. Boniface MP
Raymond Simard.
“As Canadians, we must act beyond our borders to protect and promote our values and
interests, and actively support peoples seeking freedom, stability, democracy and,
above all, a better life,” said Mr. Saada.
The conference, which will bring together foreign affairs ministers of La Francophonie,
confirms La Francophonie’s commitment to implementing and developing democracy,
preventing conflicts and supporting human rights and the rule of law. The objectives of
the meeting are to promote La Francophonie’s conflict-prevention activities and to
contribute to the human security debate.
Proposed by Prime Minister Paul Martin at the Francophonie Summit held in Burkina
Faso in November 2004, this conference is in keeping with the identification in
Canada’s International Policy Statement of La Francophonie as one of the multilateral
organizations in which Canada intends to advance its international human security
agenda.
Founded in 1970, the International Organization of La Francophonie today has
49 member states and participating governments, four associate states and 10
observer states.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Daniel Dezainde
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions
of Quebec and Minister responsible for La Francophonie
(613) 944-1291
(514) 496-1282
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca
