OTTAWA—His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, will open the proceedings of the 40th session of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF), along with the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, and His Excellency Abdou Diouf, Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, on Monday, July 7, 2014, at 9 a.m. at the Fairmont Château Laurier hotel, in Ottawa (1 Rideau St.). His Excellency will deliver a speech during the opening ceremony.
After the session has begun, the Governor General will meet with His Excellency Abdou Diouf
at 10 a.m. to discuss issues related to La Francophonie.
This 40th session of the APF, which will bring together nearly 350 delegates from 45 member branches, will be presided over by the Honourable Andrée Champagne, Senator and President of the APF, at the invitation of the Honourable Andrew Scheer, Speaker of the House of Commons, and the Honourable Noël Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate. For more information on this event, please visit www.40apf.ca.
The APF was established in 1967 to create a democratic link between the institutions and people of La Francophonie. The APF is a forum for debate, the discussion of proposals and the sharing of information on all matters that are of common interest to its members. Working in close collaboration with the International Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF), it initiates and implements action in the areas of interparliamentary cooperation and democratic development. The APF also submits an opinion to the heads of State and Government during Francophonie Summits. For more information on the APF, please visit www.apf.francophonie.org [site in French only].
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Any members of the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery who would like to cover the 40th Session of the APF can present their credentials at the Château Laurier. Members of the media without Gallery credentials must complete the application for accreditation at www.40apf.ca.
There will also be a photo opportunity at the beginning of the meeting with Mr. Diouf,
at 10 a.m., in the Fairmont Château Laurier hotel’s Burgundy Room.
For media accreditation, please contact Mr. Terry Guillon, Chief of the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery
at 613-992-4511 or at Terry.Guillon@parl.gc.ca.
Julie Rocheleau
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-998-7280
julie.rocheleau@gg.ca
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