Ottawa, Ontario - 25 November 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that he will lead a Canadian delegation to Dakar, Senegal, from November 28 to 30, 2014, to participate in the 15th Francophonie Summit. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie, and Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.
The theme of this year's Summit is "Women and Youth: Vectors of Peace and Actors in Development." Participants will work on adopting an eight-year strategic plan and a four-year program of activities to deal with the social, economic and political challenges particularly facing women and youth in Francophonie countries. The Summit will also adopt the first economic strategy for La Francophonie as well as a youth strategy. Prime Minister Harper will deliver remarks at the opening ceremony of the Summit, and will work to help ensure that maternal, newborn and child health remains at the forefront of discussions relating to women and young people.
Leaders will also address a number of pressing international issues, including the global threat of Ebola and the situation in member countries facing crisis situations. They will also select a new Secretary General for the organization.
