Hello everyone. We’ve just wrapped up the Summit of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie here in Tunisia. Together with our partners, we’re continuing our work to promote the French language, both at home and around the world. Throughout the Summit, Canada was a strong voice for democracy and human rights. We also talked a lot about the economy, what we can do to create good, sustainable jobs and help people with the rising cost of living.

The French language is important to us, and it’s a part of who we are as Canadians. We continue to be there to support La Francophonie’s mission of promoting the French language, including through education and training.

Today, I am announcing an investment to support the Agence universitaire de la francophonie, which, for example, will help improve access to quality education. These efforts are in addition to the investments announced earlier this year for scholarships primarily for La Francophonie countries. I can also announce that Canada will renew its funding in support of the OIF to promote the French language, but also to strengthen democracy and human rights and to encourage a strong, sustainable economy.

Regarding sustainable development in Francophone Sahel, we are investing to support various projects, particularly in Burkina Faso and Mali. This region includes some of the poorest countries in the world. These countries are experiencing violence, famine, and instability. These projects will, among other things, give thousands of young women better access to education and quality services related to sexual health and reproductive rights, and will also help prevent and respond to sexual violence.

In Mali, which is facing food insecurity, we will invest in the ACTION project aimed at agriculture and nutrition to help impoverished rural regions.

Canada will continue to be there to support democracy, peace and security around the world. Today, I’m announcing that we’re investing in the new Democracy in La Francophonie Initiative to provide fast and flexible support to partner countries. This will help address emerging challenges and threats to democracy and human rights, and it includes help to make societies and governments more resilient in dealing with disinformation.

Today, Minister Joly and I hosted a meeting on the margins of the Summit to discuss the situation in Haiti. We announced humanitarian aid, support to help increase security in Haiti, and additional sanctions. We encouraged our partners to do their part as well. The Canadian and Haitian populations share very close ties. I’m thinking about the Haitian community in Montréal, which I know very well, and which makes an enormous contribution to our society. This instability often affects their family members. That is why we are there to support the people of Haiti, and we know that to achieve lasting impacts, it’s important that Haitians are leading the solutions.

Whether during the summits in the Indo-Pacific region earlier this week or here in Tunisia, for the Sommet de la Francophonie, our priorities are the issues that matter to Canadians. Climate change, education, the rising cost of living, the effects of the pandemic, these are global issues that require global solutions. By being at the decision table, Canada is part of these solutions. We continue our work to create good jobs for Canadians and opportunities for our businesses while building a cleaner, safer world for everyone.

Thank you everyone.