The Saskatoon branch of the Canadian International Council invites you an event, free of charge and open to the public, on the following important international issue:

TOPIC: Supporting Low Income Countries Amid a Polycrisis:  Democratic Solidarity at a Crossroads

SPEAKER:  Jean-François Tardif, Results Canada

DATE:     Wednesday, November 23, 2022

PLACE:    Saskatoon Club, 417 21st Street East, Saskatoon

TIME:     8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

~~~ This is the seventh event of our 2022-23 program ~~~

[Come for the event, starts at 8:00 p.m.

Or, for more information, come to the dinner as well as the presentation. Read further below about  joining the speakers for dinner beforehand.]

In 2020, the world was already falling behind in its efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Then the pandemic hit – creating ripple effects that have severely affected health and education systems, as well as the economy in general.

These effects (“COVID scarring”), which could have lasting consequences , are now compounded by other crises, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine: food crisis, fuel crisis, fertilizer crisis, as well as generalized inflation, high interest rates and disrupted supply chains.

All of this hits even more severely hits highly indebted low-income countries (LICs), who have very little resilience; and with high global interest rates and significant donor funding going to supporting Ukraine, the combined effect of all these other crises can send many LICs down a spiral of dysfunctionality and social tensions that could lead to catastrophic unrest and disruptions.

Can we do both? Can we address the current international security threats AND help the Global South tackle the deep multivariate wounds of COVID scarring in pursuit of the SDGs? Our speaker proposes several strategies which offer hope that we CAN walk and chew gum at the same time.

About our speaker:

Jean-François Tardif is an independent consultant in international development and adviser on economic issues at Results Canada, one of the largest international development advocacy organizations. He is an active participant in the Leadership Collaborative To End Ultra-Poverty and has led research on the Global State of Ultra-Poverty. Prior to this, Jean-François devoted much of his efforts to supporting the growth of citizen advocacy groups in Africa and around the world. From 2011 to 2013, he was Executive Director of Results Canada, as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Council for International Co-operation. Previously, Jean-François had a long career in the federal government, holding the positions of Principal Negotiator, Director and Chief Federal Negotiator on Aboriginal Land Claims, then Director General and Secretary General of the Public Service Commission. He holds a degree (MBA) from the Paris Business School with a specialization in public/health organizations, a degree from the Paris Institute of Political Studies (political economy) and a Master’s degree in Policy Analysis from Université Laval.

Itinerary:

6:00 p.m. Doors open, pre-dinner chat

6:30 p.m. Dinner with the speaker (register online at the Eventbrite site, deadline November 21)

7:40 p.m. Doors open for public presentation

8:00 p.m. Public presentation – free and open to the public

9:30 p.m. Event concludes

DINNER WITH THE SPEAKER:

Want to find out even more about the issues, and discuss them with the speaker and other internationalists? Consider buying a dinner ticket and joining us at 6:00 p.m., also at the Saskatoon Club, for dinner with the speaker.

Prices for dinner with the speaker, followed by presentation

$20 – Students

$35 – Non-student CIC members

$40 – Nonmembers

Register for dinner with the speaker before Monday, November 21, 4:00 p.m. Dinner registrants will be expected to pay even if they cannot or do not attend. Persons with dinner reservations who cannot attend are encouraged to find someone else to take their place.