Monsieur Bradet, thank you for coming, and thanks to the other gentlemen as well.
I have three questions I'd like to ask you. I'll give you the time to answer them as you need to.
The first is on your impression of the 18 or 19 ambassadors who came here last week. I know that to the committee, it was unprecedented. We weren't quite ready for it, or prepared for it. We often talk, when we do development assistance in Africa, about the need for Africans to find their own voice. Suddenly, it seemed to me that they found it and brought it right here. I think that's great; that's exactly what needed to happen.
I would like to know what your impression of that was. What do you think that means?
Second, you do broad networking. What is your perception around the world, and perhaps even within Canada, of these feelings about Canada slowly leaving Africa? I know when I've spoken with development ministers from the EU or from Britain, for instance, they have their own view of that. I'm not trying to colour your thinking; I'm just letting you know. People have obviously been making decisions as they're watching Canada make these moves.
The final one I have for you is this. The government will continue to come back...when they say, yes, we are changing some of the development within Africa, but we're actually doubling our aid to Africa.
I would like to hear what your thoughts are of that and of that pronouncement.