Foreign Affairs committee  Yes, it is. As my colleague from Burkina Faso said earlier, our countries must act, but we need help from our friends, particularly Canada. If Canada or other countries do not help us, that will certainly have a very detrimental long-term impact on Africa.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you for your question. My country was not on the list, and therefore was not removed. I can tell you one thing, however. When you have something and someone comes along and takes it away, you cannot just say that you are happy it has been taken away. That would be very surprising, but what I do know is this: as Dean, I have discussed this information with some of the ambassadors.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With your permission, in my capacity as Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps here in Canada, I will be speaking before my colleague from Burkina Faso. Mr. Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, honourable members of Parliament, ladies and gentlemen, it is a tremendous pleasure for myself and all my colleagues to be with you this afternoon in the prestigious edifice which is the Parliament of Canada.