Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you.

Foreign Affairs committee  For three years now, people have been floating around the rather astonishing idea that, by the middle of this century, there may be 500, 600 or even 700 million French speakers as a result of Africa. I don't agree. The growth of the world's French‑speaking population won't take place in America or Europe, of course.

Foreign Affairs committee  I believe that Canada really can't be in every sector. Canada isn't the European Union, the United States or China. It doesn't have the same resources. You must know which sector you want to invest in. I hope that the report on Africa's future expected from one of your colleagues, who is here today, will identify Canada's areas for action.

Foreign Affairs committee  Mr. Bergeron, you asked a question earlier about the future of French in Africa. I won't have time to answer it in 20 seconds. However, I do want to make a comment.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yet you're elected for five years, right?

Foreign Affairs committee  By renegotiating the free trade agreement in recent years, Canada has sorted out its relationship with the United States and North America. It sorted out its relationship with Europe by establishing a free trade agreement. It's now seeking to sort out—and rightly so—its relationship with the Indo‑Pacific region through Canada's Indo‑Pacific strategy.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you. I know that you're familiar with these issues. However, certain parts of Africa, especially west Africa, are becoming energy suppliers. For example, Nigeria supplies energy for Egypt and Morocco and Niger supplies energy for other parts of the continent. Let's not forget new energy technologies, which are highly developed in some countries.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes. This is also the case for China.

Foreign Affairs committee  It may come from Alberta.

Foreign Affairs committee  Do you remember China in 1990? It was one of the poorest countries in the world and the most populated country in the world. Look at it today. Why? It's because people like us have invested. The Americans, the Europeans, the Japanese, the Chinese in other parts of the world outside of China have invested immensely in China.

Foreign Affairs committee  I was applauding the work being done by Canadians in Africa. Professor Grant said earlier that he has been going to Africa for 20 years. I have been going for 21 years, if not 30. I have seen the development of Canada's presence. I went to Africa many times during my 12 years as the secretary general of the francophonie and then my seven years as president of Rights and Democracy.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Members of Parliament, I would like to greet you all. I almost feel like remaining silent. There are so many things to say about the new Africa, which Member Oliphant mentioned. We're not in 2000. We're in 2024, and we'll be in 2030, 2034 and 2040. It will soon be 2045.