Excellencies, thank you very much for being here today.
I must say that I'm quite disappointed in this report. I think it has been based on erroneous information that has been given to you.
I'm reading, on page 4, “figures...show a downward trend in official public assistance to Africa for the sake of other countries of the world”.
Apparently, whatever your source of information was, they failed to tell you that in fact aid to Africa from Canada in the last three years has been doubled, to an amount of $2.1 billion. Given that it has not only doubled but that we have shown leadership not only in doubling it on time but in fact a year ahead of time—a year ahead of all of the other countries—I think it's really regrettable that you would write, “Are we to believe that our long-time friend Canada is leaving the place for others...?”
The fact is, our Prime Minister and our government have shown the kind of leadership you would expect in the world, shown that we are prepared to follow through on our commitments, that we are prepared to double our aid. The information you have received is obviously incorrect.
When you speak about Canada retaking our place of leadership in the context of a renewed strategy of partnership in a win-win situation, again, I am somewhat surprised that the fact that the aid has been doubled would not be taken into account. We don't have time to get into the issue of the targeted countries, but if you consider Africa...of the $4.3 billion that CIDA puts out to the world, $2.1 billion goes to Africa. I think the characterization you have made of the government and the people of Canada is really quite unfortunate. I know it must have come about as a result of some bad information you have received.
With respect to the people I have spoken to from the nations of Africa—I'm just trying to recover the list.... There are people at this table whom I have spoken to. I have spoken, I believe, to seven or eight nations; I was communicating the decision that the Government of Canada made. I know that all of you as ambassadors would respect the fact that when a country decides what it's going to do, it decides what it's going to do. The door of my office and the door of my minister are always open to have further discussions, so that there can be greater clarity as to exactly what is involved in the countries of focus.
You have been very direct with us, and I respect that. I hope you will respect the fact that I have been direct with you.
Thank you.