Foreign Affairs Committee on April 4th, 2019

[Françoise Vanni]

Yes, we don't come with only a cheque, indeed.

If we look at it from the point of view of governance, we have country coordination mechanisms. These are spaces where the different stakeholders in a particular country meet and discuss national health plans in terms of ending the three epidemics and building health systems.

That creates a space where effective governance happens. You have the ministers of health, you have civil society, you have the private sector and you have the bilateral donors. All of that drives the decision-making in particular countries. I would say that it also contributes to protecting a space for a national dialogue, including participation from civil society groups.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Not just health but all types of players come together—

[Françoise Vanni]

Yes.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

—even though it's under the auspices of this particular fund.

[Françoise Vanni]

It is a particular focus. That's the multiplier effect of the Global Fund intervention in development outcomes but also in participation from the different actors from those countries.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

You talked about the $14 billion you're looking for now. Is that $14 billion over three years? You're looking to have us at your replenishment event this October. The $14 billion, do you want that now, or is it over three years that you want $14 billion? I'm just trying to....

[Françoise Vanni]

We work through a three-year funding cycle, which allows us and the implementing countries to plan ahead. It's very important to be able to plan a national malaria plan over three years as opposed to one year. Every three years we have this replenishment conference where we expect all of our donors and partners to pledge, which means to commit to provide a certain amount for the following three years. It doesn't mean that the amount is paid at that particular moment, but the political commitment to pledge is made there, and then the payments usually happen every year for most of our donors.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

You're looking for a pledge of $14 billion this October.

[Françoise Vanni]

This is our target, to get at least $14 billion in pledges.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

That's to cover a three-year period.

[Françoise Vanni]

Yes.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

What was it last time? How much did you collect last time?

[Françoise Vanni]

Last time it was the most successful replenishment ever. It was here in Canada. We are very, very grateful to the Government of Canada for that. We got $12.9 billion in pledges at that time, in 2016. Then you have exchange rate variations, right? So if we applied an exchange rate by the end of last year, that would be equivalent to $12.2 billion, which means to go from $12.2 billion to $14 billion, which is the target this time around, we need a 15% increase across the board from our donors.

Again, it's the effects of foreign exchange variations, but that gives you a sense of the increase that is needed to reach the target.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

I know I'm running out of time. I'll be quick.

For a specific ask, vis-à-vis some of the questions my colleagues have asked, it seems to me that Canada is doing its fair share at seventh place, but it would be good if we added 15%. Would that be a fair thing you'd be asking for?

[Françoise Vanni]

There are a few things here. One is to remind ourselves that the G7 has seen the birth and has created the Global Fund. As of today G7 members still constitute about 75% of our income. If we are to increase the investment made through the Global Fund by 15%, it needs to come also from the G7 countries. Otherwise, it just wouldn't add up.

In terms of Canada's commitment, what we have seen is that Canada has consistently increased it's contribution replenishment after replenishment, which is quite remarkable. We would very much hope that, this time again, Canada would be able to step up and provide an increase of at least 15% to be able to make up for the overall needs.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

That's to help meet this goal of $14 billion.

[Françoise Vanni]

Yes. That would be our ask.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

My friend here is going to write you a cheque.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Sorry, Borys, you weren't paying attention, were you?

[Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

I didn't realize....

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Levitt]

Thank you.

MP O'Toole is next, please.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you very much, witnesses.

As the foreign affairs critic, I usually defer to my colleague who's our international development critic, but I wanted to weigh in on how refreshing it was to have you here. The Global Fund is one of these rare things in Ottawa these days for which there's support on all sides of the House of Commons, and I think it's an important part of Canada's diplomacy.

I wanted to thank you for your presentations, particularly Ms. Maturu.

[Loyce Maturu]

Thank you.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

You represent the immense potential that can be tapped if we address the crisis of some of the conditions—AIDS, TB—that the Global Fund targets. My one question before passing back to my colleague would be this, because I admire your being here and now being a champion. The support you received, breaking it down on an individual basis, how much would the support to make you well have cost?

We talk about billions here, but if you actually look at some cases, how much would treatment or some sort of medication be for an individual person? Just see what she's able to do for the wider cause now. How does it break down, whether TB or HIV, on an individual basis? Are we able to get the costs down so that the treatment for a person...? We're looking at hundreds of dollars, and then we get them being champions like Ms. Maturu.

I think sometimes eyes glaze over with big numbers, but on an individual basis it's really quite remarkable how this intervention not only saves lives but helps create a champion.