I can check and get back to you, but I believe a commitment was made more than 40 or 50 years ago.
As several people have pointed out today and at other committee meetings that I've watched, there is currently an opportunity for Canada to have a greater influence going forward, particularly in West Africa. There really is a vacuum at the moment. These countries want to pursue relationships with countries like Canada, but right now it's like they have a choice between France and Russia and that's it. I'm exaggerating a bit, but that's the feeling.
That means now would be a good time for Canada to step up its involvement in Africa, perhaps by devoting additional resources and taking on a more serious role. Canada is highly respected and could play a transformative role in a part of the world that has major growth potential but also the potential to become unstable. Canada can and should make a major contribution.