I would like to thank you for the opportunity to appear today on behalf of Cooperation Canada, the national independent voice for international co-operation representing more than 100 Canadian development and humanitarian organizations.
When Canada released its Africa Strategy in March, we welcomed it as a long-needed step toward a more coherent, forward-looking approach to the continent. However, its success depends on clear investments, measurable goals and sustained diplomatic, economic and international-assistance efforts.
Today’s meeting is an opportunity to assess the strategy and reflect on Canada’s broader international co-operation efforts. My remarks highlight several priorities Canada must uphold to effectively and responsibly engage African partners.
First, Africa presents enormous opportunities for deeper Canadian engagement in trade diversification, for example in critical minerals. These opportunities offer real potential for shared prosperity, but mutual benefit requires more than commercial activity. It requires partnerships grounded in shared values, including inclusive and sustainable growth, and high standards of transparency, environmental protection and human rights.
International assistance can create and support long-term economic benefits. By helping build stable economies and stronger institutions, it expands future markets, supports predictable trading relationships and contributes to global security. This benefits African and Canadian entrepreneurs and businesses, but Canada's interests in pursuing economic opportunities must not lead to a return of practices such as tied aid, which is aid that is made conditional on purchasing goods and services from a donor country. Tied aid distorts priorities, limits impacts and reduces value for money. Canada untied its aid for a reason, and reversing that decision or moving in that direction would undermine our credibility.
Second, recent cuts to Canada's international assistance budget, which is under two per cent of federal spending, put the ambitions of the Africa strategy at risk. Budget 2025 announced a $2.7-billion reduction over four years. Cuts of this scale undermine Canada's ability to honour commitments at a time of escalating humanitarian needs.
Third, Canada must prioritize actions that address structural barriers to development, especially the debt crisis. More than half of low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa are in or at high risk of debt distress, with some spending more on debt service than on health or education. Trade and investment are important, but trade and investment alone cannot unlock development when countries are trapped in unsustainable debt.
Fourth, humanitarian crises, such as in Sudan, underscore why principled international assistance remains essential. This catastrophic conflict, marked by mass displacement, famine and governance collapse, shows that development is not optional; it is often a lifeline. A focus on economic co-operation is important, but it cannot come at the expense of indispensable humanitarian, peacebuilding and stabilization efforts.
Sudan also highlights the need for policy coherence across Canada's foreign policy tools, including on arms exports. Canada cannot credibly advocate for peace and human rights if Canadian-origin military goods reach fragile or authoritarian environments.
Finally, locally led development, civil society engagement and gender equality must be important parts of the Africa strategy. African civil society is foundational to democratic resilience and inclusive development. Gender equality is a driver of economic transformation, accountable governance and sustainable peace. The strategy must embrace this leadership and civil society and gender equality across its pillars.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you all this morning. The Africa strategy is a welcome step forward. Its success will depend on grounding it in sustainable and inclusive economic development, principled development co-operation, support for African leadership and coherent foreign policy.
Thank you.