Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to all the witnesses.
I'm going to encourage you to keep pushing the government. At times like this, I wish I were a witness rather than a questioner.
I also wanted to state clearly to the committee that I obviously have a vested interest in this strategy, having worked on it for two years and having had modest success with it. It obviously isn't everything I pushed for, and I will encourage you to keep pushing for its actualization in government policy.
I want to point out that I'm very pleased that the Conservatives are starting to find value in development and assistance. In the last campaign, they actually promised to cut billions of dollars in foreign aid to shore up defence. If there has been a change of heart on that side, I'm very pleased.
I also want to talk a little about—and it's perhaps an overused word—the nexus between trade and development.
I'll probably talk too long. I usually like to ask questions, but I'm motivated to say a few words. A core part of the strategy is to move from dependence and charity to mutual benefit and mutual prosperity, not tied aid. I would point out that there's a big difference between mutual respect and mutual benefit and tied aid. Tied aid has not proven to be beneficial to either country. It doesn't work to stimulate development in the countries that are the objects of the aid, nor does it really stimulate the economy of the country that is providing the aid. It's inefficient, it's expensive, and it doesn't work. Mutual benefit talks about looking at countries eye to eye and recognizing the opportunities.
Maybe the first question, after a long preamble, would be about the opportunities we have for bringing together our development world and our trade world to promote economic well-being in Africa as a strategic measure. I need to couple that with saying that if you don't know the answer to some of the questions you're asked, I have answers for them. You be the committee, and I'll be the witness somewhere. We'll have a cup of coffee, and I can talk about our new Africa trade hub. It is up and running, and it is a place where we are changing the way our trade commission works.
We do have an enhanced presence on the continent. It's not enough yet, but we are also continuing to look at risk and at Canada's role in risk reduction to help businesses want to develop their footprint on the continent. Obviously, we have chosen Benin to upgrade our mission to an embassy. There was an attempted coup on Sunday. Let's be realistic about the problems on the continent without overemphasizing them.
This is a continent of opportunity, but there are risks. There are about 30 conflicts being waged on the continent right now. We're not naive, but we recognize that if we don't act today, we won't be there in 10 or 15 years, because we'll have missed a window that's opened, and other countries will be there.
I would love to be a witness. Let's delve in a little bit on that nexus between trade and development and mutual benefit, which is different from tied aid.
Perhaps, Elise, we can start with you.