Foreign Affairs Committee on June 16th, 2026

[Abdelhaq Sari, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister, thank you for joining us. I want to thank your team as well.

You spoke about the five continents in terms of diplomatic co‑operation. I really appreciated this. However, I would like to focus on one continent in particular, which is Africa. I would also like to divide my comments into two components.

The first component is humanitarian assistance. Minister, you know quite well that security challenges are widespread. There are also challenges related to food security and climate change. My first question for you is as follows.

Can you talk a bit about the government's efforts to address these challenges?

The second component is as follows. Africa isn't merely a source of challenges or problems. There may also be some quite promising business and diplomatic opportunities.

Can you talk about these two types of partnerships that Canada can have with the African continent?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville East, ON]

Thank you for the question.

As you know, we have a strategy for Africa. I would also like to thank Mr. Oliphant for his work on this matter.

Regarding Canada's Africa strategy, we'll continue to build relationships with the African countries. There's no doubt about this. We'll also continue to implement Canada's Africa strategy. This means that, through multilateral partners such as the African Union, we'll support local leadership. The relationship isn't just about providing humanitarian assistance. That isn't the case.

Our strategy will include another component. We'll also engage in a dialogue about our economic relationships. Africa is the largest recipient of international assistance. However, some African countries are also quite rich in natural resources, for example. We'll continue to identify complementary sectors in Canada and in African countries.

I'll be travelling to Africa in the coming weeks. I'll continue to build our economic relationships with Africa, because some African countries are true powerhouses. We'll continue to seek opportunities to diversify our supply chains and our agreements with them.

[Abdelhaq Sari, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Climate change affects a number of countries. As you said, Africa offers a number of opportunities when it comes to natural resources.

How can we strike a balance and continue to show our commitment to combatting climate change while making these investments?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville East, ON]

As I said, we have certain values when it comes to foreign affairs, such as climate change. This means that, in each of our approaches and policies with every country, we discuss how to emphasize the significance of climate change, as well as how to promote our values in general, such as the ban on forced labour.

It's a way to discuss multiple issues at once.

[Abdelhaq Sari, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

My final question relates to the remarks made by my colleague Ms. Fortier regarding the francophonie.

One of the continents with the highest concentration of francophone communities is Africa.

During your next visit or in your future collaboration, how do you plan to capitalize on this to promote a stronger francophonie?

As you can see, I'm from Quebec, and it's clear that the francophonie is one of the challenges on which we want to work hard.

We, too, naturally wish to host the francophonie summit. It is not only Ms. Fortier who wishes this.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville East, ON]

It is worth highlighting the Prime Minister's speech at Davos regarding the importance of multilateralism and the importance of middle powers working together.

The same applies to the francophonie. The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie is a multilateral organization composed of several French-speaking states, such as Canada. That is why we want to host the Sommet de la Francophonie—because we are like them. We have a multilateral system, we speak both French and English, and we are a bilingual country.

Furthermore, our people want their voices to be heard on the international stage in both official languages. That is our policy, and we will continue to seek ways to engage on the international stage alongside other middle powers on behalf of our people. We must recognize that hosting the summit will also bring several economic benefits to the nation's capital. It is therefore important that we work together on this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you very much.

Monsieur Brunelle-Duceppe, you have two and a half minutes.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister, you may find me tiresome, but I must return to the question I asked you earlier.

When I asked you whether the government had put pressure on Mrs. Lalonde and Ms. Jaczek to return to Canada, you replied: “Not to my knowledge”. That is what you said. You will want to check the committee's blues.

However, in a joint statement, Ms. Jaczek and Mrs. Lalonde clarified that they had returned to Canada early on the government's advice in order to avoid any confusion regarding Ottawa's foreign policy.

What you're telling me is that Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs is unaware of a statement made by two MPs from the government caucus who alluded to Canada's foreign policy.

There is one thing I hate, Minister, and I'm saying this so that it's clear—we're amongst ourselves—I don't like being made a laughing stock.

What you're telling me is that you were not aware of this statement regarding the fact that these two MPs were told by their government to cut their trip short and return to Canada.

Do you stand by what you said earlier?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville East, ON]

First of all, I want to say that I value the contributions of my hon. colleague, and in no way am I undermining or making light of your question. It's fully within the process of the committee for you to raise questions of concern to you, and that's exactly what I'm underlining that I have respect for.

My answer remains on the record. I had no conversations with those members, and I will simply say—

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

No, that is not the question I asked you. The question is this: were you aware that—

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville East, ON]

Could I just finish my answer?

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Were you aware that your government had exerted pressure to get them to return? That is the question I am asking you. Please answer me with a yes or a no.

Earlier, you told me: “Not to my knowledge”.

Do you stand by what you said earlier?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville East, ON]

I stand by what I said, and I will also say that the principle that I have continually operated under, that I have expressed at this committee today, is that parliamentarians—

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

They made a statement.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville East, ON]

—have the ability to decide where they are travelling—

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

They made a statement.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville East, ON]

—and we will—

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

You didn't know that.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville East, ON]

—as the honourable member who previously asked that question knows—

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

That's what you'd have me believe.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Monsieur Brunelle-Duceppe, I believe the minister is answering your question.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville East, ON]

—provide diplomatic support to those MPs when they are travelling.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you very much, Minister, for your appearance today and for answering our questions.

We will now briefly suspend to prepare for our next panel with officials, as well as to vote.

Thank you. The meeting is suspended.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

I call this meeting to order.

I would like to welcome the officials for the next half hour.

From the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, we have Shirley Carruthers, assistant deputy minister and chief financial officer, people and corporate management branch.

Thank you for staying with us.

We also have Cam Do, director general, development finance bureau; David Hutchison, director general, trade strategy bureau; and Emmanuelle Lamoureux, director general, strategy bureau.

We will now continue with questions from members, beginning with Mr. Aboultaif.

You have five minutes.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Thank you, Chair.

I'm sorry to keep you waiting, by the way. The time is running.

On the estimates, vote 10, grants and contributions, there will be less money available in that category. For the sake of the committee, can you tell us what vote 10 includes and how this is going to affect your operation in general?