Hon. Amina Gerba: Honourable senators, four years ago, in 2022, I had the honour of giving my first speech in reply to the Speech from the Throne. At the time, I urged Canada to see Africa differently, not as a peripheral continent in our foreign policy, but as a leading strategic partner. Four years later, what progress has been made?
First, I had the honour of becoming your co-chair of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association, a position I still hold today. I want to thank you, dear colleagues, for putting your trust in me as a parliamentarian who, in 2022, was a rookie senator with no parliamentary diplomacy experience at all.
Canada’s Africa Strategy was first adopted in 2025. The strategy aims to strengthen diplomatic, economic and human relations with African countries. Two high-level dialogues were held with the African Union in 2022 and 2024. A permanent observer for Canada to the African Union has been appointed. The posts of Special Envoy for Africa and the Sahel were created. Canada upgraded its office in Benin to an embassy and its office in Zambia to a high commission.
The President of the African Development Bank, Sidi Ould Tah, and the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area, Wamkele Mene, were officially received in Canada. More recently, the Minister of Foreign Affairs took her first official visit to Benin and Ivory Coast.
In 2026, there were also moves to strengthen ties with Morocco, the announcement of direct Air Canada flights to Nigeria, and a meeting between Prime Minister Carney and the Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, ranked by Forbes as Africa’s richest man. These initiatives are to be commended, even if they’ve not yet yielded any concrete results.
In December 2026, the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade tabled a report entitled “Canada-Africa: Seizing a Strategic Opportunity.” I am seizing this opportunity to recognize the tremendous work done by all members of this committee, which I am privileged to be part of and which is chaired by Senator Peter Boehm. During the course of this historic study, we spent 26 hours hearing from over 65 witnesses. The 21 recommendations set out in this report are unequivocal: Canada must fully engage in Africa or risk being left behind. I repeat: Canada must fully engage in Africa or risk being left behind.
[English]One of the report’s key findings is clear: Africa represents a strategic opportunity for Canada, yet our engagement has all too often been fragmented and inconsistent. That is why the report calls for a bold, coordinated and sustained approach.
The urgency is clear: While Canada debates, our partners are already building strategic economic, commercial and diplomatic positions across Africa.
[Translation]Honourable senators, our major partners and competitors have launched ambitious initiatives. The European Union launched the Global Gateway Strategy and the Africa-Europe Investment Package, which includes about 150 billion euros in investments on the African continent. Japan, as part of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 8), has announced $30 billion U.S. in public and private investments. France and Kenya co-hosted the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi in 2026, which was chaired by the President of France. Investments in Africa announced at the summit amounted to 23 billion euros. In 2024, Italy launched the Mattei Plan for Africa, which funds projects and engages Italian businesses in strategic sectors in Africa. Even the United States recently extended the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, until 2028 to maintain preferential access by several dozens of African countries to the U.S. market. China, however, remains Africa’s largest trading partner and continues to grow its economic presence across the continent. The actions of major economic powers demonstrate Africa’s key position on the world stage.
When His Majesty King Charles III opened this 45th Parliament, he said the following:
. . . by staying true to Canadian values, Canada can build new alliances and a new economy that serves all Canadians.
Honourable senators, I firmly believe that strengthening our partnership with Africa is also key to these new alliances. However, the figures show that we have begun to make progress, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. According to the Office of the Chief Economist, trade between Canada and Africa reached nearly $19 billion in 2025, representing an increase of 22.5%. However, it still accounts for less than 1% of Canada’s total exports. In other words, despite the progress made, the potential remains largely untapped.
I sometimes hear it said that Africa doesn’t yet offer a sufficient return to justify greater commitment from Canada. This assertion defies basic logic. No one diversifies their portfolio by investing only where they already have a presence. The Government of Canada has set a target of doubling Canadian exports to non-U.S. markets over the next decade. If we are serious about diversification, we must accept that it is a long-term endeavour. It is precisely against this backdrop that we must assess our presence in Africa.
Today, the continent’s population exceeds 1.5 billion. By the middle of the century, in 2050, nearly one in four of the planet’s inhabitants will be in Africa. Africa will by then have the world’s largest labour force. Today, however, risk is often cited as a reason for inaction on the African continent. In Africa’s case, this risk is often more perceived than real. We continue —
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Senator Gerba, I regret interrupting you.
[English]Honourable senators, it is now seven o’clock. Pursuant to rule 3-3(1), I am obliged to leave the chair until eight o’clock, when we will resume, unless it is your wish, honourable senators, to not see the clock.
Is it agreed to not see the clock?
Some Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Some Hon. Senators: No.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: I hear a “no.”
Honourable senators, leave was not granted. The sitting is, therefore, suspended, and I will leave the chair until eight o’clock.
(The sitting of the Senate was suspended.)
(The sitting of the Senate was resumed.)
[Translation]Hon. Amina Gerba: Risk is often used to excuse inaction. In the case of Africa, the risk is often more perceived than real. Sometimes, we still look at the continent through the lens of old perceptions, even though Africa’s economic reality has changed dramatically.
If the risk was as insurmountable as people claim, why would the European Union, Japan and France be announcing tens of billions of dollars in investments?
Other major economies don’t deny the risk, but simply choose to manage it and work around it.
Across the world, governments and international financial institutions use surety mechanisms to reduce risks borne by private investors.
The Senate’s report recommends that Canada strengthen its support for Export Development Canada, or EDC, to promote diversification by our companies in Africa.
The vastness of the African continent, with its 54 countries, is often used as an excuse for inaction.
Canada doesn’t have to cover the entire continent, but it needs a presence somewhere. It needs to identify partner countries, priority regions and sectors where it excels, whether in agriculture, artificial intelligence, infrastructure, clean energy, education, global health or critical minerals. We have to make a choice.
The Senate report also recommends a multilateral approach to our relations with the African continent, including relations with the African Union and regional economic communities.
[English]Honourable colleagues, while others are investing billions of dollars, Canada’s economic presence remains modest. We have laid the foundation. Now, we must build for the long term. African countries are also looking for reliable partners, and Canada has an opportunity to be one. Our country has strong institutions, a stable business environment, recognized expertise and an enviable international reputation, but reputation alone is no longer enough.
[Translation]One of Canada’s greatest untapped assets is our citizens —
The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Gerba, the time allowed for debate has expired. Are you asking for leave to finish your speech?
Senator Gerba: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted?
Senator Gerba: Thank you, honourable senators. One of Canada’s greatest untapped assets is our citizens. More than one million Canadians trace their roots to Africa. They form a formidable bridge between our country and Africa, and they’re eager to become more involved.
Honourable colleagues, I’d now like to highlight two concrete actions that will help accelerate the implementation of Canada’s Africa Strategy.
First, the government must now secure funding for the Africa Strategy and adopt an implementation plan with clear timelines, measurable objectives and a system for monitoring results. The Senate report addresses that.
Second, I recommend that the government establish a Canada-Africa advisory council on business relations, modelled on the American, French and British examples, bringing together representatives from the private sector, the diaspora and Canadian and African business communities.
The council’s mandate would be to identify business opportunities, pinpoint barriers to trade and investment and advise the government on measures to strengthen Canada’s economic presence in Africa. When I rose in this chamber in 2022, some viewed Africa as a market of the future. In 2026, honourable senators, Africa has become a key player in today’s global economy. Canada must acknowledge this and participate in Africa’s economic transformation. Thank you. Asanté Sana.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.