Hon. Amina Gerba: Honourable senators, I want to begin by thanking our colleague, the Honourable Senator Woo, for moving this motion, which calls on the government to develop a national strategy to engage Canadians abroad. This motion raises a simple but essential question: How can Canada do more to recognize and engage the millions of Canadians living abroad and make them feel valued?
In 2023, Statistics Canada estimated that up to 5.6 million Canadians could be living abroad, the equivalent of the population of British Columbia.
Senator Woo described this vast community as the “Province of Canada in the World.”
That phrase paints a particularly vivid picture. If that province had a premier, they would be asking why the federal government invests so little in its relationship with its own citizens abroad.
These Canadians are living in the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa. They are still citizens and retain the right to vote and the right to return to Canada.
However, all too often, we see them only as people to assist in times of crisis, rather than as strategic partners.
Our consular services do a wonderful job when it comes to protecting and helping our citizens abroad. However, focusing only on this aspect is like focusing on the cost of insurance rather than on the value of the house.
[English]This motion does not call for a new ministry or another layer of bureaucracy. What it calls for is vision, coordination and purpose.
[Translation]Canada already has embassies, high commissions, trade commissioners, academic networks and consular services.
What it lacks is a coherent approach to maintaining lasting ties with Canadians living abroad and to mobilizing their expertise in service of our national interests.
Other countries have long understood the strategic value of their diaspora.
Ireland has a minister responsible for the diaspora and has adopted a whole-of-government approach to engaging Irish nationals around the world. As its strategy states:
[English]Ireland is a small island with a huge reach. Our voice, values and culture are represented around the world by our diaspora.
[Translation]India, Kenya, Senegal and Israel have also developed specialized structures to leverage the skills, networks and economic potential of their communities abroad.
These countries’ experiences show that a clear strategy can transform a scattered community into a powerful economic, diplomatic and cultural lever.
I rise today not only as a senator, but also as a Cameroon-born entrepreneur who has dedicated much of her life to building relationships between Canada and Africa.
I know the value of human connections.
When a Canadian company wants to set up shop in Dakar, Abidjan, Douala or Nairobi, it often has the necessary expertise and products. What it may not have is detailed knowledge of the territory, like who to contact, what networks to use, and how to create the bond of trust that is essential to any lasting partnership.
[English]Yet this expertise already exists. It resides in those Canadians who have studied, worked or lived here before continuing their professional careers elsewhere in the world.
[Translation]Consider the engineer, researcher, entrepreneur or professional who studied in Montreal, Ottawa, Moncton or Toronto and now works abroad.
These people know Canada, its institutions and its business culture. They also know their host country’s economic, social and cultural realities. This puts them in an ideal position for creating ties.
For our businesses, this represents an incredible competitive advantage. For our universities, it opens the door to new partnerships in research and education.
[English]Canadians living abroad are a valuable asset for Canada. They help strengthen our diplomatic relations, our ties with the Commonwealth and the Francophonie and our engagement around the world. They also form a trusted network that Canada can draw on to build stronger international partnerships.
The Government of Canada recognized this potential in its 2025 Canada’s Africa Strategy, which highlights the importance of strengthening ties between people and working more closely with diaspora communities. Building on this commitment, Canada has an opportunity to make better use of these connections to deepen its engagement and strengthen its partnerships across Africa.
[Translation]In my view, these Canadians living abroad are what Senator Woo refers to as “unofficial ambassadors.” They do not speak on behalf of the Government of Canada, but they help raise our country’s profile, open doors and create opportunities for collaboration.
A true strategy should also strengthen their participation in democratic life.
Too often, Canadians living abroad face administrative barriers that weaken their connection to the country. One practical way to address this would be to make it easier for them to exercise their right to vote through our embassies, consulates and high commissions. Several democracies already use their diplomatic missions to strengthen the ties between expatriate citizens and their institutions. Such a measure would not only boost voter turnout, but would also reinforce citizens’ sense of national belonging.
[English]Honourable senators, a country that wants to build strong and lasting partnerships around the world must first recognize the value of its own people, wherever they live. From Hong Kong to Dakar, and from Dubai to São Paulo, millions of Canadians understand the local markets, cultures and societies with which Canada seeks to strengthen its ties.
[Translation]These Canadians are already an extraordinary asset to our country. Senator Woo’s motion invites us to better understand this community, to listen to its perspectives and to engage with it more effectively. I thank him for initiating this important discussion.
I fully support the objective of this motion. I urge my colleagues to do the same so that Canadians living abroad can fully realize their potential as economic, cultural and human bridges between Canada and the world.
Thank you.