THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, April 17, 2024
(75)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met this day at 4:15 p.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Peter M. Boehm, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Boehm, Coyle, Deacon (Ontario), Gerba, Greene, Harder, P.C., MacDonald, McNair and Ravalia (9).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Al Zaibak and Robinson (2).

Participating in the meeting: Zachariah Black and Brian Hermon, analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, October 26, 2023, the committee continued its study on Canada’s interests and engagement in Africa.

WITNESSES:

Global Affairs Canada:

Marcel Lebleu, Director General, West and Central Africa Bureau;

Susan Steffen, Director General, Pan-Africa Bureau;

Apeksha Kumar, Director, Maghreb and Egypt.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada:

Kathleen Donohue, Assistant Deputy Minister, International Affairs Branch.

FinDev Canada:

Stéphanie Émond, Vice-President and Chief Impact Officer (by videoconference);

Agathe Gouot, Senior Advisor to the Chief Investment Officer (by videoconference).

Export Development Canada:

Joanne Tognarelli, Vice-President, Global Business Development;

Lorraine Audsley, Senior Vice-President and Chief Risk and Sustainability Officer.

Marcel Lebleu and Kathleen Donohue each made a statement and, together with Susan Steffen, answered questions.

At 5:15 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:21 p.m., the committee resumed.

Stéphanie Émond and Joanne Tognarelli each made a statement and, together with Lorraine Audsley, answered questions.

At 6:10 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Chantal Cardinal

Clerk of the Committee