Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association (CAAF)

On 7 February 2023, the Co-Chairs of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association, the honourable Amina Gerba, Senator, and Brenda Shanahan, M.P., along with other members of the Association, met with a delegation from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The delegation was led by the Honorable Tagesse Chaffo Dullo, Speaker of the House of People's Representatives, and included the Deputy Speaker of the House, Honorable Lomi Bedo, and the Chief Government Whip, Honorable Tesfaye Beljige. It was accompanied by His Excellency Fitsum Arega Gebrekidan, Ambassador of Ethiopia to Canada. Opening remarks by the Co-Chairs and members of the Ethiopian delegation were followed by a conversation among the participants. Discussions focused on the high proportion of women in the Ethiopian Parliament, foreign investment in Ethiopia, including that of Canada, sectors open to foreign investment, such as the banking sector, which recently opened to such investment, and the ease of doing business in Ethiopia.

On November 21, 2022, the Co-Chair of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association, Brenda Shanahan, met with the Honorable Thomas D’Acquin Masela Kiluty Zury and the Honorable Simon Mulamba Mputu, members of Parliament at the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Ms. Shanahan gave an opening speech before handing over the floor to Mr. Masela, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the National Assembly of the DRC. This was followed by a conversation among the participants. The purpose of the discussion was to facilitate parliamentary relations between Canada and the DRC.

11:00 a.m.

To be eligible to vote at the AGM the deadline for membership for this association is 7 days before the meeting.

The meeting was attended by the Honourable Senators Jim Munson, Co-Chair; Salma Ataullahjan; René Cormier; Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia; and MPs Sven Spengemann, Co-Chair; Rob Oliphant; Terry Duguid, Yasmin Ratansi; and Gabriel Ste-Marie. First, they welcomed the Chargé d’affaires and a Minister representing the Kenya High Commission in Canada, who discussed current affairs in Kenya and answered questions from parliamentarians. Then, the President of the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business and the Chair of its Board of Directors introduced the organization by discussing its mission and activities in Canada and Africa. They also spoke with parliamentarians about co-operation opportunities between parliamentarians and the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business’ members. Lastly, the President of the Kigali Council on Foreign Relations made a presentation about his organization and discussed its mandate, activities and interest in Canada, as well as its role in Africa and other regions of the world regarding current major international issues.

The following members of the association participated in the activity: The Honourable Jim Munson, Senator (Co-Chair), The Honourable Salma Ataullahjan, Senator (Vice-Chair), The Honourable René Cormier, Senator (Vice-Chair), Mr. Sven Spengemann, M.P. (Co-Chair), Mr. Greg Fergus, M.P. (Vice-Chair), Ms. Heather McPherson, M.P. (Vice Chair), Ms. Yasmin Ratansi, M.P. (Counsellor). Representatives from Global Affairs Canada provided an update about the overall current situation in Africa with regards to COVID-19 and other political, economic and social regional issues related to countries such as : Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Mali and other countries. The update was followed by a session of questions and answers. Senior representatives from the Parliamentary Centre offered a presentation about its mission, projects and initiatives as well as opportunities for engagement with parliamentarians. The presentation was followed by a discussion with parliamentarians.