Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association (CAAF)

On 15 February 2023, the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association organized a plenary conference around the theme of "Welcome to Africa – The Building Site of the Century." This event brought together heads of missions from 14 African countries in Canada, representatives of missions from nine other African countries, Association members, as well as other Members of Parliament and Senators. The conference began with opening remarks from the Honourable Amina Gerba, Senator, and Brenda Shanahan, MP— Co-chairs of the Association—along with Vice-Chair and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Rob Oliphant. The keynote speaker, Jean-Louis Roy, presented some of the challenges that Africa faces today, and will face in the future: significant population growth, the expansion of cities and the emergence of new ones, climate change, and the implementation of a free trade zone in Africa. He also indicated that the needs and solutions to these challenges must be determined by Africans, and that Canadians should only accompany them and share their expertise. This event was an opportunity for exciting exchanges as well as an enjoyable and enriching social gathering between the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association and the African diplomatic community in Canada.

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.