Thought this worth posting in full. It includes my nomination for Quote of the Month: "We would like to see Canada again take up its leadership role in Africa, as part of a renewed partnership, strategic, global, and aimed at a win-win situation,” i.e. "we like it when Canada gives us free money. It makes us happy."
Diplomats from 17 African countries delivered an unusual mass plea to MPs for Canada to regain its leading role as a friend to the continent, raising concerns that Ottawa has cut them from its list of major aid recipients – and eliciting a testy reaction from Conservatives.
Ambassadors from countries cut from the bilateral aid list said they were never consulted, and told the Commons foreign affairs committee they're concerned that Africa is being downgraded in Canadian policy, and asked whether “our long-time friend has chosen to leave the place to others.”
The African ambassadors presented a report with recommendations for ties on aid, trade, and regular Canada-Africa meetings.
And although they were at pains to stress their respect for Canada's right to make its own aid decisions, and to issue a hopeful call for a future partnerships, their appearance was not popular with Conservative MPs.
Jim Abbott told them pointedly they had their facts wrong. Deepak Obhrai, the parliamentary secretary to foreign affairs minister Lawrence Cannon, exchanged prickly words with Democratic Republic of the Congo chargé d'affaires Louise Nzanga Ramazani after the meeting, complaining that the African diplomats had criticized the Tory government.
“I'm not happy with you,” he told her within earshot of a reporter.
What piqued them was the message that Canada has ceased to be a leader in aiding Africa.
“We would like to see Canada again take up its leadership role in Africa, as part of a renewed partnership, strategic, global, and aimed at a win-win situation,” said the spokesperson for the African diplomats, Burkina Faso Ambassador Juliette Bonkoungou.
A key flashpoint is the Conservative government's February decision to issue a new list of 20 countries that will be the chief recipients of Canada's bilateral aid.
Nine African countries were dropped from the old list of 25, and only one was added. The new focus is on increasing aid to Latin America and the Caribbean.
Ms. Bonkoungou said the decision would reduce the proportion of Canadian bilateral aid destined for Africa to 35 per cent from 70 per cent.
Mr. Abbott, the parliamentary secretary to International Cooperation Minister Bev Oda, bristled in response.
“I must say that I'm quite disappointed in this report. I think that it has been based on erroneous information that has been provided to you,” he said, insisting that Africans' comments ignored the fact that Canada will this year meet its goal of doubling aid over 2001 levels, to $2.1 billion.
Although the Conservative government argues that aid will still flow, mostly through multi-lateral organizations, knocking a number of African nations off the list of chief bilateral aid recipients could hurt some of Canada's own international ambitions.
Canada is campaigning for one of two regional seats on the United Nations Security Council -- against Portugal and shoo-in Germany -- and the votes of Africa's 53 countries could decide the winner.
Ms. Bonkoungou declined to comment directly on whether African nations will be less likely to vote for Canada at the UN.
“Our friendship will never be lacking toward Canada. And we hope it will be the same from the Canadian side,” she said after the hearing.
Ms. Bonkoungou said Ottawa's attitude is surprising because Canadian companies have interests in Africa, and countries like China are investing large sums.
“We have noted for a certain number of years signals towards Africa which seem less promising than they were before,” she said after the hearing. “We have the duty to speak to Canadians and say, other powers are coming in, you have been with us, you have gone through difficulties with us, don't leave your place to others.”
May we never forget...
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[image: Church Street bombing, Pretoria - 20 May 1983]
*The Church Street bombing was a car bomb attack on 20 May 1983 in
Pretoria, authorised by the AN...
49 minutes ago
8 Opinion(s):
"What piqued them was the message that Canada has ceased to be a leader in aiding Africa." In other words, Canada has stopped giving me da muney.
What these clever ingenious cupped hand money grabbing ass-licking African beggars are trying to portray, is tha china is willing to step in. Ah-No! Chinese are not as dumb as thier western counterparts. The westeners, Canada et al, give the Africoons money. The Chinese are in africa to take the money - with their own hands and under their own supervision. Compare the amount of foreigners (Canada, Usa, UK....,) that you see about you in Africa, and then compare the amount of Chinese. Methinks the Ms. Bonkoungou - she is starting to realise that the Chinese are giving f*ck-all away. No yellow-guilt. It is for the chinks, business as usual with minimim risk. The chinks are owed too much on this continent to leave it in the hands of those that they conned in the first place. They will remove the minerals, and the prices will be set by the international cartels, and the Chinese will take a handling fee. The chinks are the west's head-ache pill. The chinese are here because the west is too riddled with guilt and cannot handle the African syndrome. The chinese on the other hand tell the africoons, ha get flucked. People like mugabe etc. get a nice pay out from the chinks, and then spend the money as they feel fit. As in a house in Hong-Kong for 53mil. The chinese have paid and Bob was entrusted to spend the money the way he feels fit. That is why the west is pulling out. The west does not have the "business is business" attitude of the chinese, and africa is starting to realise this. A little to late, Sweet and sour anyone?
or Canada can do one of 2 things and achieve the same effect:
1) Put all the aid money in a big pile and start a bonfire,
2) Deposit the aid money directly in some African president's Swiss ban account.
Both will have the same outcome as "aiding" some African country.
@Joe King: Ha ha ha! You got THAT right! What these purpleskins don't realise is that what Aids doesn't sort out the Chinese will, chop-chop-suey.
good point, JK.
It looks like a threat: "give us free money or the Chinese will do it instead".
They don't realise that the threat is against themselves - the Chinese have no desire to help Africa, just to help themselves to the resources.
Couldn't have put it any better than Joe King.
The Chinese have been after the resources all along. And probably also the land considering their population...
Oh hell, I suppose we will have to delay that new pedestrian suspension bridge leading to the park built on a man-made island with sandy beaches imported from Cape Town, Africa needs money.
The roosters are finally coming home!
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