Uncertain Horizons: Canada’s Africa Strategy Amid Leadership Upheaval - ?? Podcast Summary

As Chrystia Freeland’s abrupt resignation rattles the Canadian political landscape, it’s hard not to ask: was Canada’s Africa Strategy ever meant to see the light of day? Promised with fanfare but delivered in shadows, the initiative, if it ever truly existed, now teeters on the brink of irrelevance, caught in the crosswinds of domestic turmoil and global uncertainty. For those watching, the resignation isn’t just a headline; it’s a reckoning.

In a recent conversation hosted by the Canadian Centre for African Affairs & Policy Research, two heavyweights, Alisha Golden and Alfred Apps pulled no punches in dissecting what Canada’s stalled Africa Strategy means for its future as a global player. Their exchange was less a diplomatic exercise and more a clinical autopsy of a policy dream that may never wake up.

(Canada-Africa Policy, with Alisha Golden & Alfred Apps for the Canadian Centre for African Affairs & Policy Research -

?? Watch the Podcast here: "Uncertain Horizons: Canada’s Africa Strategy Amid Leadership Upheaval" https://vimeo.com/1042291797/933ee99cb5?share=copy )

The Chaos Within: Leadership Crises and Policy Paralysis

“Unpredictability leads to an environment where political leaders focus on immediate-term issues instead of long-term vision,” said Alfred Apps, a man whose career has danced effortlessly across the tightropes of law, business, and politics. Apps’s observation cuts to the bone: Canada’s Africa Strategy may now be a casualty of a government gripped by crisis. The reality is that “Canada’s declining birth rate and aging population make it imperative to embrace constructive immigration and trade strategies. Supporting Africa’s development is not just good for the continent but key for Canada’s future,” he argued.

This isn’t just alarmist rhetoric. Canada’s waning relevance in Africa stands in stark contrast to the growing footprints of China, Russia, Turkey, and even the European Union. While these nations actively cultivate influence across the continent, Canada appears content to watch from the sidelines, its potential as a partner squandered by policy inertia.

Apps elaborated further: “Chrystia Freeland was a big champion of developing a closer and more productive relationship between Canada and Africa, and that process was just starting to gain some traction. Her resignation now introduces a whole new area of uncertainty.” Uncertainty that extends not only to the viability of the strategy but to Canada’s credibility as a reliable partner on the global stage.

Freeland’s departure couldn’t have come at a worse time. Apps pointed to the broader implications: “The resignation highlights how domestic unpredictability can deprioritize international commitments. Without bold action, we risk losing opportunities to remain a competitive global player.”

Their discussion further exposes the stakes. Sectors like agrifood and financial services, where Canada has both expertise and innovation, are ripe for engagement in Africa. Yet, a lack of coherent strategy means these opportunities remain untapped. Worse, it’s not just about missed business prospects; it’s about forfeiting leadership in shaping the future of a continent poised for exponential growth.

“Africa’s development isn’t charity." “It’s the most significant investment opportunity of the next 25 years. But investment requires intention, and intention requires leadership. That’s what’s missing.”

Canada’s hesitancy is made even starker when compared to the deliberate strategies of nations like China, whose infrastructure investments and resource partnerships have reshaped Africa’s economic landscape. Apps warned, “We are already lagging behind. Apart from our involvement in minerals, Canada has become less relevant as a player.” Without a clear, actionable Africa Strategy, this gap will only widen, leaving Canada in the wake of nations that are not merely competing but thriving in Africa’s burgeoning markets.

If Canada’s Africa Strategy is to survive this crisis, it won’t be through government initiative alone. Apps and Golden both stressed the role of the private sector in filling the void. “Businesses shouldn’t just wait for clarity. They need to educate themselves about opportunities in the African market and plan strategically,” Apps said. Golden echoed this sentiment, calling on the private sector to “push aggressively for policies that prioritize engaging with emerging markets like Africa.”

But the question lingers: does the Canadian government even want an Africa Strategy? Or is the promise of such a strategy just another chapter in the country’s long history of political rhetoric detached from actionable policy? The discussion between Apps and Golden suggests that while Canada debates, other nations act—with consequences that will reverberate for decades.

Apps offered a pointed perspective: “Crisis and uncertainty create opportunities. Canadian businesses need to adopt a more creative and proactive approach. It’s about being prepared to act when the moment is right and taking calculated risks when others are paralyzed by unpredictability.”

In a world grappling with climate change, shifting trade and security alliances, and technological upheaval, the African continent is more that just a region of interest—it’s a cornerstone of the future. Whether Canada chooses to see it that way remains an open question. But as Golden and Apps reminded us, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Canada’s Africa Strategy, if it exists at all, is running out of time—and excuses.

As the conversation concluded, the discussion left us with this: “The next 25 years will see Africa becoming a major hub of opportunity. Canada needs to seize this moment and lead in fostering mutually beneficial relationships with the continent. A stronger Africa will mean a stronger Canada.”

Apps’ final words served as both a challenge and a warning: “Without bold, immediate action, Canada risks not just irrelevance in Africa but a diminished role on the global stage. The time to act is now.”

The clock is ticking. Will Canada listen?

Canadian Centre for African Affairs and Policy Research

Relevant links:

Canada-Africa Policy, with Alisha Golden & Alfred Apps for the Canadian Centre for African Affairs & Policy Research -

?? Podcast: "Uncertain Horizons: Canada’s Africa Strategy Amid Leadership Upheaval" https://vimeo.com/1042291797/933ee99cb5?share=copy