22 — The Prince George Citizen — Tuesday. May 26. 1987 C anada's African effo rt creates b o n d Walter McLean has become full-time development minister for Africa by DAN TURNER what is being offered, amounting to $850 million dur­ whelmed with the interest Canadians have shown For Southam News ing 1985-86 and more than $900 million for 1986-87. when they’ve come back to Canada to address them. OTTAWA — The description certainly fits the kind v Canada* — wm mm tms , Canada has tried to set an example to other indus­ MacDonald points out that Africa tends to break of sadness you might expect from a politician re­ trialized countries by declaring a moratorium on down into English and French-speaking countries, cently dumped from the cabinet: world's poorest continent. loans repayments for sub-Saharan African countries, which gives more of an affinity than Latin America “ He just broke down and talked about his sense of and declared last year that all further assistance or Asia, for instance. Canadian effort, which despair and humiliation.” would come in the form of grants, rather than loans. “ I also think that Canadians see we can do things And indeed, the person talking about his humilia­ across party lines, is not Aid projects have become more thoughtful, with in Africa that matter. If you look at Latin America, tion was Walter McLean, the 51-year-old Presbyteri­ hst on African haders. less emphasis on building infrastructure and more if you look at the Middle East, if you look at Europe, an minister discarded by Brian Mulroney in the on solving Africa’s chronic problems of maintaining it all becomes much more difficult — you’re invaria­ prime minister’s first major cabinet shuffle last it. bly dealing with the conflict between the superpow­ June. Some of the credit has to go to Mulroney. Lewis, ers. But the sorrow McLean expressed that night late who is not easily impressed and shares few of Mul­ “ But there’s no question in the world that Cana­ in April wasn’t for himself, but for Africa, the con­ tions Minister Monique Landry. roney’s political beliefs, simply calls the prime min­ da’s ability to matter is critical in Africa today.” tinent that’s become the focus of his energies since Lewis, 49, the ex-leader of the Ontario New Demo­ ister “ formidable” on the African question. Africa’s immense problems include what Lewis he left the cabinet. crats, has been spending such enormous amounts of And some belongs to committed public servants estimates to be a $ 2-billion shortfall in aid from the Addressing a reception for the United Nations Eco­ time on his duties as the UN’s special representative and workers at non-governmental organizations who industrialized world. nomic Commission for Africa, he talked about his re­ designated to follow up the General Assembly’s ses­ have been fighting an uphill battle to help Africa for The second main problem is some African coun­ cent visit to Mozambique — a country savaged by sion on Africa held last year that Clark has had to decades. tries’ almost insurmountable debt. war and starvation — and he had to stop and swal­ ship him an assistant to give him enough time to But the truth is that people like MacDonald, Lewis And the third is the disastrous drop in commodity low hard. perform his other duties. and McLean can barge through doors that bureau­ prices for everything from cocoa to copper, which David MacDonald, 51, is another former secretary crats can only knock on. The Africa Brigade has have cut export earnings by an incredible $19 billion When he finally spoke, he spoke the words of a of state and best known for standing alone in the been effective in large part by knowing the lim its of in one year. white man apologizing for some of his race, a white Commons against imposition of emergency legisla­ what is possible and moving quickly to get to them. “ Aid can be increased,” says Lewis. “ Debts can man who had witnessed first hand the scorched- tion against the FLQ during the 1970 October Crisis. “ We’re not just narrow Africanists,” says McLean, be forgiven. But what in the world do you do about earth devastation wrought by South African-support­ He took over as Canada’s ambassador in Ethiopia who worked with both the church and CUSO in Nige­ commodity prices?” ed rebels in Mozambique. last year after having directed Canada’s relief ria in the ‘60s. Still, there is a measured optimism within the B ri­ At that moment, recalls Stephen Lewis, Canada’s efforts there. Breaking from the African ambassado­ “ We all have a vision of Canada and what Cana­ gade. ambassador to the UN, “ you could see on the A fri­ ria l tradition of sticking close to office air-condition­ dians want. We all know government, what is possi­ Campagnolo has just returned from a visit to west can faces at the table the extraordinary solidarity ing, he has criss-crossed the continent in search of ble, what isn’t.” Africa, where she visited several CUSO projects. they feel with Canada. I was very moved by it, be­ ways to help. Lewis, who worked as a teacher in Africa as a “ You expect to come back from Africa feeling de­ cause it was so real.” Maurice Strong, 58, an unsuccessful Liberal candi­ young man, has flown there 10 times since last Sep­ pressed. I come from Africa feeling quite positive. Like Lewis, Walter McLean has joined ranks with date in Toronto during the Trudeau years, has man­ tember. While he’s acting as an agent of the UN, he The people know they’re in a tight corner, and what’s becoming known as Canada’s Africa Brigade aged to combine a successful business career with says the impression that’s always left is that he’s a they’re giving every single effort possible to change — a group of politicians and ex-politicians, brim ­ an overriding interest in international development Canadian, and that Canadians care. their destiny.” ming over with commitment and savvy, who’ve de­ and the ecology. Strong took a break from business Which is nice. But what’s in it for Canada? “ They inspire you,” says McLean. cided to dedicate much of their most productive to move in as the UN’s wagon-master when emer­ The question takes Lewis aback. “ It’s courageous,” says Lewis, “ and Canada's in years to a continent generally regarded as a basket gency operations against the African drought began “ I have to tell you honestly I tend not to think of on it.” case. in late 1984. those questions myself. One does it because one Both Lewis and MacDonald speak with pride of the The Brigade cuts across party lines: McLean and Iona Campagnolo, 55, former minister of state for must do it. This is a continent fighting for survival, night Walter McLean broke down in Addis Ababa. former minister David MacDonald from the Conser­ fitness and amateur sport and president of the Liber­ so you do it.” As well as African ambassadors at the dinner, there vatives; Maurice Strong and Iona Campagnolo from al Party of Canada between 1982 and 1986, is known, But he also argues that Canada gets good support were ambassadors from all the non-African coun­ the Liberals; and the NDP’s Lewis. among other things, for not getting angry after hav­ from African countries at the UN when it’s shooting tries represented in Ethiopia. Given the materialistic mood of the ‘80s, the con­ ing her bum patted by Liberal Leader John Turner for a program or an appointment, and that the Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, former head of state in suming dedication of the five to a throwaway con­ during the 1984 election campaign. “ wise” among the business-minded should consider Nigeria, a leader in the African movement to pull tinent ranks somewhere between surprising and But she’s been indignant about the deprivation in what African markets might be 25 years from now. itself up by the bootstraps, and the guest of honor on astounding. the Third World throughout her years in politics. Af­ Do Canadians really care, and if so, why? the evening in question, gave the keynote speech. McLean was something of a laughing stock to co­ ter being defeated in the 1979 election she began Campagnolo speaks sadly of calling a Canadian “ I was almost bowled over,” says MacDonald. “ In lumnists and other political writers in the months helping CUSO — Canada’s major non-profit interna­ TV network early this month when she, McLean, and front of all of those other ambassadors, he singled before Mulroney cut him loose after spells as secre­ tional development agency — with fundraising and is Pauline Jewett of the NDP were attempting to kick out Canada as the one country that had stuck with tary of state and junior immigration minister. currently trying to break through donor fatigue over off CUSO’s fundraising campaign to move the A fri­ Africa through all the tough times.” But African leaders involved in the drama of try­ Africa in an attempt to double the agency’s public can initiative beyond emergency relief and further When you’re in the Brigade, these things matter. A ing to reconstruct their continent don’t laugh at contributions. into development. lot. McLean. He has turned into Canada’s full-time de­ While the Mulroney government has already taken “ They frankly weren’t interested — they said they velopment minister for Africa at the behest of Exter­ two steps backward on overall foreign aid commit­ were all ‘Africaed out’” (Dan Turner is a reporter with the Ottawa Cit­ nal Affairs Minister Joe Clark and External Rela- ments, it has provided Africa with 40 per cent of But Lewis and McDonald say they’ve been over­ izen.) INJURIES COULD HAVE KILLER HER Niagara sees red S k i e r r e c o v e r s from freak accident TORONTO (CP) — Two months her skis, her head immersed in the over tour buses ago, Lynda Clipsham received a clear water.