Press Release Department: Federal - Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird (Ottawa West-Nepean, Ont.) and Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, Brazil’s Minister of External Relations, issued a joint statement to report a meeting for the inaugural Strategic Partnership Dialogue, a dialogue announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) and president Dilma Rousseff during the prime minister’s official visit to Brazil … Read more

On behalf of International Trade Minister Ed Fast (Abbotsford, B.C.), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade, for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and for the Atlantic Gateway Gerald Keddy (South Shore-St. Margaret's, N.S.) tabled in the House of Commons an agreement to modernize and expand the scope of the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement, … Read more

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird (Ottawa West-Nepean, Ont.) said he is shocked and deeply troubled by the car bomb attack in Beirut, which claimed the lives of several civilians. Baird added that brigadier-general Wissam al-Hassan, who was also killed in the attack, played a key role in the investigation of former prime minister Rafik Hariri’s … Read more

International Trade Minister Ed Fast (Abbotsford, B.C.) announced that 44 industry associations will receive funding from the government to expand international business activities. Fast said that government is committed to growing the economy and creating good, new, high-value jobs for hard-working Canadians. Fast said the government is helping world-class industries expand and succeed abroad as … Read more

At the request of Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.), Speaker of the House of Commons Andrew Scheer (Regina-Qu'Appelle, Sask.) will lead the all-party Canadian delegation attending the canonization mass for Kateri Tekakwitha on Oct. 21, 2012, at the Vatican. Tekakwitha is the first North American Aboriginal person to become a Catholic saint. Transport Minister … Read more

International Trade Minister Ed Fast (Abbotsford, B.C.) announced that he will lead a trade mission to Ghana and Nigeria in early 2013. Fast will be accompanied by Canadian companies in the extractive and infrastructure sectors. Fast made the announcement during a speech at an event celebrating the Canadian Council on Africa’s 10th anniversary. The full … Read more

Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs) Diane Ablonczy (Calgary-Nosehill, Alta.) completed her official visit to Central America following a series of key events that reinforced Canadian efforts to improve security and stability throughout the region. Ablonczy toured the Guatemala-Belize Adjacency Zone, the buffer region established to help reconcile the two countries’ … Read more

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird (Ottawa West-Nepean, Ont.) issued a statement as he concluded his first bilateral visit to France. Baird said that Canada and France, as allies, partners and friends, share concern about the situations in Syria, Mali, the Sahel region, Iran and the broader Middle East. Baird added that one of the major … Read more

Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs) Diane Ablonczy (Calgary-Nose Hill, Alta.) announced Canadian support for three local projects that will help to foster security and justice for Guatemalans. Ablonczy was joined for the announcement by Harold Caballeros, Guatemala’s Minister of External Relations. Ablonczy said that Canada is proud to work alongside partners … Read more

International Trade Minister Ed Fast (Abbotsford, B.C.) has concluded a five-day trade mission to Saudi Arabia and Jordan, helping to advance Canadian interests in the Middle East. Fast was accompanied by representatives of more than 20 Canadian businesses and organizations. Fast said that opening new markets to increase Canadian exports and helping Canadian businesses expand … Read more