International Trade Minister Ed Fast (Abbotsford, B.C.) and José Adonis Lavaire, Minister of Industry and Commerce for Honduras, signed the Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement. Parallel agreements on labour cooperation and environmental cooperation were also signed by Fast and Labour and Status of Woman Minister Kellie Leitch (Simcoe-Grey, Ont.). In addition to the trade agreement news, … Read more
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird (Ottawa West-Nepean, Ont.) said Canada condemns the barbaric murder of two French journalists in Mali. “This shows how precarious the security situation remains in northern Mali, especially in the region of Kidal, where Islamist terrorists and Tuareg rebels are still very active despite the presence of several hundred French and … Read more
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird (Ottawa West-Nepean, Ont.) accompanied by Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom Andrew Bennett, presented this year’s John Diefenbaker Defender of Human Rights and Freedom Award to His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Zen, Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong. Baird said "Canada honours Cardinal Zen for his unwavering commitment to human rights, democracy and religious … Read more
International Trade Minister Ed Fast (Abbotsford, B.C.) underscored how workers and businesses in key economic sectors throughout Ontario will benefit greatly from the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. Fast was joined at Armo Tool Limited in London, Ontario, by many of the province's key business and industry leaders. The full release is available … Read more
International Trade Minister Ed Fast (Abbotsford, B.C.) together with Penny Pritzker, the United States’ secretary of commerce, and Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal, Mexico’s secretary of economy, highlighted how the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has benefited citizens of Canada, the United States and Mexico—creating jobs and prosperity during its nearly 20 years of existence. Speaking … Read more
On Oct. 25, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, Sask.) underlined how workers and businesses in key economic sectors throughout Saskatchewan will greatly benefit from the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. Ritz held an event at the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce and was joined by Tim McMillan, Saskatchewan's Minister Responsible for Trade, and Michael … Read more
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird (Ottawa West-Nepean, Ont.) announced Canada’s introduction of the first-ever stand-alone resolution at the United Nations General Assembly on child, early and forced marriage. Baird announced $5 million in funding to tackle the causes of child, early and forced marriage around the world. This allocation will go toward engaging with communities in countries … Read more
The Arctic Council Senior Arctic Officials held their first meeting under Canada’s Arctic Council chairmanship in Whitehorse, Yukon, on Oct. 21 to 23, 2013. The Arctic Council is the premier intergovernmental forum for Arctic issues, bringing together representatives of the eight Arctic states and six Indigenous Permanent Participant organizations. The theme for Canada’s chairmanship is … Read more
Andrew Bennett, Canada’s ambassador of Religious Freedom, will host and deliver opening remarks at the inaugural Office of Religious Freedom Seminar in Ottawa. This seminar is part of the Office of Religious Freedom’s mandate to engage in dialogue with experts and faith community leaders on various topics related to the protection and promotion of freedom … Read more
International Trade Minister Ed Fast (Abbotsford, B.C.) said that workers and businesses in key industries across Canada stand to greatly benefit from the historic agreement in principle reached on a Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) and European Commission president José Manuel Barroso last … Read more
