Canada & The World

1. Statement on Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons report on Assad regime’s chemical weapons attack on Douma in 2018

   The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement on the release of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) report on the chemical weapons attack on Douma, Syria, in April 2018:

2. Statement on peace process in Cameroon

   The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement on the announcement of a peace process aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon

3. Minister Joly to hold press conference with U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly

   The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Right Honourable James Cleverly, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom will hold a press conference during his visit to Canada.

4. Statement on punitive measures taken against the Palestinian Authority by Israel

   “We are deeply concerned by the punitive measures taken against the Palestinian Authority, which were recently announced by the Government of Israel, as well as the impact of those measures on the region’s stability and the prospect for a two-state solution..."

5. Canada announces funding for projects in the Caribbean

   Canada has announced an allocation of $127,750,000 for development programming in the Caribbean and globally. This funding is being distributed as follows:

6. Minister Sajjan announces support for COVID-19 vaccination and health systems in Latin America and the Caribbean

   As the pandemic continues to evolve, it is critical to ensure high risk populations can access vaccines. In Latin America and the Caribbean, like in other regions, health systems continue to face significant challenges to deliver COVID-19 immunization and broader health services, while also enhancing preparedness for the future.

7. Canada imposes additional sanctions against Haitian elites

   The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is imposing additional sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations in response to acts of significant corruption that are fueling the crisis in the country.

8. Canada marks 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Republic of Korea

   “On January 14, our two countries will be celebrating our long-standing and special relationship. We are neighbours in the North Pacific and value a common vision of a free, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific."

9. Canada delivers Haiti-purchased vehicles to help Haitian National Police respond to crisis

   Today, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly and the Minister of National Defence Anita Anand announced that the Canadian Armed Forces have airlifted vital, Haitian-purchased armoured vehicles to Haiti.

10. Canada imposes sanctions on Sri Lankan state officials for human rights violations

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced Canada imposes targeted sanctions under regulations pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act against four Sri Lankan state officials responsible for gross and systematic violations of human rights during armed conflict in Sri Lanka, which occurred from 1983 to 2009.

11. Sanctions imposed on Sri Lankan state officials

    Canada is imposing sanctions against the following individuals who committed gross and systematic violations of human rights during Sri Lanka’s civil conflict, which occurred from 1983 to 2009.

12. Canada announces additional funding to help with flood recovery and climate resilience in Pakistan

    Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, announced that Canada has committed an additional $25 million in funding in response to the flooding in Pakistan, which will support development projects focused on recovery, reconstruction and resilience.

13. Canada imposes sanctions on additional Iranian individuals and entities

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is imposing additional sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations.

14. Minister Sajjan to visit Barbados and Jamaica

    The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, today announced that he will travel to Barbados and Jamaica from January 9 to 14, 2023.

15. Ministers Joly and Ng to attend North American Leaders’ Summit

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs; and the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, today announced that they will accompany Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the North American Leaders’ Summit in Mexico City, Mexico, on January 10, 2023.

16. Government of Canada honours victims of Flight PS752 marking three years since the tragedy

    Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport; and Ralph Goodale, High Commissioner in the United Kingdom, met with family members of victims of the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. They reaffirmed the commitment of Canada and the International Coordination and Response Group to hold Iran to account for the senseless deaths of those aboard the flight.

17. Joint statement from foreign ministers on the Taliban’s ban on Afghan women working for national and international NGOs

    The following is a statement from the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States and the High Representative of the European Union.

18. Joint statement from the International Coordination and Response Group for the victims of Flight PS752 on arbitration

    “We, Ministers representing Canada, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, have taken concrete action today to ensure that our efforts to hold Iran to account for the unlawful downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 (Flight PS752) can progress to the dispute settlement phase.

19. Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation

    This Convention is also known as the 1971 Montreal Convention. Canada, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Iran are all Contracting States to this Convention.

20. Canada condemns arms deal between North Korea and sanctioned Russian entity

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement: “Canada unequivocally condemns North Korea’s complicity in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war of choice against Ukraine and its delivery of arms to the Wagner Group, a brutal private military organization supporting Russia’s illegal invasion.

21. Statement from foreign ministers on Taliban decision to ban women from universities

    The foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the High Representative of the European Union, today issued the following statement: “We strongly condemn the Taliban’s recent decisions to ban women from universities, to continue to bar girls from secondary schools, and to impose other harsh restrictions on the ability of women and girls in Afghanistan to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

22. Canada imposes additional sanctions against Haitian elites

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is imposing additional sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations in response to acts of significant corruption that are fueling the crisis in the country.

23. Canada starts first process to seize and pursue the forfeiture of assets of sanctioned Russian oligarch

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada will seize and pursue the forfeiture of US $26 million from Granite Capital Holdings Ltd., a company owned by Roman Abramovich—a Russian oligarch sanctioned under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations.

24. Backgrounder: Canada’s new support to protect biodiversity in developing countries

    Canada has announced $255 million in new climate financing to support developing countries address the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. The funds are distributed as indicated below...

25. Minister Sajjan concludes visit to United Arab Emirates and Kuwait

    The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, today concluded his trip to the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. During the trip, he met with ministers and prominent government and private sector officials to discuss opportunities for enhanced collaboration on shared priorities, such as food security, climate change, gender equality and women, peace and security in their region and in developing nations.

26. Canada and Kuwait sign agreement to enhance development cooperation

    Canada and Kuwait have enjoyed strong bilateral ties since they established diplomatic relations almost 60 years ago. The 2 countries have common global priorities, including increasing food security and promoting education, and they already engage closely in several key multilateral institutions.

27. Statement on Human Rights Day 

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada; and the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, today issued the following statement:

28. Joint Statement by Canada and United States on the Human Rights Situation in Iran 

    “Canada and the United States are united in condemning the Islamic Republic of Iran’s brutal acts of violence against peaceful protestors and its ongoing repression of the Iranian people. We also condemn Iran’s pervasive oppression and state-sponsored violence against women. While these are longstanding concerns, the Iranian authorities’ intensification of violence against the Iranian people following the death of Mahsa “Zhina” Amini calls for consequential responses from all corners of the world.

29. Canada imposes new sanctions on Russian, Iranian and Myanmar regimes

    Today, on the eve of Human Rights Day, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that Canada is imposing measures on those complicit in gross and systematic human rights violations in Russia, Iran and Myanmar.

30. Backgrounder: Additional Sanctions for Myanmar

    Effective immediately, Canada is imposing sanctions against the following individuals and entities in relation to the coup perpetrated by Myanmar’s armed forces on February 1, 2021.

31. Joint Statement through the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse on Standing with the Women and Girls of Iran

    The undersigned Foreign Ministers for country members of the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse call attention to the extreme violence faced by the courageous Iranian women and girls who are leading nationwide protests over the tragic death of 22-year-old Mahsa (Zhina) Amini.

32. Canada announces new support for projects working to end gender-based violence around the world

    Globally, 1 in 3 women experience sexual and gender-based violence. Violence against women and girls, including that which occurs online, is prevalent in all societies and is a distinctive feature of conflict and crisis. Preventing and responding to all forms of sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices, especially for women and girls in all their diversity, is a priority of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy.

33. Canada’s new support to help end gender-based violence around the world

    Canada has announced $4.3 million in development assistance funding for 3 projects to help end gender-based violence in developing countries. The funds are being distributed as indicated below.

34. Minister Sajjan travels to United Arab Emirates and Kuwait

    The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, today announced that he will travel to the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait from December 7 to 12.

35. Canada-Netherlands statement on joint declaration of intervention in case against Russia at International Court of Justice

    “Today, Canada and the Kingdom of the Netherlands filed a joint declaration of intervention in the case brought by Ukraine against Russia at the International Court of Justice. In these proceedings, Ukraine seeks “to establish that Russia has no lawful basis to take action in and against Ukraine for the purpose of preventing and punishing any purported genocide.”

36. Canada conducts diplomatic mission in Haiti

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is conducting a diplomatic mission in Haiti from December 7-9, 2022. This mission will complement virtual engagements and discussions taking place in parallel.

37. Statement from Minister Sajjan in celebration of International Volunteer Day

    The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, today issued the following statement

38. Canada imposes sanctions against Haitian economic elites

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is imposing additional sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations in response to the egregious conduct of Haitian elites who provide illicit financial and operational support to armed gangs.

39. Canada and EU to co-host the next International Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants 

    The outflow of refugees and migrants from Venezuela is currently one of the largest displacement crises in the world, with more than 7.1 million people having fled or left their country. The current global context, and lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, have compounded an already difficult situation for Venezuelan refugees, migrants and their host communities—particularly women and girls.

40. Canada responds to hunger in greater Horn of Africa region

    The Horn of Africa is experiencing its worst drought in more than 4 decades, and Canada is extremely concerned about the drought’s impact on vulnerable populations already struggling as a result of poverty, insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 to 2022 drought has now surpassed the horrific droughts in 2010 to 2011 and 2016 to 2017 in both duration and severity and will continue to deepen in the months ahead. As many as 50 million people need emergency food assistance in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan.

41. Canada imposes additional sanctions on the Iranian regime

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is imposing additional sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations.

42. Minister Joly concludes visit to Europe as Canada and its partners stand more united than ever

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today concluded her visit to the Netherlands, Romania and Poland, where she met with partners to engage on peace and security challenges, as well as other shared foreign policy priorities.

43. Minister Ng announces reappointment of Mairead Lavery as president and chief executive officer of Export Development Canada

    To ensure EDC continues to have the strong leadership it needs to deliver on its mandate, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, today announced the reappointment of Mairead Lavery as EDC’s president and chief executive officer until February 4, 2025.

44. Media Freedom Coalition Statement on Iran

    We, the undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition (MFC) are highly concerned about the recent violent repression of freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly by Iran.

45. Canada launches Indo-Pacific Strategy to support long-term growth, prosperity, and security for Canadians

    As a Pacific nation, Canada recognizes that the Indo-Pacific region will play a significant and profound role in Canada’s future. Every issue that matters to Canadians—national security, economic prosperity, respect for international law and human rights, democratic values, public health, protecting our environment—will be shaped by the relationships that Canada, along with its partners, have with countries throughout the Indo-Pacific. Decisions made in the region will impact Canadians for generations, and it is critical that Canada be at the table.

46. Canada and the Indo-Pacific

    The Indo-Pacific is the fastest growing economic region in the world. By 2030, it will be home to two-thirds of the global middle class. By 2040, the region will account for more than half of the global economy. The Indo-Pacific will play a critical role in shaping Canada’s future over the next half century.

47. Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy: New initiatives and resources

    Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy offers a comprehensive framework for Government of Canada engagement in the region over the next decade. The first five years of the strategy include new initiatives and investments of almost $2.3 billion over five years, detailed below. In 2026-27, the Government of Canada will return with an update that will cover initiatives and resources for years 2027-2032.

48. Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant to attend the International Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Conference, in London, United Kingdom

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced today that the Honourable Robert Oliphant Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will travel to London, United Kingdom, for the International Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Conference which will take place on November 28, 2022.

49. Joint statement on Venezuela negotiations

    The following statement was released by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles, the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs the Honourable Mélanie Joly, and the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly.

50. Minister Joly to hold press conference on the Indo-Pacific Strategy

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will be joined by ministerial colleagues, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, the Honourable Marco Mendocino, Minister of Public Safety, and the Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard at a press conference on November 27 in Vancouver. The Ministers will make an announcement on Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy.