Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to the Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence
May 29, 2018
Ottawa, Ontario
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence. The Prime Minister and the Vice President discussed the North American Free Trade Agreement, the U.S.’s Section 232 investigation into steel and aluminum imports, as well as the upcoming G7 Leaders’ Summit.
Prime Minister speaks with Premier Notley on agreement on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project
May 29, 2018
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke today with Alberta Premier Rachel Notley on the commercial agreement that the Government of Canada has reached with Kinder Morgan in order to secure the timely completion of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project. The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for Premier Notley’s continued support for the project, and confirmed that the agreement will guarantee the resumption of work for the summer construction season and protect thousands of jobs.
During the call, the Prime Minister acknowledged Alberta’s commitment to get the project done, and confirmed his understanding that Alberta’s contribution would act as an emergency fund and would only come into play if required due to unforeseen circumstances.
The Prime Minister and Premier Notley noted their shared belief that it is possible – and fundamental – to grow the economy and protect the environment at the same time. They also agreed to continue working together on fighting climate change and protecting our environment.
Prime Minister speaks with Premier Horgan on agreement on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project
May 29, 2018
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke today with British Columbia Premier John Horgan to confirm that the Government of Canada has reached a commercial agreement with Kinder Morgan in order to secure the timely completion of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project. The Prime Minister confirmed that the agreement will guarantee the resumption of work for the summer construction season and protect thousands of jobs.
During the call, the Prime Minister reiterated the federal government’s jurisdiction over interprovincial pipelines, and noted that the Government of Canada is confident that, with this agreement, it is upholding the trust Canadians have placed in the government to both grow the economy and protect the environment. The Prime Minister noted that this project is made possible because of Canada’s world-leading Oceans Protection Plan, extensive and ongoing consultations with Indigenous communities, strengthened environmental standards, and a rigorous approvals process.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed his commitment to work collaboratively with British Columbia on important issues such as supporting infrastructure, fighting climate change, and protecting our environment and coasts.
Statement by the Prime Minister on Vesak
May 29, 2018
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Vesak:
“Today, we join Buddhists in Canada and around the world to celebrate Vesak, the most important of the Buddhist festivals. Vesak is a time to commemorate the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the founder of Buddhism, Gautama Buddha.
“On this occasion, people will visit their local temples to pray, and offer gifts to show respect and gratitude for the Buddha’s life and wisdom. They will also reflect on his teachings about peace, selfless service, and compassion to those in need.
“This festival reminds us that we can practice these teachings each day, by respecting the beliefs of others, showing kindness to people around us, and seeing ourselves in each other.
“Vesak is also an opportunity for Canadians to honour our Buddhist communities, and their important contributions to our country. Today, I encourage all Canadians to reflect on the Buddha’s universal teachings, and reaffirm our commitment to build a stronger, more open, and more inclusive world.
“On behalf of our family, Sophie and I wish everyone celebrating a happy and peaceful Vesak.”
Statement by the Prime Minister on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
May 29, 2018
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers:
“Today, we honour United Nations (UN) peacekeepers, past and present, who have confronted instability and conflict around the globe, and sacrificed greatly in pursuit of peace, safety, and freedom for others.
“Canada has a long and proud history of peacekeeping. Our fourteenth Prime Minister, Lester B. Pearson, championed the first large-scale UN peacekeeping mission during the 1956 Suez Crisis. His leadership marked the beginning of Canada’s identity as a peacekeeping country, and paved the way for a new era of international cooperation to advance peace and stability around the world.
“Since then, the UN has established more than 70 peacekeeping missions – and Canadians have served in the majority of them. The nature of conflicts has evolved through the decades, and so too have the demands of peace operations.
“As UN peacekeepers work in increasingly difficult environments, their responsibilities have grown, become more complex, and often put them in harm’s way. Today, UN peacekeepers monitor ceasefires, supervise elections, help combatants disarm, repatriate refugees, clear landmines, and assist in the delivery of humanitarian aid. They put their lives on the line to protect those most in need, while giving societies a chance to rebuild.
“Canada has taken a leadership role to advance innovative approaches to peacekeeping and address the realities faced by peacekeepers today. Through the launch of the Elsie Initiative, and the Vancouver Principles, Canada is already leading the way to improve the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping missions, empower women in all aspects of peace and security, and protect children used as weapons of war.
“We have also committed new military capabilities, including an Air Task Force to the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, and will continue to deploy civilian police officers to UN missions.
“On behalf of all Canadians, I commend UN peacekeepers for their courageous and selfless work to advance freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. We will continue to work closely with the UN to support and modernize peacekeeping operations, and find solutions to serious conflicts around the world.”
Prime Minister announces closer digital cooperation with Estonia
May 28, 2018
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today met with the Prime Minister of Estonia, Jüri Ratas, to discuss how they will work together on some of the most pressing global issues and to create good, middle class jobs for Canadians and Estonians alike.
During their meeting, Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Ratas committed to broader cooperation on digital government and the digital economy. The memorandum of understanding on digital cooperation concluded today will allow our two countries to work on joint projects and share best practices to empower citizens, promote transparency, improve government services, and boost economic growth.
The two leaders also discussed the benefits of progressive trade and how the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is helping to grow our economies and create new opportunities for Canadian and Estonian businesses.
In a joint statement released after their meeting, Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Ratas underlined their shared commitment to NATO and to maintaining security and stability in Central and Eastern Europe. They also highlighted the importance of working together to promote gender equality, protect the rules-based international order, and build economies that work for everyone.
Quote
“Canada’s relationship with Estonia is flourishing, and we congratulate Estonia on the centenary of its independence. Estonia has long been a global leader in digital governance, harnessing the latest technologies to better serve its citizens. We look forward to working more closely with Estonia on digital projects that will create good, middle class jobs and improve the lives of people in both our countries.”—The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
Quick Facts
- Canada and Estonia enjoy a strong relationship, rooted in decades of cooperation and strong people-to-people bonds.
- More than 24,000 Canadians are of Estonian descent, representing one of the largest Estonian diasporas in the world.
- This is the first official meeting between Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Ratas.
- As part of the celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of Estonia’s independence, Prime Minister Ratas met with members of the Estonian‑Canadian community in Toronto.
- Canada and Estonia collaborate closely within the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Digital7, and the Open Government Partnership.
- Canada was the first country to ratify Estonia's accession to NATO in 2004. Since 2016, Canadian officers have been stationed in Tallinn, Estonia, as part of the NATO Forces Integration Unit in the country.
- On September 21, 2017, the provisional application of CETA took effect. Estonia ratified CETA on October 4, 2017.
- CETA will provide Canadian businesses with greater access to the world's largest integrated market, with over 510 million consumers and a GDP of $22 trillion, and will help eliminate barriers in virtually all sectors and aspects of Canada-EU bilateral trade.
