February 15, 2023
Ottawa, Ontario
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The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on National Flag of Canada Day:
“Today, I join Canadians across the country and around the world to celebrate the National Flag of Canada. On this day in 1965, one of our country’s most well-known symbols – the maple leaf – was raised on Parliament Hill for the first time.
“The flag has since been launched into space and brought to the highest point on earth. For 58 years, it has flown at ports, airports, schools, and libraries across the country and at Canada’s diplomatic missions around the world. Wherever it flies, the Maple Leaf Flag stands for the values we embody as Canadians: peace, freedom, openness, generosity, and diversity.
“The maple tree, with its vibrant autumn colours, is a prominent feature of the landscape in many parts of Canada. Long before the arrival of settlers, many First Nations used the maple tree for its sweet sap and its versatile wood. Over the years, the maple leaf became a symbol of Canada and in the 19th century, it became synonymous with Canadian identity. Whether depicted in books or songs, or carved on the headstones of the Canadian service men and women who gave their lives for their country, the maple leaf is a powerful symbol that unites us.
“On this National Flag of Canada Day, we celebrate the promise the Maple Leaf Flag stands for: that as a people, Canadians strive for peace, unity that respects our diversity, and a better world where no one is left behind.”
February 16, 2023
Nassau, The Bahamas
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today concluded his visit to Nassau, The Bahamas, where he worked with leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to continue advancing support for the Haitian people amidst the crisis in their country, while also strengthening ties with the region, driving economic growth, creating good jobs, and fighting climate change.
While in Nassau, the Prime Minister worked closely with leaders to help address the political, security, and humanitarian crisis in Haiti. He announced $10 million in new funding to protect Haitian women and children along the Haiti-Dominican Republic border.
Canada has also committed $12.3 million to address the food and nutrition needs of vulnerable populations, help meet the safety and emergency sexual and reproductive health needs of vulnerable women and girls, prevent and respond to gender-based violence, and provide water, sanitation and hygiene to address and prevent cholera.
Prime Minister Trudeau also announced that Canada has imposed additional sanctions against two Haitian elites who provide financial or operational support to gangs and are inflicting violence on the Haitian people. Canada will continue to provide support to bolster the capacity of the Haitian National Police to respond to the crisis, including by delivering three additional Haitian-purchased Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. Today, Canada announced that we will deploy two Royal Canadian Navy Kingston-Class ships to Haiti in the coming weeks in response to Haiti’s request for assistance as violence continues to escalate in the country. As a steadfast partner of Haiti, Canada will continue to support an inclusive political dialogue in Haiti, lay the foundation for free and fair elections, and help Haitians restore peace and security in their country. During his bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Haiti, Prime Minister Trudeau urged Prime Minister Henry to bolster political consensus around the High Transitional Council.
In Nassau, Prime Minister Trudeau also announced $44.8 million in new initiatives to help support CARICOM in addressing the climate crisis by protecting more biodiversity, and improving climate resilience and disaster preparedness. Canada will continue to advocate for small island and low-lying states in the Caribbean, who are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change like rising sea levels and extreme weather events.
The Prime Minister also announced $1.8 million in new initiatives to help tackle escalating regional security challenges, including by targeting illicit drugs, the opioid crisis, irregular migration, and strengthening border and maritime security.
Prime Minister Trudeau also announced $11.48 million in new initiatives, including $2.5 million in Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) services for Indigenous people and other communities residing in the remote hinterland lacking access to quality health care and $8.98 million to the Empowering the Next Generation: Agency and Gender Equality for Youth (ENGAGE) project to support the foundation of a more empowered and equal generation of young people in Guyana.
While at the 44th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, which he attended as special guest, Prime Minister Trudeau signaled Canada’s commitment to keep working with the region. He announced that Canada will be taking on the role of Chair of Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) Board of Governors in June 2023 and will host the Board’s Annual Meeting in Canada in 2024.
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“Canada and CARICOM are united in longstanding partnerships and shared priorities. There are a lot of challenges we need to work together on: supporting the people of Haiti, delivering climate action and improving resilience, finding new economic opportunities for our businesses and workers, and above all, putting people at the centre of everything we do.”
Quick Facts
- The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is a regional organization, now celebrating its 50th anniversary, established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas on July 4, 1973.
- Since July 2022, Canada has responded to the deteriorating security and humanitarian crisis by providing economic, humanitarian, development, and security assistance to Haiti, including deploying a CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft to provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability to support Canada’s efforts to disrupt the activities of gangs in Haiti, airlifting commercial deliveries of specialized vehicles to Haiti to support the efforts of the Haitian National Police to combat gang violence against Haitian citizens and providing more than $98 million in international assistance to respond to the urgent and basic needs of the population, including combatting food insecurity, improving sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and girls, to provide medical and psychosocial support to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, to protect women and girls and to strengthen the security and judicial sectors.
- While at the Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, Prime Minister Trudeau reiterated Canada’s ongoing commitment to growing our trade ties with CARICOM countries and building on the efforts made under the Commonwealth Caribbean Countries Tariff (CARIBCAN) program.
- CARIBCAN was launched by Canada at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Nassau in 1985 to improve the trade and economic development prospects of the region, promote new investment opportunities, and encourage economic integration and co-operation. It provides duty-free access into Canada to most goods originating from Commonwealth Caribbean countries.
- CARIBCAN is legislated in Canada’s Customs Tariff Act and does not have an expiry date but, as a matter of administration, Canada periodically seeks and receives a waiver from the World Trade Organization for CARIBCAN.
- In Nassau, Prime Minister Trudeau reiterated Canada's commitment to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and accelerating progress on all SDGs to address today’s most pressing social, economic and environmental challenges
- During his visit to Nassau, Prime Minister Trudeau met with:
- The Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Philip Davis
- The Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley
- The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness
- The Prime Minister of Haiti, Ariel Henry
- CARICOM is comprised of 15 Full Members and five Associate Members. The Full Members are Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
- The Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM meets twice a year at regular and inter-sessional meetings, in summer and winter respectively.
- In 2021, Canada’s two-way merchandise trade with CARICOM countries reached $1.9 billion. In 2021, bilateral trade in services reached $3.9 billion.
- The chairmanship of the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) Board of Governors will be handed to Canada from Saint Lucia at this year’s meeting in June 2023. The Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, Harjit S. Sajjan, is Canada’s Governor to the CDB.
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Associated Links
- Canada-Bahamas relations
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- Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness
February 16, 2023
Nassau, The Bahamas
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness.
The two leaders discussed strengthening the bilateral relationship and their shared priorities, which include clean economic growth, climate resilience and biodiversity, access to concessional finance, disaster preparedness, and regional defence and security cooperation.
As co-chairs of the United Nations Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond Initiative, the prime ministers highlighted the importance of mobilizing international cooperation on financing for development to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The prime ministers discussed the ongoing crisis in Haiti and underscored the need for continued support for the Haitian people, including through convening inclusive political dialogue and strengthening the capacity of the Haitian National Police.
The two leaders agreed to remain in touch on these important priorities.
Associated Links
- Canada-Jamaica relations
- Canada and Latin America and the Caribbean
- Prime Minister strengthens ties with the Caribbean, announces new support for the Haitian people
- Forty-Fourth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOMPrime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley
February 16, 2023
Nassau, The BahamasToday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley.
The leaders discussed their ambitions for mobilizing the international community to make progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in their roles as co-chairs of UN Secretary-General’s SDG Advocates group.
The prime ministers talked about Prime Minister Mottley’s Bridgetown Initiative to modernize the global financial architecture. Prime Minister Trudeau said that Canada would continue to champion the interests of CARICOM and Small Island and Low-Lying Coastal Developing States (SIDS), particularly on shared interests such as climate resilience and access to concessional finance. Prime Minister Mottley thanked Prime Minister Trudeau for Canada’s leadership in helping to strengthen financial governance in the Caribbean region.
The leaders discussed the ongoing crisis in Haiti and underscored the need for continued support for the Haitian people, including through convening inclusive political dialogue and strengthening the capacity of the Haitian National Police.
The two leaders agreed to continue working closely together over the coming year.
Associated Links
- Canada-Barbados relations
- Canada and Latin America and the Caribbean
- Prime Minister strengthens ties with the Caribbean, announces new support for the Haitian people
- Forty-Fourth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOMPrime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Prime Minister of Haiti Ariel Henry
February 16, 2023
Nassau, The BahamasToday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the Prime Minister of Haiti, Ariel Henry.
Prime Minister Trudeau conveyed his deep concern about the crisis in Haiti, where Haitians continue to face gang violence, including indiscriminate attacks, sexual and gender-based violence, destruction of homes, and mass displacement. Prime Minister Henry thanked Canada for providing much-needed security equipment and assistance to bolster the Haitian National Police’s capacity to combat armed gangs.
The two leaders discussed Prime Minister Henry’s political accord of December 21, 2022, and the establishment of the High Transition Council. Prime Minister Trudeau underscored the need for inclusive political dialogue to pave the way for free and fair elections and foster democratic stability.
Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Henry discussed the important role of CARICOM, of which Haiti is a member, in helping to convene political dialogue in support of a Haitian-led solution to the crisis.
The two leaders agreed to remain in contact.
Associated Links
- Canada-Haiti relations
- Canada and Latin America and the Caribbean
- Canada deploys two Kingston-class ships to Haiti in response to the worsening security crisis
- Prime Minister strengthens ties with the Caribbean, announces new support for the Haitian people
- Forty-Fourth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM
