Statement by the Prime Minister on the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers
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February 12, 2023
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers, also known as Red Hand Day:
“Children should never be used as weapons of war. A child’s right to a safe, protective, and supportive environment is everyone’s responsibility. On this International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers, Canada reaffirms its unwavering commitment to end the recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts.
“Approximately 450 million children worldwide live in conflict-affected areas, including many displaced by war. In these situations, children can be forced to experience, witness, or participate in acts of violence, which causes resulting physical, physiological, and emotional harm that can have lifelong impacts.
“The Government of Canada is committed to helping children live and grow in safety here at home, and around the world. In 2017, Canada introduced the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers. Endorsed by 106 member states of the United Nations, the Vancouver Principles prioritize the prevention of the recruitment and use of child soldiers during a peacekeeping mission. These principles ensure that all peacekeepers – military, police, and civilian – are prepared to act decisively and effectively to help prevent child recruitment. Canada also established the Dallaire Centre of Excellence for Peace and Security to prepare the Canadian Armed Forces to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict.
“Today, we commit to continuing to work with the international community to ensure that all children can live their lives free from violence. Together, we can make sure children remain children, and build a safer, more just future for all.”
February 11, 2023
Ottawa, Ontario
Yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Philip Davis.
The prime ministers discussed their commitment to strengthen the partnership between Canada and CARICOM members. They reiterated the need for close collaboration on supporting a Haitian-led solution to the instability in Haiti.
Prime Minister Trudeau thanked Prime Minister Davis for inviting him to participate as a special guest in the 44th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM and conveyed that he looked forward to meeting Caribbean leaders in Nassau next week.
The two leaders committed to continuing discussions at the CARICOM meeting next week.
Associated Links
- Canada and The Bahamas
- Prime Minister to travel to The Bahamas to meet with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders
- Forty-Fourth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM
February 11, 2023
Ottawa, Ontario
Earlier today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, on the matter of an unidentified, unmanned object that violated Canadian airspace and was closely tracked and monitored by North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) over the last 24 hours.
Prime Minister Trudeau and President Biden agreed that the unidentified object should be taken down, and authorized NORAD to conduct the operation. Canadian and US aircraft were scrambled, and a US F-22 successfully shot down the object over the Yukon. The Prime Minister noted that Canadian Armed Forces will now recover and analyze the wreckage of the object to determine more details on its purpose and origin.
The Prime Minister and the President thanked NORAD for keeping the watch over North America, and agreed to continue their close coordination to detect, track, and defend North American airspace.
Associated Links
- Canada-United States relations
- North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)
- Statement from the Minister of National Defence
February 11, 2023
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that he will travel to Nassau, The Bahamas, on February 15 and 16, to participate as a special guest in the 44th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). At CARICOM, which brings together the leaders of 20 Caribbean governments, the Prime Minister will drive progress on shared priorities, including continued support for the Haitian people.
The visit will provide an opportunity for the leaders to consider further regional political, security, and humanitarian assistance in support of the Haitian people and Haitian-led solutions to the ongoing situation in Haiti, which is having a devastating impact on the Haitian people. As a steadfast partner, Canada has taken action in response to the egregious situation, including by providing support to the Haitian National Police, deploying a long-range patrol aircraft to disrupt the activities of gangs, coordinating the delivery of vital security equipment purchased by the Haitian government, providing humanitarian support, and implementing robust sanctions on those responsible. We will continue to stand with the Haitian people as they strive for a brighter future.
As CARICOM celebrates its 50th anniversary, the Prime Minister will participate in group discussions and bilateral meetings with CARICOM leaders. He will work to strengthen Canada’s partnership with countries in the Caribbean region, including by advancing democracy, human rights, economic growth that benefits everyone, and developing clean energy. The Prime Minister will also work with CARICOM leaders to increase trade and investment between Canada and the Caribbean to create jobs and growth, and advocate for climate action and resilience for the region, which is particularly vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters.
As a steadfast partner, Canada continues to work with CARICOM to build a more secure, stable, and prosperous world.
Quote
“Canada and the Caribbean Community share strong ties between our peoples, common values, and a strong commitment to fighting climate change. I look forward to meeting with the leaders of CARICOM to discuss how we can continue to work together to support the people of Haiti, strengthen the Caribbean region, and build a better future for people and businesses in Canada, the Caribbean, and around the world.”
Quick Facts
- Over two million Canadians travel to CARICOM countries annually.
- Canada has long-standing ties with many CARICOM countries on a wide range of issues, including trade, security and defence, and governance.
- CARICOM is comprised of 15 Full Members and five Associate Members. The Full Members are Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago. The overseas territories of Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, and Turks & Caicos Islands are Associate Members.
- The Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community 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.
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Associated Links
February 10, 2023
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the following changes in the senior ranks of the Public Service:
Shalene Curtis-Micallef, currently Associate Deputy Minister of Justice, becomes Deputy Minister of Justice, effective February 13, 2023.
Chris Forbes, currently Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, becomes Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change, effective February 20, 2023.
Arun Thangaraj, currently Associate Deputy Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, becomes Deputy Minister of Transport, effective February 20, 2023.
Stefanie Beck, currently Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence, becomes Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, effective February 20, 2023.
Jacqueline Bogden, currently Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Emergency Preparedness and COVID Recovery), Privy Council Office, becomes Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, effective February 27, 2023.
Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar, currently President of the Public Health Agency of Canada, becomes President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, effective February 27, 2023.
Heather Jeffrey, currently Associate Deputy Minister of Health, becomes President of the Public Health Agency of Canada, effective February 27, 2023.
Nancy Hamzawi, currently Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, becomes Executive Vice-President of the Public Health Agency of Canada, effective February 27, 2023.
Andrew Brown, currently Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Employment and Social Development Canada, becomes Associate Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development, effective February 13, 2023.
Daniel Rogers, currently Associate Chief of the Communications Security Establishment, becomes Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Emergency Preparedness and COVID Recovery), Privy Council Office, effective February 27, 2023.
Christine Donoghue, currently Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, becomes Senior Official at the Privy Council Office, effective February 27, 2023.
The Prime Minister took this opportunity to congratulate Christine Donoghue as she transitions to retirement. He also extended his gratitude to the following individuals on the occasion of their recent retirements from the Public Service, following distinguished careers marked by unwavering dedication and tireless efforts in serving Canadians:
- Christine Hogan, Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change
- Michael Keenan, Deputy Minister of Transport
- Siddika Mithani, President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- François Daigle, Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada
