CANADA latest news

Prime Minister of the Netherlands to visit Canada

October 16, 2018
Ottawa, Ontario

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, will visit Ottawa on October 25, 2018.

Canada and the Netherlands share a rich history and deep friendship rooted in decades of cooperation and generations of people-to-people bonds.

During their meeting, Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Rutte will underline our countries’ common commitment to build economies that benefit everyone, promote international peace and security, champion free trade, advance gender equality, and fight climate change. They will also explore how to further leverage the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which is creating good jobs, growth for the middle class, and new opportunities for people and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.

Prime Minister Trudeau will then host a lunch with Prime Minister Rutte and representatives from Canadian and Dutch companies to identify opportunities for increased trade and collaboration between our two countries.

The two leaders – who have both worked as teachers – will then take part in a town hall event with local high school students. They will discuss the importance of education, civic engagement, and how best to prepare for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

During his visit, Prime Minister Rutte will deliver an address to Parliament. This will be the first time that a Dutch prime minister addresses the Canadian Parliament. He will also lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the presence of Canadian veterans who served during WWII.

Quote

“Canada and the Netherlands are dear friends who share a rich history, common values, and many shared goals. I look forward to meeting again with Prime Minister Rutte to deepen our friendship and advance the good work we are already doing to create new opportunities for Canadians and Dutch alike.”
—The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Quick Facts

• Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Rutte last met during the NATO Summit in Brussels, Belgium, in July 2018.
• In 1988, the Queen of the Netherlands, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix, addressed the Canadian Parliament.
• Canada and the Netherlands share a dynamic and forward-looking relationship, based on common values, and a rich military and royal history. Today, about one million people of Dutch origin reside in Canada.
• The Netherlands and Canada are active members of the UN, WTO, NATO, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the various international judicial institutions headquartered in The Hague. The two countries also work together in various multilateral peace and security operations, including the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, NATO’s Enhanced Foreign Presence in the Baltics and the Global Coalition against Daesh in Iraq.
• In 2017, Canada's merchandise exports to the Netherlands totaled $3.1 billion and merchandise imports from the Netherlands reached over $4 billion, making the Netherlands Canada's fifth-largest merchandise trading partner in the EU.
• In 2017, Canadian direct investment in the Netherlands was valued at $32 million and Dutch direct investment in Canada was valued at nearly $92 million.

Associated Links

• Canada-Netherlands Relations
• Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
• The Prime Minister concludes a successful visit to Armenia and his participation at the XVII Francophonie Summit
  
  October 13, 2018
  Yerevan, Armenia
  
  Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau concluded his official visit to Armenia, where he also took part in the XVII Francophonie Summit.
  At the Summit, together with the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Canada’s continued commitment to the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) and its values, including peace, democracy, gender equality, inclusion, and respect for rights and freedoms.
  The Prime Minister had discussions with his counterparts from various Francophonie member countries on issues related to the Summit’s theme, “Living together in solidarity, shared humanistic values and respect for diversity: a source of peace and prosperity in La Francophonie.” During the discussions, he emphasized the importance of working together to address shared challenges, including building economies that benefit everyone, fighting climate change, and strengthening democratic institutions.
  In line with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, the Prime Minister also announced that the Government of Canada will contribute $43 million to support international assistance projects in several African countries, including Mali, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These funds will help advance women’s empowerment, promote sexual and reproductive rights, and increase access to sexual and reproductive health services.
  The Prime Minister also highlighted the exceptional work of Secretary General Michaëlle Jean as head of La Francophonie. He underscored her many achievements, serving as a strong voice for women and girls and as an advocate for young people and human rights. The Prime Minister also congratulated the new Secretary General of the OIF, Louise Mushikiwabo, who will officially take office in 2019.
  The Prime Minister also spoke with Quebec’s premier-designate François Legault. The two leaders agreed to work together to address common challenges, attract foreign investment, and create new opportunities for all Canadians.
  The Prime Minister announced that the OIF members adopted the Francophonie strategy for the promotion of gender equality and the rights and empowerment of women and girls. Canada took a leadership role in developing this strategy, which will make gender equality a priority in La Francophonie’s work in the coming years. At the Summit, members also reached a consensus in favour of the seven new applications for membership in the OIF, namely Ireland, Malta, Gambia, and Louisiana, which requested observer status, and Kosovo, Serbia, and the United Arab Emirates, which requested associate membership.
  During his official bilateral visit, Prime Minister Trudeau met with Armen Sarkissian, President of the Republic of Armenia, and Nikol Pashinyan, Armenian Prime Minister, to further strengthen the strong relationship between Canada and Armenia. The leaders discussed their intention to begin talks on expanding air services between Canada and Armenia, which would facilitate travel, tourism, and trade, and strengthen the ties between the people in both countries.
  Prime Minister Trudeau also launched the Arnold Chan Initiative for Democracy in Armenia. He made the announcement in the company of Member of Parliament Jean Yip, in memory of her husband, Member of Parliament Arnold Chan, who passed away last year and was the former co-leader of the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group. The initiative will help develop democratic institutions and strengthen the democratic process in Armenia. It will also support various projects aimed at protecting the right to education and the empowerment of women and girls, encouraging young people’s participation in the democratic process, and promoting the sustainable development of communities through environmental education.
  

  Quotes

  “Canada is a proud member of the International Organisation of La Francophonie and will continue to work actively to promote and protect the French language and francophone culture. At this year’s Summit, we made significant progress to advance our shared values of peace, democracy, inclusion, diversity, gender equality, and respect for human rights.”
  —The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

  “I was very pleased to meet the President and the Prime Minister of Armenia during my official visit. We had productive discussions and showcased the close ties between our two countries. Canada will continue to support Armenia’s efforts to strengthen its democratic progress.”
  —The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

  “Canada's commitment to La Francophonie runs deep and is rooted in the French language and the values we share. An integral part of that means promoting peace, democracy, and human rights – and we will never stop defending those values. As Minister responsible for La Francophonie, my mandate is to defend, strengthen, and promote our official language communities, and the French language throughout the world. That is why, as part of the XVII Francophonie Summit, and with support from France and other partners, Canada is committed to support dynamic francophone culture and protect its place in the digital world in a meaningful way.”
  —The Hon. Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie

  Quick facts

  • The International Organisation of La Francophonie is made up of 84 member states and governments; of these, 54 are full members, 4 are associate members, and 26 are observers.
  • Armenia joined the International Organisation of La Francophonie in 2004 as an observer, and became an associate member in 2008.
  • Armenia obtained full member status in the IOF in 2012.
  • The 18th Francophonie Summit will take place in Tunis, Tunisia, and will coincide with celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of La Francophonie.

  Related product

  • Backgrounder: The Prime Minister announces significant support while attending the 17th XVII Francophonie Summit

  Associated links

• 18th Francophonie Summit
• International Organisation of La Francophonie
• Canada and La Francophonie

• Prime Minister Trudeau meets with President Déby Itno of Chad
  
  October 12, 2018
  Yerevan, Armenia
  
  Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Idriss Déby Itno, President of the Republic of Chad, on the margins of the XVII Summit of La Francophonie in Yerevan, Armenia.
  The Prime Minister and the President discussed the importance of empowerment of women and girls, including through access to education, ending child, early and forced marriage and greater participation in all aspects of public life.
  The two leaders also discussed the security situation in the Sahel and the Canadian contribution to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Prime Minister Antoni Martí Petit of Andorra
  
  October 12, 2018
  Yerevan, Armenia
  
  Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Prime Minister Antoni Martí Petit on the margins of the Summit of La Francophonie in Yerevan, Armenia.
  The two leaders shared perspectives on key issues facing la Francophonie and looked forward to cooperating on efforts to strengthen the organization.
  
  Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Martí Petit committed to deepening relations between Canada and Andorra and finding new avenues of collaboration on shared interests.
• Prime Minister Trudeau meets with Président Keïta of Mali
  
  October 12, 2018
  Yerevan, Armenia
  
  
  Prime Minister Trudeau met today with President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta of the Republic of Mali on the margins of the Francophonie Summit in Yerevan.
  The Prime Minister congratulated President Keïta on his recent election and encouraged transparency for the upcoming legislative elections later this year.
  The two leaders also exchanged views on regional security challenges, with the Prime Minister reaffirming Canada’s engagement through its contribution to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). They discussed progress made on the 2015 Peace Agreement, noting the need for continued positive momentum.
  The Prime Minister and President welcomed the longstanding bilateral relationship between Canada and Mali, which in 2019 will mark 50 years of diplomatic relations.

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION latest news

PRESS

Council of the European Union 15/10/2018  Baltic Sea: Council decides on how much can be fished in 2019 On 15 October 2018 the Council agreed on next year's total allowable catches (TACs) and member states' quotas for the ten commercially most important fish stocks in the Baltic Sea. The Council decided to increase fishing opportunities for plaice (+43%), sprat (+3%), Western cod (+70%), and herring in the Gulf of Riga (+7%). The Council also rolled-over the TACs for main basin salmon, and decided to decrease the future amounts to be fished for Central herring (-26%), Bothnian herring (-7%), Western herring (-48%), Eastern cod (-15%), and salmon in the Gulf of Finland (-3%). Thanks to this agreement, 7 out of 8 stocks for which complete scientific advice was available will be fished in line with the principle of maximum sustainable yield (MSY), covering 98% of fish landings in volume. "The 2020 deadline we set ourselves for achieving the sustainability of our fisheries resources is getting closer. Today's decision is another important step towards meeting this goal, whilst at the same time respecting the socioeconomic viability of our coastal communities." Elisabeth Köstinger, Austrian federal minister for sustainability and tourism and president of the Council Press release Horizon Europe: Next steps for Missions and Partnerships Published 15 Oct 19:43 Informal Lunch of EU Research Ministers and Commissioner Moedas on 15 October 2018 By joint invitation of Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, and Heinz Faßmann, Austrian Federal Minister for Education, Science and Research and current President of the Council Competitiveness for the part Research, representatives of the 28 members states met in the Berlaymont Building in Brussels for an informal lunch to discuss the issues of Research and Innovation (R&I) Missions and large partnership initiatives in Horizon Europe. The meeting took place two weeks after the Council had decided to include the areas of Missions and institutional Partnerships in the legal text of Horizon Europe. As promised by Commissioner Moedas at the Council meeting on 28 September 2018, the European Commission presented a non-paper, containing a list of areas which the Commission believes to have the greatest potential to be the basis of the first Missions and of the large Partnership Initiatives (both public-public/Art. 185 TFEU and public-private/Art. 187 TFEU) within Horizon Europe.

U.S.A.'s interesting news

News: October 12, 2018

Hurricane Recovery Assistance The U.S. Department of Labor is making available National Dislocated Worker Grant funding to help Floridaand Georgia assess workforce needs in the wake of Hurricane Michael. "As Americans come together to help each other, the Department of Labor is committed to supporting recovery efforts," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta.

Record Wages Recovered The Department's Wage and Hour Division recovered a record $304 million in wages owed to workers in fiscal year 2018, and hosted a record-high 3,643 compliance assistance events to help job creators understand their responsibilities under the law.

Helping Americans Get Back To Work Secretary Acosta and U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams discussed how the Trump Administration is helping Americans sidelined by opioid addiction and drug use get back to work in an op-ed published in the Salt Lake Tribune.

More Apprenticeships for Workers with Disabilities The Department announced $1.9 million in new investments to improve apprenticeship opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities in high-growth industries.

In Case You Missed It

Visa Enforcement

A North Carolina landscaping companywill pay workers nearly $1.3 million to resolve work visa program and wage violations.

New Safety Alliance

OSHA and craft brewer organizations in Ohiohave established a two-year alliance to promote workplace safety in Ohio breweries.

Hurricane Wages

The Department recovered more than $1.1 million in back wages for workers involved in Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.



Lockout/Tagout

OSHA cited a New Jersey pet food manufacturer for failing to correct workplace safety and health hazards, and proposed $152,829 in fines.

Overtime Wages

An Indiana manufacturer will pay $338,151 in back wages and damages to resolve overtime violations at 53 plants nationwide.

Safety Settlement

A Wisconsin machine operator received $100,000 in back wages and damages after his employer fired him for reporting workplace injuries.

Stat of the Week


Manufacturing Continues To Grow

408,000 new manufacturing jobs have been added to the U.S. economy since November 2016, according to the Bureau of Lab

or Statistics. Lower Your Risk of Breast Cancer Did you know the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program catered to over 285,000 women across the U.S. in 2017? Breast cancer is one of the common cancers and you can take steps to reduce the risk of being harmed by the disease. Learn about early signs of breast cancer, what you can do to lower your risk, and if you are eligible to get a free screening.  Learn How to Submit a Consumer Complaint Have you ever experienced frustration over a misleading product, phone call, or company? Take action by filing a consumer complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). By reporting sweepstake scams, identity theft, or other unfair business practices, you can help the agency stop future consumer fraud.   MedWatch - The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program A new MedWatch Safety Alert recall: AFX Endovascular AAA Systems by Endologix: Recall - Due to Risk of Type III Endoleaks was just added to the FDA Recalls webpage.   You can read the complete recall alert at: https://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/ListofRecalls/ucm623439.htm

THE WHITE HOUSE's latest news

The White House • October 15, 2018 Welcome home, Pastor Brunson! On Saturday, President Donald J. Trump greeted Pastor Andrew Brunson in the Oval Office, shortly after the pastor’s release following two years of detainment in Turkey. “You have galvanized this country,” the President told him. Watch President Trump welcome Pastor Brunson home. President Trump surveys hurricane damage As President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visit Florida and Georgia today, thousands of first responders and volunteers have mobilized to restore the communities hit hardest by Hurricane Michael. This storm of historic proportions has been met in turn with a massive Federal response. Here’s a look at that response, by the numbers: A major on-the-ground operation: More than 16,000 Federal employees, including over 8,000 military personnel, have been deployed. Search-and-rescue efforts underway: FEMA, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the National Guard are working alongside state responders and volunteers. As of this morning, they have completed 110 evacuations, 4,193 rescues/assists, 15,287 shelter-in-place checks, 128 animal assists, and 16,827 structural assessments. Power restoration a top priority: More than 35,000 utility workers from 26 states are working to bring power back to impacted areas. Food and water distribution: In Florida, FEMA has provided 715,000 meals and 1.5 million liters of water per day. FEMA has also transferred more than 350,000 meals to Georgia, and 30+ distribution sites are being supported. Over the weekend, President Trump issued a major disaster declaration for Georgia and mobilized additional disaster assistance for Florida. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams have been knocking on doors to help families register for support. So far, more than 28,000 individuals and households have registered for assistance. “The response to Hurricane Michael continues,” FEMA reports via Facebook. “Tens of thousands of industry workers continued restoring power and volunteers with many different organizations served hot meals and provided comfort.” “We’ve called for maximum relief,” President Trump said as he and the First Lady spent today meeting with first responders, volunteers, and families affected by the storm. When asked about his biggest priority for today’s trip, his answer was simple: “Just making sure everyone is safe, that they’re fed.” President Trump: Thank you to FEMA and our first responders. For updates: See the latest on the Federal response to Hurricane Michael. Photo of the Day Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visit Florida after Hurricane Michael | October 15, 2018 President Trump’s List: 289 Accomplishments in Just 20 months, ‘Relentless’ Promise-Keeping “The Trump administration’s often overlooked list of achievements has surpassed those of former President Reagan at this time and more than doubled since the last tally of accomplishments after his first year in office,” Paul Bedard writes in the Washington Examiner. As the President nears the two-year mark of his historic election, “the administration has counted up 289 accomplishments in 18 categories, capped by the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.” “Trump’s successes in reducing the cost of taxes and regulations, rebuilding our military, avoiding wars of choice and changing the courts rival those of all previous Republican presidents,” American for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist said. Click here to read more. “President Trump said Hurricane Michael packed ‘tremendous power’ on its destructive path through Florida and Georgia, but fortunately is moving quickly so emergency crews can begin their work,” Dave Boyer reports for The Washington Times. “Mr. Trump said the Federal Emergency Management Agency, state authorities and electric company crews have already moved in to repair damage and help those left homeless.” “Nearly twice as many registered voters said they thought President Trump was responsible for the current state of the economy compared to those who credited former President Obama,” Julia Manchester reports in The Hill. “The poll, conducted by Hill.TV and the HarrisX polling company, found that 49 percent of respondents attributed today's economy to Trump, while 24 percent of respondents credited Obama.” “President Donald Trump added his signature to the ‘Save Our Seas Act’ on Thursday, green-lighting an initiative to clean up eight million tons of debris from the planet’s oceans,” Jason Hopkins reports for The Daily Caller. “As president I will continue to do everything I can to stop other nations from making our oceans into their landfills,” President Trump said.    “President Trump signed the eagerly anticipated Music Modernization Act into law at a ceremony at the White House on Thursday, in the most high-profile event for the music industry in several years,” Amy X. Wang writes in Rolling Stone. President Trump called the MMA a milestone that would “close loopholes” in copyright law and help songwriters get paid. “They were treated very unfairly. They’re not going to be treated unfairly anymore,” the President added.