“Canada is committed to increasing trade with the Americas to create economic opportunities for Canadians and people throughout the hemisphere,” said the Prime Minister. ”I look forward to working with our partners in the Americas to achieve these goals, and address shared security and development challenges.”

The Prime Minister will meet with President Ollanta Humala Tasso in Lima, Peru on May 22. Discussions will focus on deepening the overall bilateral partnership, which includes economic cooperation, development cooperation, education and defence. Since the entry into force of the Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement in 2009, Peru has continued to grow as a key market for Canada in the Americas. The country is Canada’s third-largest bilateral trading partner in Latin America and the Caribbean after Mexico and Brazil, and the third largest destination for Canadian direct investment in South and Central America.

On May 22-23, Prime Minister Harper will attend the Pacific Alliance Leaders’ Summit in Cali, Colombia, where he will discuss issues of economic importance to the hemisphere, including trade and investment.

The Pacific Alliance is a grouping of four of Latin America’s fastest-growing economies: Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. It was launched in April 2011 to facilitate the free movement of goods, services, capital and people among member countries, and to strengthen their trade and investment ties with Asia. Canada has bilateral free trade agreements with all the founding members of the Pacific Alliance. Canada became an observer to the Pacific Alliance in October 2012.

“The agreement signed today will strengthen economic ties between our two countries and help our companies invest with greater confidence in our respective markets. Facilitating two-way investment helps generate jobs, growth and long-term prosperity for Canadians and Tanzanians.

“A FIPA is a treaty designed to protect and promote investment abroad through legally binding provisions, as well as to promote inward foreign investment. By ensuring greater protection against discriminatory and arbitrary practices, and by enhancing the market predictability, a FIPA provides businesses with greater investment confidence.

“We are committed to creating the right conditions for businesses to compete and succeed internationally, which in turn will contribute to jobs and economic growth in both Canada and Tanzania.

“Now that the agreement has been signed, both countries will proceed with their ratification processes. The agreement will come into force once each country’s domestic approval process is complete.”

“I am honoured to chair the Council at this important time in the history of the circumpolar region,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “Canada’s chairmanship theme of Development for the People of the North will put the interests of Northerners first.”

Minister Aglukkaq thanked the Indigenous Permanent Participant organizations and Arctic Council states for their support for the program to be undertaken during the Canadian chairmanship and Sweden, in particular, for its strong guidance over the last two years.

“Canada is determined to see Arctic communities benefit from the economic boom that is unfolding in the region,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “The Arctic Council will establish a circumpolar business forum to foster sustainable circumpolar economic development.”

Following today’s signing by Arctic states of the Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic, the Council will focus during Canada’s chairmanship on actions to prevent oil spills in the Arctic marine environment.

Work to increase regional and global awareness of the importance of traditional ways of life of Arctic indigenous peoples will also be undertaken, as will actions on cruise ship operations, traditional knowledge, the promotion of mental wellness in Northern communities and adaptation to climate change.

Following the Arctic Council meeting in Kiruna, Sweden, Minister Aglukkaq will travel to Oulu and Helsinki, Finland, to meet with representatives of the local business community and Northern researchers.

“Yesterday, the people of British Columbia gave Christy Clark a mandate to continue serving as their premier.

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I offer my sincere congratulations to her and her team on their election victory.

“I look forward to continuing to work with Premier Clark on issues that matter to British Columbians and all Canadians, including jobs, growth and long-term economic prosperity.”

Minister Aglukkaq is in Kiruna to participate in the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting.

“Canada looks forward to assuming the chairmanship of the Council from Sweden,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “Our chairmanship will put Northerners first.”

Left to right: Inez Svonni Fjällström, the Sami Parliament of Sweden’s Administrative Director; Joe Adla Kunuk, Nunavut’s Associate Deputy Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs; Per Mikael Utsi, the Sami Parliament’s Chairman of the Board; Joe Linklater, the Gwich’in Council International’s Chairperson; Anders Kråik, the Parliament’s Vice-Chairman of the Board; Tagak Curley, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut; Ingrid Inga, Sami Parliament Board Member; Kenneth Macartney, Canada’s Ambassador to Sweden; and Bill Erasmus, the Arctic Athabaskan Council’s International Vice-Chair

“Canada marks with regret the fifth anniversary of the illegitimate arrest and detention of seven Iranian Bahá’í national leaders by the Khamenei regime, and we renew our call for their release.

“Behrouz Tavakkoli, Saeid Rezaie, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naemi and Mahvash Sabet continue to serve 20-year sentences in deplorable conditions as part of the Iranian regime’s continued systematic and institutionalized persecution of the Bahá’í community. These individuals have been arrested and imprisoned for no crime but for practising their faith and leadership within their religious community.

“Canada stands by the Iranian people, who deserve the freedom to practise their faith without fear of persecution and violence. We once again call on the Iranian authorities to respect their domestic and international obligations and to uphold the human rights of Iranians, regardless of religion or belief.”

Canada looks forward to both countries beginning exploratory discussions regarding a foreign investment promotion and protection agreement to help create a safer, more stable environment for investors and economic opportunities for both countries.

“Our government is focused on creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity,” said Baird. “When it comes to African markets, Kenya is a major player, and increasing trade ties will benefit both countries.”

The potential for increased Canadian investment in Kenya is important and Canada is keen to explore opportunities for freer trade generally with Kenya and the East African Community, especially for Canadian natural resource companies, which are becoming leaders in the Kenyan mining and oil and gas industries.

Baird highlighted that greater commercial engagement and people-to-people ties come with the opportunity and responsibility to engage on protecting and promoting Canadian values.

To that end, Baird held a round-table meeting with defenders of the rights of sexual minorities in East Africa.

“In too many places, people are branded as criminals or made victims of violence because of their sexuality,” said Baird. “Canada is a leading defender of human rights for all, and I applaud the courage and conviction of those advocates working on the ground to improve the lives of sexual minorities.”

Baird also encouraged Kenya’s newly elected government to continue its engagement with the International Criminal Court.

Baird used the occasion to announce that Canada is re-establishing diplomatic relations with Somalia. David Angell, Canada’s High Commissioner in Kenya, will also be accredited as ambassador to Somalia.

Baird and Special Representative Mahiga discussed the progress made by the Somali government over the last year. A more representative and accountable government is a critical step toward rebuilding Somalia. The country faces enormous challenges and will need the support of the international community for some time.

Canada will provide support in furtherance of Canadian interests and values.