Canada A Trusted and Reliable Partner – Minister Johnson Smith

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, has hailed Canada as one of Jamaica’s trusted and reliable bilateral partners.

She noted that the 60-year diplomatic relationship between the countries has been integral to Jamaica’s continued development as a nation.

Addressing a reception to mark the milestone at the residence of the Canadian High Commissioner in Kingston recently, Senator Johnson Smith said that the two countries have built and nurtured a long partnership, collaborating on issues of mutual interest and concern in areas such as climate and economic resilience; sustainable and inclusive governance; human rights; gender equality; and health.

“I am proud that these common pursuits have been undertaken, not only by our technical teams, but at the Ministerial level, as well as at the level of our Heads of Government,” Minister Johnson Smith noted.

She pointed out that Prime Ministers the Most Hon. Andrew Holness and Justine Trudeau have been at the helm of global efforts to “effectively and sustainably” address issues concerning financing for development in the era of Coronavirus (COVID- 19) and beyond.

Senator Johnson Smith said that the partnership between the countries has also been buttressed by the assistance provided by Canada at the regional level.

“We are the beneficiaries of numerous regional programmes in critical sectors such as climate change, disaster mitigation, and the COVID-19 pandemic. We benefitted tremendously from support programmes for gender equity and violence prevention initiatives,” the Minister pointed out.

She noted that crucial support has also come from the Canada-CARICOM Expert Deployment Mechanism (CCEDM), through technical assistance to diversify local economies, build climate-resilience, and reduce gender and economic equalities in CARICOM member states.

Senator Johnson Smith noted that the countries shared values and principles have been pivotal in engagement at the level of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS).

Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, Harjit S. Sajjan, who was at the function, said that the 60 years of friendship between Jamaica and Canada, has enabled the forging of lasting bonds.
He noted his Government’s commitment to continue to work with Jamaica to achieve sustainable development and access to equitable justice and safety for citizens.

Canada and Jamaica have shared strong bilateral relations since the island gained independence in 1962.