Ottawa — 

Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism, completed a successful visit to Lebanon where he met community, business, & political leaders, promoted trade, and met Canadian aid workers who are helping victims of the Syrian Civil War.

Minister Kenney – whose four-day visit ended July 28 – met with business leaders from both Lebanon and Canada interested in strengthening bilateral trade and economic ties.

The Minister also held talks with leaders of major faith communities, raising concerns about violence targeting Christians and Shi’a Muslims in Syria and Iraq, and discussing the challenges and opportunities of Lebanon's unique religious composition.

Minister Kenney met with religious leaders including, Syrian Orthodox Patriarch Aphrem II, who recently visited Christian refugees fleeing death threats made by extremist militias on the outskirts of Mosul, Shiite Sheikhs Qabalan & Ali al-Amin, Sunni Grand Muffti Kabbani, and Armenian Catholic and Apostolic Patriarchs, Nerses Bedros XIX & Aram Keshishian.

On Sunday, Minister Kenney joined Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai for the Divine Liturgy with the ancient Maronite community of the Kadisha Valley, and a discussion about the importance of pluralism.

The Minister met with the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Tammam Salam, who thanked Canada for its support for Syrian refugees and spoke about broadening bilateral ties. Minister Kenney also met Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil to discuss strategies to increase commerce between both countries, and General Jean Kahwagi, Chief of Staff of the Lebanese Army, to discuss security issues.

During his visit, Minister Kenney visited Syrian refugees in the Bekaa Valley where he announced Canada will contribute to UNICEF’s Improving Access to Quality Education for all Children initiative.

Minister Kenney also hosted a reception in Beirut to thank Canadian aid workers who have been helping Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

On July 25, Minister Kenney received an honourary doctorate (Doctoris Honoris Causa) from Lebanon’s Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), where he recalled St. John Paul II’s statement that “Lebanon is more than a country. It is a message of freedom and an example of pluralism for East and West.”

The Minister was joined on his trip by a Canadian delegation that included representatives of the Canada-Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, and leaders of both the Muslim and Christian Lebanese-Canadian communities.

Quick facts

• Canada has committed more than $630 million in humanitarian, development and security assistance in response to the Syria crisis.
• In 2013, Canadian exports to Lebanon totalled more than $74 million, and imports totalled more than $20 million.

Quote

“Canada’s model of pluralism is profoundly relevant to Lebanon, the only Middle Eastern country built on a balanced partnership between religious and ethnic communities.  Canada’s Lebanese community has succeeded in every domain, and is a great platform to help expand trade and commerce to the benefit of both countries.”

Jason Kenney, Canada’s Employment and Social Development Minister and Minister of Multiculturalism.