Washington, DC, USA (us.gov.krd) – On September 24, 2023, Minister Safeen Dizayee, the Head of the Department of Foreign Relations, led a Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) delegation to Canada for an official visit aimed at fostering closer ties with Canadian government officials, parliamentarians, civil society representatives, and the vibrant Kurdish community.

Over the course of their three-day visit to Ottawa, the KRG dignitaries engaged in productive discussions with Canadian government officials from Global Affairs and the Department of National Defence. Additionally, they held a series of meetings with members of parliament, including esteemed chairpersons and vice-chairs of parliamentary committees, as well as Senators and Shadow Ministers.

The KRG delegation met with key Canadian officials from Global Affairs and the Department of National Defence. In Parliament, they interacted with MPs including John McKay and James Bezan of the National Defence Committee, Salma Zahid and Brad Redekopp of the Citizenship and Immigration Committee, and Ali Ehssasi of the Foreign Affairs Committee. They also spoke with Senator Peter Boehm from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and MPs Michael Chong, the Shadow Foreign Minister, and Kyle Seeback, the Shadow Minister for International Trade.

Separately, MP Ziad Aboultaif hosted a roundtable discussion between Minister Dizayee and Representative Aziz, alongside several members of the Parliamentary Friends of the Kurds (PFK). The exchange of ideas revolved around strengthening bilateral relations encompassing security, trade, investment, culture, and educational collaborations.

To honor Kurdish heritage and strengthen cultural ties, Kurdish communities from Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto organized Kurdistan Heritage Day on Parliament Hill, hosted by MP Chandra Arya. The event displayed Kurdish culture to notable attendees like MPs, Senators, Ambassadors, and other supporters of Kurdistan.

Minister Dizayee and Representative Aziz expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the warm reception extended to them and the opportunity to explore potential collaborations that will further enhance the enduring friendship between Kurdistan and Canada.