Visit of the Honourable George J. Furey, K.C., Speaker of the Senate, and a Parliamentary Delegation, State of Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
From February 19 to 24, 2023, the Speaker of the Senate, the Honourable George J. Furey, K.C., led a parliamentary delegation to the State of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The delegation consisted of the Honourable Senator Raymonde Gagné, the Honourable Senator Kim Pate and the Honourable Senator Brent Cotter. Accompanying the delegation were Mr. Vincent MacNeil, Chief of Staff, Office of the Speaker, and Ms. Marie-Eve Belzile, Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Exchanges and Protocol.
In Doha, Qatar, the delegation met with the following officials:
- His Excellency Mr. Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, Speaker of the Shura Council the State of Qatar; and
- His Excellency Mr. Yousef bin Ali Al-Khater, Chairperson of the Qatar Parliamentary Friendship Group with Canada, in the Shura Council, and Members of the Friendship Group.
In Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates the delegation met with the following officials:
- His Excellency Mr. Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates;
- His Excellency Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders and the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity;
- His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance;
- His Excellency Salem Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture and Youth, and His Excellency Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary, Ministry of Culture and Youth; and
- Members of the UAE-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group.
In Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the delegation met with the following officials:
- His Majesty Abdullah II of Jordan, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan;
- His Excellency Faisal El-Fayez, President of The Senate of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan;
- His Excellency Ahmad Mohammad Safadi, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan;
- His Excellency Bisher Khasawneh, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and His Excellency Nasser Shraideh, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and State Minister for Public Modernisation of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan;
- His Excellency Saleh Al Kharabsheh, Minister of Energy and Mineral Wealth;
- His Excellency Muawich Radaideh, Minister of the Environment;
- Her Excellency Kholoud Saqaaf, Minister of Investment; and
- Dr. George H. Hazboun, Chairman of the Jordanian-Canadian Parliamentary Friendship Committee.
The purpose of the visit to the State of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was to strengthen bilateral relations with these countries, promote Canadian values and interests, enhance trade and investment relations, and explore opportunities for further cooperation. Another important subject of discussion centred on increased collaboration between each country’s educational institutions. The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss energy and security issues of mutual interest.
The report will be available once it has been tabled in the Senate.