Foreign Affairs Minister and Minister of International Development to participate in G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting in London, United Kingdom
Ontario:The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will take part in the first in-person meeting of G7 Foreign and Development Ministers in two years in London, UK, from May 3 to May 5, 2021. The Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of International Development, will join discussions virtually.
The meeting is a crucial opportunity to make progress together on several pressing international challenges.
Ministers will look to align efforts notably on COVID-19, ensuring equitable access to vaccines, fighting climate change, enhancing food security and advancing girls’ education. They will also discuss coordinated responses to threats to human rights and democracy and regional security concerns in many countries, including China, Russia, Myanmar, Libya, Syria, North Korea and Iran.
With his colleagues, Minister Garneau will also underscore Canada’s determination to end the practice of arbitrary detention in state-to-state relations.
Ministers will also have the opportunity to engage with their counterparts from India, Australia, the Republic of Korea, South Africa, along with the Chair and Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), who have been invited as guests to join parts of this year’s G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ meeting.
As the host country, the United Kingdom will implement strict COVID-secure measures, including social distancing and daily testing to ensure the health and wellbeing of all staff and attendees. Minister Garneau and Canadian delegates will follow all applicable health and safety protocols and adhere to quarantine requirements upon their return to Canada.
Minister Garneau will also attend the 12th Ministerial meeting of the Arctic Council on May 19-20 in Reykjavik, Iceland. The meeting will be attended by the Foreign Ministers of the eight Arctic States as well as six circumpolar Arctic Indigenous organizations, including three Canadian organizations.