National

Invest in Caribbean, leaders urge, as Trudeau promises new temporary worker program

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 19 Oct, 2023 10:21 AM

Caribbean leaders gathered in Ottawa for a two-day summit this week are urging the Canadian private sector to invest more in the region.

Their pleas came as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Thursday that Canada is creating a new temporary worker program for the fisheries industry.

The Canada-CARICOM Summit is wrapping up – and I’m speaking with reporters about the progress we’ve made and our commitment to making even more progress together. Tune in here for the update: https://t.co/lbGeFc6iVQ
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 19, 2023

"We want the Canadian private sector to come and be part of the opportunity, outside of the traditional areas of investment," Guyanese President Irfaan Ali said Thursday, on the sidelines of an Ottawa summit of the Caribbean Community.

"Why this meeting is so critical is to send a signal to the Canadian private sector that they have to be more aggressive."

Trudeau invited the group, known as CARICOM, to Ottawa to touch base on Canadian co-operation with the region. Canada has traditionally helped relay the region's concerns at other international forums.

Last year, Canada’s two-way merchandise trade with CARICOM countries reached $1.8 billion – and with that comes jobs for workers and opportunities for businesses. Today, I sat down with leaders and investors to discuss how we can keep growing this important economic partnership. pic.twitter.com/tOG9YWZA80
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 19, 2023

In Wednesday's meetings, leaders from across the Caribbean spoke about how Canada can help create a safer, greener world, with a focus on climate change, reforming financial institutions and securing Haiti from a gang crisis.

Thursday's meetings are focused on opportunities for Canadian investments in Caribbean countries, as well as boosting trade. Trudeau said Canadian industries can partner with countries in the region for green infrastructure, "smart agriculture" and renewable energy.

"Now it's time to really dig in, on further concretizing and expanding on more ambition," Trudeau said.

He added that Ottawa will be seeking more labour from regions like the Caribbean to work in fisheries.

"Canada is committed to implementing a new foreign labour program for aquaculture and fish processing under our temporary foreign worker program," Trudeau said.

Trudeau is scheduled to take questions from reporters on Thursday afternoon, as the summit wraps up.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

One evacuation imposed, another dropped, as B.C. wildfires burn through September

The order is the only one issued in B.C. in the last 24 hours, but several other orders and alerts have been ended or downgraded over the same period, including orders covering 25 homes affected by the out-of-control McDougall Creek wildfire near West Kelowna.

One evacuation imposed, another dropped, as B.C. wildfires burn through September

Liberal MPs meet to prep for fall sitting, as Trudeau stares down slumping polls

Liberal MPs are gathering in London, Ont., to plan their strategy as the party grapples with rising discontentment toward Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Polls show the Liberals have sunken to their lowest levels of support since taking government in 2015, largely to the benefit of the Conservatives.

Liberal MPs meet to prep for fall sitting, as Trudeau stares down slumping polls

Canadian accused in U.S. of stealing cash using sleight-of-hand techniques

A Canadian man has been indicted in a U.S. federal court in St. Louis after being accused of using sleight-of-hand methods to steal more than $64,000 from more than 40 Walmart stores across the U.S. Thirty-seven-year-old Mohsen Akbari was indicted August 16th on one count of wire fraud and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property.

Canadian accused in U.S. of stealing cash using sleight-of-hand techniques

Premier Eby 'white-hot' angry over Chinatown stabbing suspect's release from hospital

British Columbia Premier David Eby says he is "white-hot" angry over the day release of a man from a forensic psychiatric hospital before he was arrested for a triple stabbing in Vancouver's Chinatown. Eby says the decision to release the man boggles the mind, and he wants to get to the bottom of how it occurred.

Premier Eby 'white-hot' angry over Chinatown stabbing suspect's release from hospital

Health Canada approves updated Moderna vaccine for COVID-19

Health Canada has authorized the use of an updated Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 for all Canadians over the age of six months. The new vaccine targets the XBB.1.5 variant of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Health Canada approves updated Moderna vaccine for COVID-19

Delayed by plane troubles, Canada's PM Trudeau finally heading home from India

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau finally left India on Tuesday after technical issues with a government aircraft delayed his departure by two days. Trudeau and the Canadian delegation that attended the G20 leaders' summit in New Delhi was set to depart for Ottawa on Sunday, but the plane was grounded over an issue discovered during pre-flight checks.