On Parliament Hill

As the Member of Parliament for Provencher, I would like to commend our Prime Minister for his efforts to strengthen ties between Canada and Israel. I am proud that our Conservative Government has taken a principled stand on supporting important allies such as Israel.

I want to echo our Prime Minister’s words when addressing the Knesset (Israel’s Parliament) when he stated that Israel is “the only country in the Middle East which has long anchored itself in the ideals of freedom, democracy and the rule of law.” These are shared values between our two countries and I applaud our Government’s principled support for Israel.

On January 21st, 2014, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel, witnessed the signing of a Canada-Israel Strategic Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This Strategic Partnership reaffirms the close and special friendship between our two countries and lays out a strategic direction for a stronger future relationship. The announcement was made in Jerusalem during the Prime Minister’s first official visit to the Middle East, from January 18-25, 2014.

Under the MOU, Canada and Israel agree to advance common interests with a particular focus on promoting jobs, growth and economic prosperity in both countries. The Strategic Partnership touches on energy, security, international aid and development, innovation, and the promotion of human rights globally – areas where Canadian and Israeli expertise can be used to improve lives both at home and around the world.

The MOU includes a number of initiatives:

• Additional bilateral agreements;
• Negotiations towards a modernized bilateral free trade agreement;
• Further scientific research cooperation;
• Stronger cooperation in the energy sector;
• More business linkages, including in innovation;
• Marked growth in security and intelligence cooperation;
• Closer academic ties; enhanced government and private-sector partnerships;
• Enhanced defence and security relations; and
• Development cooperation.

While in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Harper had the privilege of being the first Canadian Prime Minister to address the Knesset, where he outlined his vision for the future of the Canada-Israel relationship. This honour is a testament to the close friendship between both countries and to solidarity on a broad range of global issues.

Prime Minister Harper’s visit to Israel is the first by a Canadian Prime Minister since 2000, and builds on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to Canada in March 2012. In 2012, bilateral merchandise trade between our two countries was valued at $1.41 billion.

More information on the MOU signed between Canada and Israel is available online.