STATE VISIT TO THE UNITED MEXICAN STATES - Seminar with the President of the Senate

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, attended a seminar entitled "Perspectives on the Canada-Mexico Relationship: Building Pathways Towards the Future" with Senator Carlos Naverrete Ruiz, President of the Senate, and two Senate foreign affairs committee chairs.

The Governor General delivered opening remarks and discussed with Mexican students and Canadian youth delegates as part of a half-day seminar on Canada-Mexico relations.

The seminar was held at the Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada Auditorium of the Senate, in Mexico City.

The Honourable Peter Kent, minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas)and a member of the Canadian official delegation for this visit, delivered a speech. Minister Kent is promoting Canada’s Americas Policy to bolster democracy, prosperity and security across the hemisphere. He has worked with fellow ministers and officials of the Organization of American States to address the constitutional crisis in Honduras and the eventual re-admittance of Cuba to full OAS membership status.

Canadian delegate Rick Craig, executive director of the Justice Education Society (JES) of British Columbia, addressed the audience. He has been involved in public legal education for 30 years. He has authored many teaching resources, including a textbook on law and government for secondary students.

Canadian delegate Ms. Jaime Koebel artist, performer and Aboriginal rights advocate also spoke at the seminar. As a successful visual artist, Ms. Koebel’s works have been showcased worldwide and have been held in many prestigious private and public galleries. Her art reflects her perspective and dreams of the intangible nature of the world around her, including plants and plant life from her indigenous heritage.