Mexico and Canada Pledge to Further Strengthen Relations

In 2014, Mexico and Canada marked their 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the 40th anniversary of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP), and the first ten years of a partnership with shared goals. Both countries agreed to further deepen their relationship and to join together to strengthen cooperation mechanisms with a strategic reach.

In February, Prime Minister Stephen Harper made his first official visit to Mexico, during which the following were signed: the third Mexico-Canada Joint Action Plan 2014-2016; a Memorandum of Understanding for the Exchange of Resources for the Management of Forest Fires; an Air Transport Agreement; and the Export Development Canada-BANCOMEXT Memorandum of Understanding and Master Cooperation Agreement on commercial financing activities.

In education, various student mobility agreements were signed to train young people in areas of interest to both countries, including: a Memorandum of Understanding between the Education Ministry and the University of British Columbia to develop a cooperation program to promote the mobility of researchers and students; a Memorandum of Understanding between the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) and the National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions (ANUIES); and a Memorandum of Understanding on Educational Cooperation between the Mexican Foreign Ministry and the Governors of the University of Calgary, Canada.

During the sixth meeting for consultations with Canada on new and traditional security issues, good progress was made on facilitating the exchange of information, experience and best practices among government officials of the two countries to effectively address common challenges.

The Canada-Mexico Partnership was also restructured and an Executive Committee was created to make the partnership more dynamic. A High Level Dialogue on Best Practices and Consular Protection was also begun.

The Mexican government has also maintained an ongoing and proactive dialogue with Canadian authorities to discuss eliminating visas for Mexican citizens.