Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant to travel to Switzerland and United Kingdom

From: Global Affairs Canada

News release

July 3, 2022 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced today that the Honourable Robert Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will travel to Lugano, Switzerland, and London, United Kingdom, from July 4 to July 6, 2022.

In Lugano, Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant will participate in the Ukraine Recovery Conference to underscore Canada’s strong commitment to helping rebuild a stronger, resilient and prosperous Ukraine in the face of the Russian regime’s unjustifiable and illegal invasion of Ukraine.

While in London, Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant will represent Canada at the International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). This international meeting will bring together governments, parliamentarians and representatives of faiths and beliefs, as well as civil society, to urge increased global action on freedom of religion or belief for all. Discussions will centre on actions and good practices to protect and promote FoRB, with a focus on democracy, youth and the digital sphere.

Quotes

“Canada remains committed to advancing democracy and human rights on the global stage and to holding those who violate those rights accountable for their actions. We will continue to work with our partners to better protect these fundamental rights around the world, and I look forward to discussing how Canada, alongside our international allies, can support Ukraine’s recovery.”

-      Robert Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Quick facts

  • The recovery conference was originally intended to be the Fifth Ukraine Reform Conference. In light of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s egregious aggression of Ukraine, the event will instead focus on discussions for Ukraine’s recovery.

  • To date in 2022, Canada has committed approximately $2.94 billion in multi-faceted support for Ukraine; of that amount, $1.87 billion has been direct financial support.  

  •  Canada’s support for Ukraine also includes $320 million in humanitarian assistance, $44 million in development assistance and over $10 million in new peace and stabilization programming.

  • The International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief is an annual global meeting, initiated by the United States in 2018,to bring together governments, faith leaders and civil society to drive action in promoting and protecting freedom of religion or belief.

  • Budget 2022 announced $11.2 million to support Canada’s special representative on Islamophobia and its special envoy on preserving Holocaust remembrance and combatting antisemitism.

Associated links

Contacts

Adrien Blanchard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Adrien.Blanchard@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
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