OTTAWA, Ontario, February 24, 2010.-The Honourable Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, Marie Deschamps, paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of Mexico in Canada today, where she gave a speech to its staff regarding the operation, history and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Canada.  The Ambassador of Mexico in Canada, Francisco Barrio Terrazas, appears with Justice Deschamps in this photograph, taken before an informal lunch.

• In 2009 Mexico exported twice as much to Canada as other countries such as the United Kingdom, and approximately three times more than to France or South Korea.

• Mexico exported products worth USD $14.619 billion, more than the amount of all exports of the rest of Latin America.

• Every day Mexico and Canada exchanged goods worth over USD $52 million.

• Mexico stated that it favours transparency and improved communication on resource management.

• It encouraged greater participation of organized civil society and the private sector.

The purpose of the visit is to exchange experiences in judicial matters with Canada, a country with which Mexico shares values and positions such as respect for the law, human rights and people’s dignity.

Participating foreign ministers agreed to hold a meeting this coming January 25 in Montreal, Canada to continue addressing the overall situation in Haiti and discuss best practices to achieve greater effectiveness in international aid efforts toward the Caribbean country.

Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, reported to her colleagues on steps being taken by the Mexican Mission in Haiti.

• Three Armed Forces aircraft departed carrying 20 tonnes of humanitarian aid.
• The Mexican Navy will be sending the Huasteco Hospital Ship, transporting medical personnel and a further 50 tonnes of food, followed by the Papaloapan, which will depart this weekend.

• Vaccines will enable continued immunization of the population.

• This action is the result of a cooperation agreement between the two countries.

• For the fifth consecutive year, the anticipated number of Canadian tourists travelling to our country will surpass the previous year’s record.

• The percentage of Canadian citizens who visited Mexico in 2008 (3.36%) was much higher than the percentage of American nationals (1.88%), despite the fact that the US economy is nearly ten times greater than Canada’s.

• “Our nations share ideals and values. Canadians and Mexicans alike believe that development can only be attained through democracy.

• “Our two countries are also committed to regional and global security. Mexico is doing its part in this fight and, as such, we are tackling international organized crime today with the entire might of the State”.

• Canada’s highest representative will hold a working meeting with President Felipe Calderón. The second day of the visit, she will conduct activities in the Senate of the Republic.
• The Governor General will recognize Mexican and Canadian citizens distinguished by promoting bilateral relations between the two countries, and will also participate in a business meeting.

• In the Photo by Sergeant Serge Gouin, the Governor General Michaëlle Jean is accompanied by her husband Jean-Daniel Lafond during a recent working visit by the Ambassador of Mexico in Canada, Francisco Barrio Terrazas (left).

As an important contribution to organizational capacity building in the Americas, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) provided a new training course in executive leadership to a group of 42 commanders of the Federal Police from Mexico’s Ministry of Public Security.

The group graduated from a three-week course given by specialists in management and leadership.

Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa stressed the need to continue working to lift the visa requirement for Mexican nationals travelling to Canada. In that context, she highlighted the importance of promoting actions, in the meantime, to facilitate visa issuance based on simple, expedited procedures, so that exchanges of tourists, businesspeople, students and seasonal workers may be carried out as smoothly as possible.

“Holding the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, constitutes a great opportunity to strengthen ties of cooperation and friendship not only among athletes, but among the countries they represent,” stated Ambassador Barrio in a letter of congratulations sent to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty on Monday.

• Its operation is no longer appropriate for the national economy and for public interest.

• This measure does not imply under any circumstance the privatization of the electric power service. On the contrary the State will continue to provide this service as how the Constitution demands.

• Hundreds of people, including special guests from Canada and members of the Mexican community, gathered at the National Gallery of Canada, on September 15^th.
• On September 12, in coordination with the City of Gatineau and the Ottawa-Gatineau Mexican-Canadian Cultural Association, the Embassy held its annual civic ceremony, led by Ambassador Francisco Barrio-Terrazas

• ProMéxico’s Trade Office in Montreal, Quebec, the Jalisco State Government and the National Chamber of the Tequila Industry organized a seminar to present this spirit to Canadian buyers.

• Mexico already sells over 1.23 million litres per year to our trading partner.

Ottawa, ON, September 13^th 2009.- The Embassy of Mexico in Canada participated in the 2009 Latin American Parade during the Latin American Festival, with the participation of the Mexican community and folkloric dance groups, including the presentation of a float dedicated to the Monarch Butterfly. The parade route ended in front of Ottawa City Hall. In the image from the Photographer Eduardo Miranda, Ambassador Francisco Barrio with his wife Hortensia Barrio.

Ottawa, Ontario, September 12^th 2009.- On behalf the Mexican Government, Ambassador Francisco Barrio Terrazas, acknowledged teacher Rosa María Salazar-Zanetti with the Ohtli Award (Ohtli means “path” in nauhatl) in recognition of her outstanding work with the Mexican community, especially for those seeking to learn how to read and write in spanish, preserving their language, and her efforts helping to pave the way for her fellow countrymen and women in Canada.

With him al the left, Alejandra Ruiz,  president of the Mexican-Canadian Cultural Association of Ottawa, Gatineau.

Ottawa, ON, September 10, 2009.- The Embassy of Mexico in Canada presented last night the photographic exhibition “The Mexican Revolution and Beyond”, from the Casasola Archives 1900-1940.

The exhibition was inaugurated by the Ambassador of Mexico to Canada, Francisco Barrio-Terrazas, who was accompanied by his wife Hortensia Barrio. The collection of historical photographs will be on view through September 25, 2009 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, in the lobby of the World Exchange Plaza, located at 100 Queen St., Ottawa, Ontario.

The Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales and the Canadian Foundation for the Americas created a group that will bring forward ideas to add dynamism, deepen and broaden the relationship between México and Canadá.

The Mexico-Canada Initiative were delivered to and received by the President of México and to the Prime Minister of Canada and the Prime Minister of Canada in advance of their participation in the North American Leaders Summit held in Guadalajara the 9^th and 10^th of August.

• Our integrated economies are an engine of growth.
• By working together, we will accelerate recovery and job creation, and build a strong base for long-term prosperity.
• We pledge to abide by our international responsibilities and avoid protectionist measures

We support a global goal of reducing global emissions by at least 50% compared to 1990 or more recent years by 2050.

We will work together as we set and implement our own ambitious mid-term and long-term goals to reduce national and North American emission.

Ottawa, Ontario.- July 24, 2009.- The first of a series of informative conferences was held with the participation of representatives from the Canadian Department of Justice. The conferences, scheduled by the Embassy of Mexico, are aimed at learning about the operations of public and private institutions in Canada. In the photo, from left to right: Ambassador Francisco Barrio; Director General and Senior General Counsel Janet Henchey, from the International Assistance Group, Criminal Law Division, at the Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice, and from the same office, Senior Counsel Jacqueline B. M. Palumbo.

Mexico City July 16, 2009. Press release No 186.- The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces today that the Government of Mexico has informed the Government of Canada about the termination of the Agreement on the Suppression of Visas for Diplomatic and Official Passports between the two Governments, in force since 1993. In consequence, Canadian citizens carrying diplomatic and official passports will have to fulfill the visa requirement to enter national territory.

• The Government of Mexico regrets the decision by the Government of Canada, announced today, to impose visas on Mexican nationals travelling to Canada as tourists.

• Mexico will continue to promote actions toward modifying the Canadian measure as soon as possible.

• In the framework of the Mexico-Canada Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP), Mexicans enjoy the same rights and have same responsibilities as Canadian workers in the same occupation (with no distinction between domestic and foreign workers).

• Currently nine Canadian provinces participate in the Program: Ontario and Quebec have been participating since 1974.

ProMéxico and Mexican Foreign Affairs Ministry have set North American goals this year of boosting exports with $1.47 billion and investing $1.126 billion in attracting foreign direct investment.

To join efforts Ambassador Francisco Barrio met with ProMéxico’s Director General and the five Mexican Consuls in Canada.

Of particular note was the opinion of Dr. Margaret Chan, Director General of the WHO, who stated that “Mexico is a safe, trustworthy place to be visited by tourists".

Participants acknowledged the governments of Mexico, the United States and Canada for their timely response to the emergence of the influenza A (H1N1) virus.

• The representative group from Canada scooped nearly 50% of the medals at the 2009 National Olympics, including one silver and three bronze.

• Myriam Willis Ibarra won the silver medal in canoeing in the senior girls’ category.

• The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has been distinguished with the 2009 Prince of Asturias Award in the field of Communications and Humanities, which implies also a recognition to the world class public education in Mexico.

• Founded in 1551 under the name “Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico,” is the third oldest university on the American continent. Its main campus was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.

Ottawa, Canada, May 13, 2009.- Ambassador Francisco Barrio Terrazas visits the Ottawa Tulip Festival's Mexico Pavilion, designed to showcase the country's gastronomy, art and culture. Mexico's participation in this year's 18-day event, which is expected to receive around 40,000 visitors, included 7 folkloric ballet performances and 2 musical shows. (Photo by María Stella García Maiz)

• Guadalajara Pipeline offers an excellent opportunity for TransCanada to expand its footprint in Mexico.

• There is currently no justification for the imposition of trade measures on the importation of pigs or their products.

• Mexico has offered its full support to Canadian diplomatic and consular offices providing the necessary attention to their fellow Canadians.

Ambassador Barrio presented Letters of Credence to Governor General Michaëlle Jean, representing Queen Elizabeth II, Canada’s Head of State.