On Monday, 26 October, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, will meet with Canadian authorities in Ottawa to discuss health emergencies preparedness and response. This visit takes place a few days before the EU-Canada summit.
Close cooperation with Canada is essential to better prepare and respond to future health crises. Together with Melanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Commissioner Lahbib will launch the inaugural EU-Canada Ministerial Dialogue on preparedness for health emergencies and medical countermeasures. The Dialogue is part of the Administrative Arrangement between the Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority and the newly formed Health Emergency Readiness Canada.
The Commissioner will also meet with Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience, Eleanor Olszewski, to discuss closer cooperation on crisis management, civil protection and preparedness. Furthermore, she will meet with Minister of Women and Gender Equality, Rechie Valdez, to discuss the strong, shared commitment of Europe and Canada to advance gender equality and tackle the discrimination and barriers women and girls continue to face every day.
On Tuesday, Commissioner Lahbib will visit De Havilland, Canada’s factory in Alberta, which manufactures Canadair firefighting aircrafts. The EU and its Member States have ordered in 2024 24 new aircraft: 12 for the rescEU strategic reserve and 12 for individual Member States. These aircraft will strengthen Europe’s capacity to tackle increasingly destructive wildfires. The new planes will be delivered as of 2027.
Ahead of the visit, Commissioner Lahbib, said:
‘Europe and Canada share more than values. We both trust science, and we know the toughest challenges are solved together. Ahead of the EU-Canada Summit, we are turning our friendship into a stronger shield against future health emergencies. By joining forces on medical countermeasures like vaccines and medicines, we protect our people and our shared security. When the next health crisis strikes, Europe and Canada will be ready to face it together.‘
