The Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, Anthony Rota, accompanied by a delegation, paid a courtesy call on President George Vella at Sant’Anton Palace.
The strengthening of relations between Malta and Canada over the decades was discussed from different angles, ranging from exchanges at political level, trade, and people to people contacts. On this last point, reference was made to the active presence of the Maltese community in Canada, with President Vella giving a historical overview of how the Maltese diaspora evolved. Speaker Rota explained to President Vella how the intention of the visit to Malta by the delegation was to consolidate relations on all fronts through parliamentary channels.
Several matters of regional and international importance were discussed, with Russia’s war on Ukraine being at the fore, together with the impact that this is having on food and energy prices internationally. An exchange also took place on the unstable situation in Libya and its nexus with irregular migration on the Central Mediterranean Route. Speaker Rota referred to the pattern of migration leaving from South and Central America and arriving in Canada.
President George Vella updated the Canadian delegation on the role that the President of the Republic plays in taking forward reforms intended to further consolidate the rule of law.
