Toronto/CMEDIA: Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney reportedly welcomed today with Prince Rahim Aga Khan V during his first official visit to Canada and thanked him for his leadership and profound contributions to global development and governance.
Recognising the strong ties between Canada and the Imamat — reinforced by the contributions of 120,000 Ismailis in Canada — Carney and Aga Khan released a joint declaration with new partnerships and collaboration on economic development programming internationally, and improve housing affordability in Canada
Welcoming a series of investments by the Ismaili Imamat in multi-generational not-for-profit housing projects across Canada to improve the supply of affordable housing through Build Canada Homes, the Government of Canada said it will forge a long-term partnership with the Ismaili Imamat to develop a series of low- and middle-income housing projects.
Announcing the creation of an Economic Partnership Platform to improve development financing, the two leaders decided that FinDev Canada and the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development will collaborate to pool public and private capital to identify investments in infrastructure, renewable energy, and agriculture in regions crucial to Canada’s growing relationships abroad including Africa and Asia.
Officials were tasked by the two leaders to identify areas for future collaboration in education and skills development to harness Canada’s strengths in talent, workforce, and expertise to support partner countries.
Discussing the evolving situation in the Middle East, the two leaders underscored the need to prevent further regional escalation with Aga Khan emphasising the effect that continuing tensions are having on civilians, including Ismailis.
Carney announced the upcoming appointment of a new Representative of Canada to the Ismaili Imamat, David Lametti, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, who will further deepen this collaboration.
