Gabriel Boron made an official visit to Canada this Monday before traveling to Los Angeles to participate in the IX Summit of the Americas. The President of Chile met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa. The agenda of the Chilean president focuses on the climate crisis, indigenous peoples, gender equality and human rights. Boric and Trudeau share numerous visions and concerns, and despite their trajectories being far from similar, both have sought to move away from a stifling style in the political sphere and open channels for dialogue.
Justin Trudeau has said, referring to Boric, “It’s very exciting to see a progressive voice emerge on the continent with an exciting agenda.” The president of Chile, who has underlined the “shared values” between both governments, replied: “The world is changing even faster than we thought and the world needs countries like Canada and Chile.”
During this visit, it was announced that Canada will be a co-sponsor of the Declaration of the Americas for the Protection of the Ocean, an initiative by Chile to promote joint protection work for the Pacific Ocean. Both countries published a paper at the same time to point out that pricing pollutant emissions is one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions and create jobs.
The leaders also signed a memorandum of understanding on gender equality and women’s empowerment. The aim is to create a framework that promotes progress in these areas. Boric and Trudeau have also addressed the relationship with indigenous peoples. Boric has pointed out that it’s a common theme for Chileans and Canadians, and where “recognition and new treatment are needed” towards these groups. Likewise, it has called for an absolute defense of human rights, “where these should not be called into question according to the color of the government that violates them.” Boris has also met with business people and Chileans living in Canada, as well as meeting with high school students, with Trudeau present.
Gabriel Boric and Justin Trudeau share a long list of causes, they also share experience as legislators, a commitment to building bridges and a willingness to connect with citizens in a fresh way. However, Boric hardened himself in university meetings and his triumph marked a turning point in Chile’s partisan tradition, while Trudeau began to venture into politics with a zigzagging resume under his arm and a surname on his back that embodies the ideals like no other. Party of Canada – his father led the country from 1968 to 1984 (with a brief hiatus in 1979). The Liberals have rotated the helm of the Canadian government with the Conservative Party, but had meager results for nearly a decade before Justin Trudeau took over.
Gabriel Boric was sworn in as president last Marchat the age of 36. Justin Trudeau became Prime Minister in 2015, with 43 years. Although after nearly seven years in power, the image of the Canadian leader has been eroded by several scandals, broken promises and conflicting decisions.
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Boric’s visit to the North American country – which lasted 14 hours – is the first visit by a Chilean president since 2013, when Sebastián Piñera held official meetings with Stephen Harper. Chile and Canada have maintained diplomatic relations since 1941. After Augusto Pinochet’s military coup, Ottawa hosted some 7,000 Chileans. Both countries have a 25-year free trade agreement. In 2021, Canada exported goods worth more than $950 million to Chile; Chilean imports amounted to about 1,400 million.
Trudeau declined to comment at a press conference in Ottawa regarding the potential impact on Canadian investors of Chile’s planned mining reforms (it is the second country with the largest presence on Chilean soil in this sector after the United States). he has indicated that democracies and their leaders should try to update themselves based on changes in the world, for both moral and practical reasons.
Boric and Trudeau will participate in the IX Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, California. In Ottawa, the Chilean president described the US government’s decision to exclude Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba from this meeting as a “mistake”. The Prime Minister Canadian has not spoken out about the US veto, but has indicated his country hopes to participate fully at the summit.
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