Department of Canadian Heritage of Canada : Minister Joly to Promote Canada-U.S. Ties, Trade in Boston and Manchester

OTTAWA, January 14, 2018

No two countries in the world share a stronger or more integrated economic relationship than the United States and Canada. The Government of Canada is working closely with the United States to strengthen our trade relationship and create new opportunities for workers, businesses and middle-class families on both sides of the border.

As part of these efforts, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, will visit Boston, Massachusetts, and Manchester, New Hampshire, for a two-day visit. During this visit she will help establish and reinforce relationships with State and Congressional leadership, business stakeholders and other influencers.

These long-term goals include the importance of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as an engine of growth and prosperity; the reaffirmation of collaboration and shared values between the two countries; the importance of clean energy development and its impact on the environment; and the challenges and opportunities brought on by the explosion of technology for creative industries.

Minister Joly will also be the keynote speaker at the 16^th edition of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Dinner Celebration, an event organized by the National Cultural Diversity Awareness Council (NCDAC). Minister Joly will address this year's theme 'Like a good neighbor, Canada has always been there' by showcasing the unique relationship between Canada and the United States.

In addition, Minister Joly will touch upon Canada's linguistic duality, the valued diversity in its political and social landscape and Creative Canada, the first-ever federal strategy developed to help Canadian creative industries thrive and succeed in the digital age.