October 4, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

Canada is a global leader in addressing climate change. Over the past 50 years, Canada’s fleet of more than 160 aerial firefighting aircraft—waterbombers—has been deployed worldwide to protect communities from the impacts of climate change. This demonstrates Canada’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Additionally, Canada’s expertise in the aerospace sector benefits the economy, creates jobs and boosts investments in the country’s aerospace industry.

The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, concluded her visit to Brussels, Belgium, where, with Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, she took part in an event celebrating European Union members’ purchase of 22 De Havilland Canadair 515 aircraft for the EU’s aerial firefighting fleet. This collaboration will create 650 jobs across Canada.

Minister Ng met with Bobby Kwon, President and CEO of the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), and Sven List, Senior Vice-President of Canadian Corporate Business at Export Development Canada (EDC), to recognize the successful government-to-government sale of these aerial firefighting aircraft, which reinforce Canada’s ongoing commitment to mitigating the impacts of climate change, including forest fires.

While in Brussels, Minister Ng took the opportunity to meet with Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President and European Commissioner for Trade. Minister Ng and Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis discussed opportunities to advance trade through the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the growing Canada-EU relationship. They also discussed areas of mutual interest and shared priorities in relation to the World Trade Organization, G7 and G20.