Jamaica and Canada have taken significant steps to enhance their cooperation and partnership following the 8th staging of the Jamaica-Canada Bilateral Consultations held at the Foreign Ministry on June 6. This meeting marked a pivotal moment in the longstanding relationship between the two nations, focusing on new areas of collaboration and addressing mutual challenges and opportunities.
New Areas of Cooperation
During the consultations, both countries explored new areas of cooperation, including water harvesting, education, data protection, records and information management, nuclear energy, agriculture and fisheries. Additionally, they discussed security cooperation to combat Trafficking in Persons, while increasing training and technical support in areas such as cybersecurity. To ensure these discussions lead to actionable outcomes, Jamaica and Canada agreed to establish Technical Working Groups to follow up on these issues in preparation for the 9th staging of the bilateral consultations to be held in Canada in 2026.
Temporary Foreign Work Programmes
A significant portion of the discussions centered around the importance of labour programmes in supporting the economies and labour markets of both countries. Diplomats addressed the challenges and opportunities presented by the Seasonal Agricultural Workers’ Programme and the Temporary Foreign Labour Programme for agriculture and fish processing. They also covered issues related to visa processing, accreditation for skilled workers, and labour mobility, aiming to streamline processes and enhance the benefits for workers and employers alike.
Enhanced Regional Cooperation
Regional and multilateral cooperation were also key topics, with discussions on funding for the Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti, financing for development, and various candidatures. These consultations have set the stage for the implementation of the Jamaica-Canada Bilateral Roadmap 2024–2026, which outlines the shared priorities and strategic goals for the partnership over the next two years.
Key Delegates
Jamaica’s delegation was led by Ambassador Sheila Sealy Monteith, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. The Canadian delegation was headed by Mr. Glen Linder, Assistant Deputy Minister of Global Affairs Canada. High Commissioners, Her Excellency Emina Tudakovic of Canada and Her Excellency Marsha Coore-Lobban of Jamaica, also participated, underscoring the high-level commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
Historical and Cultural Ties
Canada remains the second largest market for tourist arrivals in Jamaica and is home to over 300,000 Jamaicans in the Diaspora. The deep-rooted connection between the two nations dates back to 1962, with Canada being among the first three countries to establish diplomatic relations with independent Jamaica.
