Israel-Canada Relations
Canada-Israel Relations
Israel and Canada have long stood side-by-side as partners on the world stage. Economic, cultural, political, and security ties reflect our mutual interests in peace and prosperity. Our friendship is rooted in the shared values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. As our bilateral relations continue to develop in areas such as science and innovation, the close people-to-people ties that exist on all levels and in all sectors remain constant.
In his official visit to Israel this past July (2021), the Hon. Marc Garneau, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with newly elected Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, and other leading government officials. Minister Garneau emphasized Canada’s commitment to deepening the already strong bilateral relations between the two countries in several key areas, including, among others: science and technology, research and innovation, education, combatting antisemitism and preserving Holocaust remembrance.
In his reaffirmation of support for Israel’s right to live in peace with its neighbours within secure boundaries, Minister Garneau also reiterated Canada’s commitment to playing a constructive role toward a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
In 2020, trade between Canada and Israel was valued at over $1.6 billion. The Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA), in force since January 1997, has undergone several updates since that time. The modernized CIFTA will help to further ensure that the benefits and opportunities arising from trade and investment are widely shared.
Cultural ties between Canada and Israel are also deeply rooted, with 90,000 Canadians a year visiting Israel and a Jewish community in Canada numbering approximately 350,000. The deep connection is evident in virtually every art form. Even during the current period of limited travel due to the pandemic, Israeli films, to cite one example, have been included at many local Canadian film festivals.
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Canada is represented in Israel by the Embassy of Canada in Tel Aviv. The State of Israel is represented in Canada by its Embassy in Ottawa and Consulates in Toronto and Montreal. Some Highlights:
| May 11, 1949 | Canada grants full recognition to the State of Israel. A week later, Israel’s first Consul General to Canada, Avraham Harman, is appointed. He served in Montreal. |
| September 1953 | Canada opens its Embassy in Tel Aviv, and Michael Comay becomes Israeli Ambassador to Canada. |
| May 1961 | Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion is the first Israeli Prime Minister to make an official visit to Canada. Since that time, many high-level officials from both countries have visited, including (among others):
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| January 1997 | Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA) comes into effect. |
| September 2019 | Modernized CIFTA takes effect. |
| June 2023 | Alberta trade and investment mission visits Israel. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is signed between Invest Alberta, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, and the Israel-Canada Chamber of Commerce to develop an Israel-Alberta Centre of Excellence. The Centre of Excellence will serve as a conduit for Israeli businesses in Alberta and a resource for Alberta companies interested in Israeli business opportunities. |
Several trade missions to Israel have been carried out by Canadian officials at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels. Some of these trade missions include:
- PM Stephen Harper – Federal Trade Mission to Israel (Jan. 2014)
- Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne (May 2016);
- Toronto Mayor John Tory – Trade Mission (Nov. 2016);
- BC – Bill Tam and Dr. Alan Winter – Innovation Mission (Nov. 2018);
- Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua – Trade Missions (Nov. 2019).