Three amigos

Tuesday January 10, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday January 10, 2023

Three Amigos Summit 2023

February 23, 2017

Mexico draws millions of international tourists each year with its sandy beaches, mountains, rainforests and rich culture.

But travelling anywhere can come with safety risks, as Canadians in the Mexican state of Sinaloa experienced last week following the Jan. 5 arrest of alleged drug trafficker Ovidio Guzman. Guzman is a son of former cartel boss Joaquin Guzman, also known as El Chapo. His capture resulted in explosions of violence in cities across the state, led by members of the Sinaloa cartel.

As a result of the violence in Sinaloa, the Canadian government has issued an advisory warning travellers to avoid non-essential travel to several states in northern, western and central Mexico and to exercise a “high degree of caution” in other parts of the country. (CTV News) 

November 18, 2021

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is hoping to champion North America free trade while settling trade irritants at the “Three Amigos” summit in Mexico City, but his priorities might be drowned out by more pressing border issues between the United States and Mexico.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is hoping to champion North America free trade while settling trade irritants at the “Three Amigos” summit in Mexico City, but his priorities might be drowned out by more pressing border issues between the United States and Mexico.

“I think as it’s currently framed, the North American Summit is a lot about Mexico,” said Maryscott Greenwood, CEO of the Canadian American Business Council, who noted that Biden preceded his visit to Mexico by inspecting a busy port of entry for migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.

In that context, Trudeau’s main challenge as he steps foot in Mexico City will be “to be relevant and to be heard,” added Greenwood.

March 23, 2005

“For Canada to be really heard and noticed, it has to have one priority and it has to be really aggressive about it. And I realize that’s sort of un-Canadian,” she said. “But that’s the way it goes with trying to capture the attention and the imagination of the United States, which has a lot going on.”

Speaking from Mexico City, Louise Blais, a former diplomat and now senior special adviser to the Business Council of Canada, said that while the border issues will be “distracting,” she thinks the Canadian delegation will manage to carve out time for the files it feels are important.

“So that’s a challenge, but that’s not to say that it won’t happen,” said Blais.

Trudeau arrived in Mexico City on Monday for a three-day visit, which will include bilateral meetings Tuesday with Biden and Lopez Obrador as well as meetings with business leaders. (The National Post) 

 

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Wednesday, February 19, 2014By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Stephen Harper heads to Mexico for Three Amigos meeting

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to discuss plans for new visa arrangements when he meets with his U.S. and Mexican counterparts in Mexico tomorrow and Wednesday for the so-called Three Amigos summit.

Harper, U.S. President Barack Obama, and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto are scheduled for three-way talks covering areas of mutual interest. Harper arrived in Mexico Monday night.

Three Amigos 2005

At the top of the agenda for Mexico are Canada’s visa requirements for Mexican visitors. While the prime minister isn’t expected to drop those barriers immediately, there may be some easing of the application process.

There are hopes that Canada and Mexico may agree sometime soon on “Nexus-style” travel permits that would allow legitimate travellers to visit participating countries with fewer restrictions.

Trade Minister Ed Fast, who is also travelling on Harper’s plane, has been authorized by the federal cabinet to sign an expanded airline access agreement with Mexico, The Canadian Press reported today.

That agreement would allow Mexican airlines greater access to more cities, and Canadians more direct flights to Mexico.

The expanded air access would likely be a precursor to the Conservative government eventually lifting the controversial visa it slapped on Mexican travellers in 2009 to combat an increase of bogus asylum seekers. Harper isn’t expected to announce a lifting of the visa this week, but the two countries are hopeful the issue can be ironed out in the coming months.

Mexico is said to be very frustrated with Canada’s refusal to drop visa restrictions for Mexicans visiting Canada.

“It’s an insult to the ‘new Mexico,'” Carlo Dade, director of the Canada West Foundation’s Director of the Centre for Trade & Investment Policy, told CBC News.

“It’s also against competitiveness. This isn’t about Canada and Mexico. This is about North American competitiveness.”

Harper could be in for disappointment, too, as Obama is unlikely to give him his long-awaited decision on the Keystone XL pipeline. (Source: CBC News)