French President François Hollande will include Banff on his whirlwind official state visit to Canada early next month.
The Nov. 2-4 visit to Canada – the first by a French president in almost three decades – includes stops in Banff, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City.
The French leader is scheduled to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, as well as Governor General David Johnston and Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard.
“At this point, we don’t have any information to share as the details and timings of the program are still being discussed,” said Annabelle Cloutier, director of public affairs for the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General.
According to the website for the Prime Minister’s Office, Hollande’s visit will include discussions on exploring new commercial opportunities that will be made possible by the recent wide-ranging free-trade Canada-European Union Trade Agreement.
“The leaders will also discuss international security issues, including the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and the threat posed by the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL),” according to the PMO’s website.
Harper met with Hollande in Paris during a working visit in June 2013. In June of this year, the prime minister attended D-Day commemorations in France at the invitation of the president.
“Canada and France share a close friendship based on deep historic, cultural, linguistic and commercial ties,” said Harper in a written statement.
“I look forward to once again meeting with President Hollande to discuss ways to further strengthen the ties and increase cooperation between our great nations.”
