Governor General Mary Simon will fly to the Middle East on Thursday, where she should notably defend the place of women in society and visit members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
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The trip, organized at the request of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau according to Simon’s office, will take her to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait.
Among other things, the Governor General is to visit the Canadian University of Dubai, where she is to speak with students about “empowering women and life in the North”.
In addition, visits to Canadian soldiers stationed in Qatar and Kuwait are scheduled in Ms. Simon’s itinerary, respectively on March 21 and 23.
In addition to these ceremonial visits, the Governor General will meet with various leaders of these countries, including Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, and Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait.
The return of the representative of Queen Elizabeth II is scheduled for March 23.
This will be Mary Simon’s second diplomatic trip since her appointment as Governor General in July 2021. She had previously visited Germany last October.