Foreign affairs minister and Tánaiste Micheál Martin has announced plans to open a new flagship ‘Ireland House’ in Toronto.
Ireland’s ambassador to Canada is based in the capital Ottawa, and in recent years new consulates have opened in Toronto (2022) and Vancouver (2018) under the ‘Global Ireland’ programme.
Ireland House in Toronto will house the Consulate General together with representatives of economic and trade promotion agencies.
Martin commented that Ireland and Canada enjoy “excellent bilateral relations”, since diplomatic relations were established in 1939.
“Our long-standing links are strong and diverse, spanning centuries and many areas – business, politics, culture and education,” Martin stated.
“This Government has a clear commitment to strengthen and deepen our relations with a key partner for Ireland, and we have expanded our Team Ireland presence across Canada significantly since I opened the Enterprise Ireland office in Toronto in 2006.
“Since 2018, we have tripled our diplomatic footprint. This strong presence has been essential to promoting Irish interests in Canada, and will significantly strengthen Ireland’s footprint.
Minister for Enterprise Trade, and Employment, Simon Coveney, added: “Our trading relationship with Canada is valued at over €10bn, and the continued roll out of the Ireland House model will allow us to unlock new opportunities for Irish businesses in Canada, for supporting jobs and exports, and for promoting Ireland as a premier choice of investment location.”
Martin also announced an additional Government grant of $2m for development of the Corleck Centre, a new venue for arts, cultural and heritage programming developed by the Canada Ireland Foundation and located on Eireann Quay on the Toronto waterfront.
Eireann Quay is also home to the Ireland Park memorial to Irish immigrants who arrived in Toronto during the Famine.
The grant will bring total Irish Government support for the project to date to c.$3m.
Robert G. Kearns, chair and founder of the Canada Ireland Foundation, commented: “When we opened Ireland Park on Toronto’s waterfront in 2007, our vision was to remember the past, celebrate the present and support a future of Irish-Canadian contributions.
“With the Corleck, we are finally realising that dream and creating a venue that will present artistic and cultural programming and enable collaboration and engagement between the people of Ireland and Canada.”