OTTAWA – Closing the celebrations for the 25th Italian Language Week in the World, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Francis Scarpaleggia, and the President of the Canada-Italy Parliamentary Friendship Group, Angelo Iacono, organized a meeting of MPs and Senators with the Italian Ambassador to Canada, Alessandro Cattaneo, in the House of Commons in Ottawa, a few days ago. The meeting was attended by several dozen MPs from across the political spectrum and representing various Canadian provinces, including the Deputy Speaker of the House, Alexandra Mendes, and Senators Tony Loffreda, Toni Varone and Sandra Pupatello.

In his warm welcome, Speaker Scarpaleggia emphasized the particularly favorable situation in bilateral relations between Canada and Italy in all areas, recalling his recent meeting with the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Lorenzo Fontana, at the G7 Summit of the Presidents of the Chambers of Deputies held in Ottawa in September. The Speaker evoked his personal attachment to his Italian roots, both from Campania and Basilicata. For his part, the President of the Parliamentary Friendship Group, Angelo Iacono, emphasized the role of the rich and diverse Italian-Canadian community, a key player in Canada’s political, economic, and social life in all sectors. He emphasized how these deep ties between the two countries must translate, in the current climate, into even more vibrant and fruitful economic and cultural collaboration. 

In his remarks, Ambassador Cattaneo confirmed that both governments are committed to an unprecedented effort to strategically strengthen their relations, starting with the “Roadmap for Enhanced Cooperation,” adopted by the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the G7 in Borgo Egnazia in 2024, and then renewed by the new Prime Minister Mark Carney at the G7 in Kananaskis in July 2025.

Ambassador Cattaneo also emphasized the strategic importance of including Canada as a priority country in the Italian export plan approved by the Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani.

Here below is a photogallery of the meeting at the House of Comm0ns (photos: Italian Embassy in Canada)