Visit to Canada of His Excellency Pierre-André Page, President of the National Council of the Swiss Confederation, and a Parliamentary Delegation

From April 13 to 17, 2026, His Excellency Pierre-André Page, President of the National Council of the Swiss Confederation, led a parliamentary delegation on an official visit to Ottawa and Québec City at the invitation of the Honourable Raymonde Gagné, O.M., C.M., Speaker of the Senate, and the Honourable Francis Scarpaleggia, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons.

Accompanying President Page were Ms. Katja Christ, First Vice-President, Member of the National Council (MNC); Ms. Farah Rumy, Second Vice-President, MNC; Mr. Thomas Aeschi, MNC; Ms. Samira Marti, MNC; Ms. Yvonne Bürgin, MNC; Mr. Damien Cottier, MNC; Ms. Greta Gysin, MNC; Ms. Corina Gredig, MNC. The accompanying delegation consisted of Mr. Philippe Schwab, Secretary General of the Federal Assembly, Ms. Sophie Lachat Rohrer, Special Advisor, and Ms. Claudia Rupp, Executive Assistant. His Excellency Olaf Kjelsen, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Canada, also joined the delegation throughout their stay.

In Ottawa the delegation met with:

• The Right Honourable Mark Carney, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada;
• The Right Honourable Richard Wagner, P.C., Chief Justice of Canada;
• The Honourable Raymonde Gagné, O.M., C.M., Speaker of the Senate;
• The Honourable Francis Scarpaleggia, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons;
• The Honourable Judy A. Sgro, P.C., M.P., Chair of the Standing Committee on International Trade, and other members;
• The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, P.C., M.P.,Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, and other members;
• Marie-France Lalonde, M.P., Chair of the Canadian Section of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, and other members;
• Kristina Tesser Derksen, M.P., Chair of the Canada Switzerland Parliamentary Friendship Group, and other members; and
• Members of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

In Québec City the delegation met with:

• The Honourable Manon Jeannotte, Lieutenant Governor of Québec; and
• Ms. Nathalie Roy, President of the National Assembly of Québec.

In addition, the delegation, along with some Members of the National Assembly of Québec, participated in two working sessions: the first on prorogation in the Québec political system, and the second on transformations in the global French-speaking world. They also visited the Huron-Wendat Nation community of Wendake, where they met with the Grand Chief and toured the Huron-Wendat Museum.

The objectives of this visit were to strengthen bilateral relations and deepen institutional ties between the parliaments of Switzerland and Canada, while fostering dialogue on key areas of shared interest. These included the Francophonie, bilateral economic relations, particularly scientific and cultural cooperation, as well as broader international issues such as Canada–EU and Canada–US relations and global security issues. The visit also placed particular emphasis on promoting collaboration in innovation.