October 3, 2011  -- Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale MP David Sweet was selected as the new Chair of the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group at its Annual General Meeting on Parliament Hill last week.

There are currently four inter-parliamentary friendship groups, one for each of Israel, Ireland, Germany and Italy. The groups are open to all MPs and Senators from any Party to join and through these groups Canadian parliamentarians liaise with counterparts in the corresponding country. While MP Sweet was acclaimed as Chair of the Canada-Israel Group, other positions on the 2011-2012 executive were contested and votes were held. 

“I’m honoured by the confidence that my colleagues have placed in me and thank Dr. Lunney for his outstanding leadership of the group over the years,” said MP Sweet. “Having travelled to Israel and met with Israeli parliamentarians on a couple of occasions, I look forward to continuing the dialogue on trade, technology and issues of mutual concern.“ 

Dr. James Lunney, MP for Nanaimo-Alberni (British Columbia) and outgoing Chair of the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group, welcomed his successor, “I’m pleased to pass the role of Chair of this important group to such a strong champion for the issues the group has long advocated. David has a good understanding of the strategic importance of our trade and economic relationship with Israel, the rising global threat of antisemitism and the value of the friendship between our two countries.” 

In addition to the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Committee, MP Sweet also serves as Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology and Chair of the All-Party Steel Caucus. MP Sweet is also active in addressing antisemitism, serving as a Steering Committee member on the Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitisim (CPCCA) and on its Inquiry Panel, which released a report in July 2011. He also attended the Ottawa Conference of the Interparliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism (ICCA) in November 2010.

Click here to read the final CPCCA report.