OTTAWA, Mar 28 (ABC): His Highness the Aga Khan, 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community and chair of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), has begun his first official visit to Canada, marking a milestone in a relationship spanning more than five decades.
During the visit, His Highness met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and attended a dinner hosted by Governor General Mary Simon and His Excellency Whit Fraser. He also held discussions with senators and members of parliament at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat.
Reflecting on the partnership, the Aga Khan said he believes in Canada’s values, principles and its willingness to act on them, noting that these qualities have made the relationship enduring.
The visit builds on a longstanding partnership between Canada and the Ismaili Imamat, which has produced outcomes in capacity building, economic development and civil society strengthening across multiple regions over the past 50 years. Prime Minister Carney and the Aga Khan issued a joint declaration outlining new areas of collaboration, including housing and economic development, setting the stage for renewed engagement.
During discussions, both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in three key areas. On affordable housing, the Canadian prime minister welcomed investments by the Ismaili Imamat in multi-generational, not-for-profit housing projects aimed at increasing supply. The government also plans to establish a long-term partnership through Build Canada Homes to develop housing projects for low- and middle-income groups.
On development collaboration, the two sides announced the creation of an Economic Partnership Platform to strengthen development financing. FinDev Canada and the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development will combine public and private capital to invest in infrastructure, renewable energy and agriculture across Africa and Asia. The collaboration will also support programmes in economic opportunity, health, education and pluralism, including in regions such as Syria. Both sides identified opportunities in skills development, energy initiatives and the use of Canadian innovation and technology in sectors like agriculture and climate.
On global diplomacy, Canada and the Ismaili Imamat reaffirmed their commitment to work together on efforts aimed at saving lives, ending conflict and preserving human dignity.
Prime Minister Carney also announced that the Honourable David Lametti, currently Canada’s permanent representative to the United Nations, will also serve as Canada’s new representative to the Ismaili Imamat to help advance the renewed partnership.
Speaking at a parliamentary reception attended by senators and ministers, the Aga Khan noted that traditional aid models are becoming harder to sustain in an increasingly complex world. He emphasised the need for new forms of partnership capable of delivering sustainable prosperity in challenging regions.
He expressed his intention to make this the first of many visits to Canada and reaffirmed the readiness of the Imamat, the AKDN and the Canadian Ismaili community to act as partners in building a safer, more prosperous and more pluralist world.
