Welcoming Germany’s New Ambassadors to Canada

On October 24, 2024, Senator Ratna Omidvar welcomed Germany’s new Ambassadors to Canada, Tjorven Bellmann and Matthias Lüttenberg to their new posts. Watch now:

Honourable Ratna Omidvar:

Honourable senators, I am delighted to welcome Germany’s new Ambassadors to Canada, Tjorven Bellmann and Matthias Lüttenberg.

Yes, you heard right: ambassadors. It’s not just one, but two. As parents of three young school-aged children, they have come to an eminently sensible arrangement for sharing this important but, no doubt, stressful job. Trust the Germans to come up with a practical solution. As a result, Canada and, indeed, Germany get two for the price of one. It’s a dynamic duo, I conclude.

Canada’s relationship with Germany merits this value-added attention. We are both steadfast allies at NATO and the G7. Our trade relationships are vibrant. We converge on concerns on climate change, and we have the same aspirations for Ukraine.

But it is perhaps our people-to-people relationships that are our most important feature and advantage. A full 10% of Canadians trace their heritage back to Germany. It is no wonder then that both peoples are engaged in a healthy and vibrant exchange, not just in trade but also in culture and education. Canada continues to be a favoured destination for German students who seek their summer thrills with student jobs in the Canadian Rockies. I wish more Canadian students would avail themselves of similar opportunities in Germany, but I am sure our two ambassadors will be making efforts to expand these people-to-people relationships.

Of particular interest to me are the similar aspirations that Canada and Germany share on migration, although today might be a difficult day to speak about those aspirations, as we experience a drastic cut in immigration levels.

Germany needs 400,000 workers every year, and it looks to Canada for some best practices. In turn, Germany has initiated innovations in this field, which marry its objectives in development and migration — an idea that Canada must follow.

Both countries have expressed their interest in deepening this relationship by expanding our bilateral agreement to include migration over issues such as selection, integration, social media and disinformation, to name a few. I, for one, look forward to animating this discussion as I return to life as a private citizen.

But first, let me extend a very warm welcome to our ambassadors — Their Excellencies — and wish them every success during their time in Canada. Their success will be our success.

Thank you.