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Ontario Ministers Hon. Kathryn McGarry (Natural Resources and Forestry) and Hon. Kevin Flynn (Labour) undertook a trade mission to Ireland last week and attended a roundtable discussion with Irish and Canadian companies at Philip Lee law firm in Dublin on Friday, 13th Oct.

The Irish Canada Business Association (ICBA) facilitated the inward visit which covered the topics of Ontario investment in Ireland post-CETA, the movement of labour between Ireland and Canada, and the Irish Mining Industry.

Andrew Gaynor, Business Development Manager of Geoscience Ireland (GI), provided an overview of Ireland and Canada’s shared history in the mining sector, current Canadian mining operations and investments in Ireland, Ireland’s annual “Open for Business” conference at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) in Toronto, GI’s overseas activities, and Canadian ambitions in the context of CETA.

(l-r) Eric Waterman, Deirdre Giblin (National College Ireland), Minister McGarry, Minister Flynn, Kate Hickey (ICBA), Philip Lee, John Roxburgh (Embassy of Canada), Derek Cooling (Irving Oil), Andrew Gaynor (GI)

Minister Flynn detailed the opportunities and challenges facing the Ontario labour market and the boom of start-up and niche consultancy businesses; in the context of mining, he spoke to how critical health and safety is in the sector. Minister McGarry outlined the strength of the regions lumber industry, Ontario’s renewed focus on oil and gas exploration, and connecting rural communities with mineral exploration opportunities.

The Embassy of Canada, Irving Oil, AIB and Waterman Consulting Engineers also partook in the discussions.