On Thursday, October 20, 2011, His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian visited Ottawa and held two principal meetings with the Speaker of the Senate, the Honourable Noel Kinsella and the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Honorable Andrew Scheer.

The Honourable Noel Kinsella greeted the Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada and thanked him for the opportunity to meet. During this visit, His Eminence and the Speaker spoke extensively about the role and mission of the Armenian Church in Canada. As well, Mr. Kinsella and Bishop Galstanian held frank discussions conferring on the issues of the wider challenges facing the Christian Church, touching upon the relevant and newsworthy issues emerging in world affairs. Issues of religion and social spheres were topics of broad interest to both.

In the afternoon, His Eminence met with the newly elected Speaker of the House of Commons the Honourable Andrew Scheer. Bishop Bagrat congratulated the election of Mr. Scheer and wished him every success in his new responsibilities as Speaker of the House. At this first meeting with the Speaker, His Eminence recalled the well established relationship with the Diocese and the Office of Speaker of the House, and expressed his wish to build on that foundation. The Diocese had held a reception in Montreal in honour of the outgoing Speaker of the House, the Honourable, Mr. Peter Milliken.

Following discussions on the work and mission of the Armenian Church Canadian Diocese, His Eminence stressed the importance of further promoting the established friendship between Canada and Armenia, with the intent to strengthen the existing inter-parliamentary relationship between the two countries. Both parties agreed upon the need for the crucial role of parliaments and parliamentary diplomacy in today’s rapidly changing world. The Honourable Speaker of the House thanked Primate Galstanian for making the time for his courtesy visit which provided the occasion to exchange ideas of shared interests and concern.

Accompanying the Primate was Dn. Hagop Arslanian, Director of the Governmental Relations Office of the Diocese.