Thank you for the question.
I do feel that it is one of the areas where Canada can play a really positive role in Syria. My first meeting in Syria was not with the government. I chose to meet with young members of civil society organizations; most of them were girls. A number of them had been refugees in Canada but had decided to return to Syria.
For me, it's personally important that, in whatever we do, we make an effort to ensure that women's voices are present in the meetings we have. Also, when I go to meetings, I make a point to raise any issues that have been brought to my attention by members of this community.
I also think it's worth highlighting at this moment that there is a very important woman in the cabinet, Ms. Hind Aboud Kabawat. She is a Canadian citizen, and she is a champion for women and for minorities. She is the Minister of Social Affairs, so she has an important role in this. She brings a lot of experience, in terms of what she learned and her experience as a Canadian, to this new role. That's a real positive for Canada.
Also, on the trade side, trade is an area that has been dominated by men.
That's not the case in Syria alone. It's like that all over the region. In February 2026, we organized an iftar in Syria. Our goal was to start a discussion about trade ties between Canada and Syria. I insisted that members of the women's chamber of commerce in Damascus attend.
At the meeting, I met Syrian women entrepreneurs. I also emphasized the message that having women participate in the economy, in society and in politics is a Canadian value that is important for us.