The Sea to Sky Corridor's representative in Ottawa this week touted a visit by a delegation of Japanese legislators as a testament to the area's "great potential for business, investment, tourism and student exchange."
The visit, part of the 17th meeting of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary group, was to include a discussion about studying in Canada hosted by Dr. David Helfand, president of Quest University. Representatives of Capilano University, the West Vancouver School District, the Squamish Nation, the North Vancouver Outdoor School and the District of Squamish also were to participate in the event, which was not open to the public or the media.
The visit, to take place from Wednesday (Jan. 5) to today (Jan. 7), was also to include events in Whistler. Yoshitaka Murata, a member of Japan's Diet, or legislature, and the Japanese ambassador to Canada led the Japanese delegation. Six Canadian MPs and a senator were part of Canada's delegation.
The visit is similar to one involving Canadian and Chinese legislators in the corridor three months ago.
"This high-level delegation of Japanese legislators has chosen to visit Squamish and Whistler for good reason," John Weston, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, said in a statement. "They recognize the great potential for business, investment, tourism and student exchange.Like the group who visited us from China's National People's Congress three months ago, they have the ability to contribute greatly to the prosperity of our region."
"The Japanese delegation's visit to Squamish highlights the potential for business, investment, tourism, and student exchange," Ron Anderson, Squamish resident and businessman, said in the statement.
