Fiona Hyslop launches Friends of Scotland group in Canada

CANADIAN MPs and senators were due to meet with culture secretary Fiona Hyslop last night to launch an organisation to strengthen links between Canada and Scotland.

The Friendship Group, founded by Canadian MP Dr Kirsty Duncan will formally meet for the first time this month to swear in a chair and vice-chairperson.

Ms Hyslop is in Ottawa to help launch the Canada-Scotland Friendship Group at a St Andrew’s Day reception in parliament hosted by the speaker of the senate, Noël A Kinsella.

She said: “Every MP and senator who has joined the new group shares an affinity with our great nation and I welcome them as Friends of Scotland. [Its] establishment marks an exciting new chapter in Scotland’s relationship with Canada and will develop closer links between our two parliaments for the mutual benefit of both countries.”

Last year, more than 100,000 Canadians visited Scotland, generating £65 million for the economy.