Within the framework of keeping contacts with the Egyptian community in the Western Canada provinces, the Egyptian Ambassador to Canada, Ambassador Shamel Naser, paid a visit to the city of Calgary, in Alberta province and the City of Vancouver in the British Columbia province during the period from 27 April to 3 May. In both cities, Calgary and Vancouver, the Ambassador met with the members of the Egyptian Association and visited the "Mary Mina" Church and the "Mary George" Church respectively, where he met with the congregation of the church and the members of the community. Ambassador Naser elaborated the social role of the Egyptian churches in keeping the links between the Egyptian communities abroad, in addition to its religious role, which spreads values and principles. The Egyptian community in both cities expressed gratitude for the embassy's concern to achieve the consular tasks by mail, in view of the far distance between the mission's headquarters and the Western Canada provinces. Many of the Egyptians expressed the desire to get acquainted with the developments in public life in Egypt and the government's efforts in birth control and poverty combat, together with Egypt's relations with the regional countries and the active states on the international arena. The Ambassador underlined the importance of having links between the Egyptian immigrants and their homeland. He referred to President Mubarak's assertions that Egypt is proud of them and that no one can do harm with the unity of Egyptian Muslims and Copts; for they are the same Egyptian unified and coherent society, where all enjoys full citizenship rights. Furthermore, President Mubarak is always keen to congratulate the Egyptian communities abroad in the various festivals and celebrations.
Ambassador Shamel Naser, moreover, outlined the embassy's intention to keep sending consular missions to the Western Canada provinces periodically to provide them with the consular services. The embassy holds contacts with the authorities in Cairo to consider the possibility of dispatching a committee from the Civil services authority, affiliated to the Ministry of Interior to issue the ID cards for the immigrant Egyptians, so that its program includes the Western Canada province.
During his visit to Vancouver, Ambassador Naser also attended the Liberal Party Conference, which was held during the period from 30 April to 1 May, 2009 upon an invitation from the Party's leader, where he met with a number of representatives and Canadian politicians from various inclinations.