Canada to lift visa for Mexican visitors

OTTAWA, Ontario – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that Canada will lift visa requirements for Mexican visitors as of December 2016, removing a major irritant in relations between the two countries.

Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto made the announcement ahead of Wednesday’s North American leaders’ summit with U.S. President Barack Obama.

Pena Nieto also announced Mexico has agreed to open its markets to Canadian beef.

“We are here to renew the relationship,” Pena Nieto said. “There were some rocks on the way and one was the visa.”

Canada’s previous Conservative government imposed the visa requirement in 2009, claiming it was needed to stop thousands of asylum claims being made by Mexican citizens. The requirement marred relations.

The Liberal Party promised during last year’s election campaign that the visa requirement would be lifted, but the process has been fraught with delays.

“This move will make it easier for Mexican friends to visit Canada while growing our local economy,” Trudeau said. Trudeau also said the opening of Mexico to Canadian beef will help Canadian farmers.