TORONTO — Environment Minister Peter Kent, who retained his portfolio following the recent Conservative election victory, said he plans to pursue more initiatives with Israel.

Peter Kent

Speaking to The CJN from Vancouver last week, Kent said he looks forward to discussing ways both countries can benefit from each other’s environmental initiatives.

While there are no specific projects targeted at the moment, he said that “whether it’s solar energy, irrigation technology and general environmental applications, there’s a lot of cross-pollination that already goes on between our governments” on environmental issues.

He added: “In my renewed post as [environment] minister, I look forward to exploring any ways we can share expertise and technology with Israel.”

Kent noted that Canada has also been holding “unofficial” talks with Israel to help in the ongoing reforestation of the Mount Carmel forest, where more than 4,000 hectares were destroyed last year in one of the country’s worst-ever forest fires.

“Canada has an abundance of expertise in reforestation, and there may be ways we can explore to engage there,” he said.

Kent said Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection has invited him for a “visit later this year,” although there’s no agenda yet.

“I would expect we’d talk about areas of common interest… issues such as climate change and the adaptation technologies” related to that subject, he said.

Kent said he continues to be “honoured” to serve Thornhill, the riding with the highest proportion of Jews in the country.

“It’s a remarkable constituency which demonstrates the ability [of many cultures] to coexist and work towards prosperity with each other.”