Who are the "civil society representatives" that Mr. Van Loan intends to meet with? Do they have a mandate? If so, based on what? By implication, they're distinct from goverment officials and others who (presumably) represent "uncivil society".

I wonder if Mr. Van Loan isn't going on a nice vacation at taxpayer's expense.

Can't imagine where the direction for this "official" visit came from!? As the Parliamentary Secretary, Van Loan is responsible for Canadians abroad, so what the hell is he doing lollygagging around the Baltics at the taxpayer's expense when we need to get those Canadians out of Lebanon?

There have'nt been enough contacts between Canadian and Estonian officials over the last 15 years (if we exclude day-to-day diplomatic contacts). Thus trade, cultural and other relations have'nt been as reciprocally beneficial as one would wish. One obstacle is obviously Canada's visa requirement, which hinders private and official travel here. A better understanding of other country's positive and negative aspects requires personal knowledge. He is in a unique position to return with genuine, creditable information for the Canadian government to digest. Cynical comments aside, Van Loan's visit is essential.

Essential to what? From his press statement it would seem that he's using tax payer dollars for a journey to discover his roots: he's meeting with Frieberga because she's his mother's old school chum!
The reality is that low level contacts like this won't improve relations as any report to parliament will be shoved to the back of that day's agenda . . . if they get to it at all.

And in today's reality, Van Loan should be in Ottawa dealing with the crisis at hand. His only responisbility as PArl Sec. is consular affairs and as such he has totally botched the Lebanon evacuation.

In the coming weeks, heads will roll, and his will be the first.
See you on the backbenches Estonian Pete!

Hey Tim, your partisan leanings are obvious. I think I've seen you mix and mingle with the best of them at Liberal functions. Not that there's anything wrong with supporting Liberals. Some of my best friends are Whigs. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania need more boosters in the corridors of Parliament Hill. MPs visits serve this end and should be supported no matter what the party affiliation!