Prime Minister Harper departs for Mexico today for Three Amigos summit

Photo: Facebook Page of PM Stephen Harper

OTTAWA – Stephen Harper heads to Mexico today for meetings this week with U.S. President Barack Obama and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

The prime minister has a one-on-one meeting with Pena Nieto scheduled for later today where he’s expected to be the bearer of some bad news.

Officials say Harper will not announce an end to visa requirements for Mexican visitors, that were imposed in 2009 to curb bogus asylum claims.

Harper himself could be in for disappointment when Obama arrives later this week as U.S. officials have made it clear there will be little to discuss regarding the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.

Ottawa is eager for a decision by the Obama administration on the controversial plan to pipe Alberta oil to the American gulf coast. But White House officials have already said the president will have nothing new to tell Harper about the long delayed decision.

The Mexican ambassador to Canada, Francisco Suarez, says Mexico wants the summit, which formally starts Wednesday, to start tackling issues the three countries should be working on together.

“Let’s look at the big picture, the strategic vision,” Suarez said in a recent interview.

He also noted there are plenty of investment opportunities for Canadian companies in energy, the automobile sector and aerospace.

It has been nearly two years since the so-called Three Amigos last met.