Jason LaTorre, Ambassador of Canada to Sweden

Message

It is a tremendous privilege to serve as Canada’s Ambassador to Sweden. Canada and Sweden have a strong and dynamic bilateral relationship, underpinned by our shared values, extensive people-to-people ties, and significant business, research, academic, and civil society connections.

Our governments work closely together to stand up for the rules-based international order, protect and promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, and foster free and open trade. Today, our bilateral relationship is stronger than ever, as we cooperate to tackle some of the world’s most pressing global challenges from climate change to authoritarianism.

Canada and Sweden are in regular contact regarding our joint responses to Russia’s aggression and regarding the military, financial and humanitarian assistance that we are both providing to Ukraine. As a close friend and security partner to Sweden, Canada was pleased to be the first country to ratify Sweden’s accession to NATO, and today, as NATO Allies, we are committed to further bolstering transatlantic security and defence cooperation, such as through Sweden’s planned participation in the Canadian-led NATO Forward Land Forces in Latvia.

As founding members of the Arctic Council, Canada and Sweden are working together to promote circumpolar cooperation, advance our climate action goals, and foster sustainable development in our northern communities, while also addressing the evolving challenges and threats in the Arctic. In addition, the Embassy is working to strengthen ties between Indigenous Peoples in Canada and the Sami in Sweden to help revitalize Indigenous cultures, languages, and traditions in both countries.

The Embassy has also worked hard to deepen bilateral trade and investment ties: 2-way trade has increased by over 65% from 2021 to 2023, while 2-way investment has reached record levels and is poised to increase exponentially following the major investment announcements in Canada by Northvolt and Ericsson in 2023. This remarkable growth is expected to continue as our countries offer predictability and stability during a time of global risk and we possess the strategic assets – critical minerals, fossil-free energy, innovation, and talent – to lead the world’s green and digital transitions.

The Embassy is also committed to providing efficient consular support to Canadians in Sweden, as well as to those in the region requiring consular services due to the war in Ukraine. Whether you are a Canadian residing in Sweden, or a visitor here, please take a moment to register online.

My team and I are committed to strengthening the Canada-Sweden relationship, advancing our common foreign policy priorities, and providing high-quality and timely service to Canadians. I invite you to follow our embassy’s accounts on X (Twitter) @CanadaSweden and Facebook @CanEmbSweden.

Jason LaTorre
Ambassador of Canada to Sweden

Biography

Jason LaTorre was appointed as Ambassador of Canada to Sweden in September 2021. Prior to his appointment, he served as Chief of Staff to Canada’s Deputy Minister of International Trade from 2019 to 2021.

During his career, he has served abroad as Senior Trade Commissioner at the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C. (2015 to 2019), Senior Trade Commissioner in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (2007 to 2010), and Trade Commissioner in Singapore (2003 to 2006).

Between his assignments abroad, he held a variety of management positions at Global Affairs Canada headquarters in Ottawa, Canada, during which he championed new trade programs and policies aimed at strengthening Canada’s global competitiveness.

He holds a bachelor of commerce degree in international business from the University of Victoria (1995) and a master’s degree in international affairs from Carleton University (2000).

He lives with his partner, Lauren Haney, in Stockholm, and has two teenage daughters, Maya and Madison.