Ambassadors say G7 summits remain relevant 50 years later

EU ambassador Genevieve Tuts spoke at a meeting of ambassadors ahead of the upcoming G7 summit Friday at the University of Calgary's downtown campus.

G7 diplomats say much can be accomplished at the upcoming leaders summit taking place in Kananaskis in mid-June.

Ambassadors to Canada from the U.K., Germany and the European Union took part in a discussion at the University of Calgary’s downtown campus Friday morning.

The talk was moderated by Gary Mar of the Canada West Foundation and Martha Hall Findlay of the U of C’s School of Public Policy.

The ambassadors said the G7 summit remains relevant, 50 years after the group was first formed.

“Every G7 summit is an important one,” said EU ambassador Genevieve Tuts. “Now we have many different examples where the leaders give the political direction.

“This is so important,” ” she added. “that when we are facing global challenges ... we (can) have global discussion.”

Germany’s Ambassador to Canada Matthias Luttenberg said the G7 gives global leaders the opportunity to get some face time with each other.

“This is also truly an important summit because we have so many new leaders,” Luttenberg said “We have so many people around this table (who) have never sat in this G7 forum.”

The G7 leaders summit is set for June 15-17 in Kananaskis Country.