Diplomatic relations are described as "close"[3] and a "Parliamentary Friends of the Kurds" group was formed in 2016 by MP Tom Kmiec.

[5][6][7] Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that Canada respected the Kurdish independence referendum in 2017 despite being unilateral.

[8] In July 2016, a controversy occurred regarding the Canadian military uniforms as they included the Flag of Kurdistan and could be interpreted as support for Iraq's disunity.

[13][14] In August and November 2015, Richard Fadden, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister visited Kurdistan as well to discuss bilateral relations.

[15][16] In December 2015, Foreign Minister Harjit Sajjan visited Kurdistan as well having held talks with the Kurdish Foreign Minister Falah Mustafa,[17] while a Canadian military delegation led by Defence Chief Vance met with the Kurdish President in February 2016.