A busy day in Baghdad: Jason Kenney reveals details of surprise visit to Iraq

OTTAWA – Immigration Minister Jason Kenney’s days are usually packed with public events, but he had a surprise item on the agenda today — a visit to Iraq.

Kenney made the announcement on Twitter, saying he’s the first Canadian government minister to visit the country since 1976.

The news came as a surprise, considering officials in Kenney’s office dropped no advance hints about the trip.

Kenney says he met with the country’s prime minister and vice president, as well as civil society and religious leaders.

He also visited with members of Iraq’s Christian community.

The Canadian government has committed to accepting thousands of Iraqi refugees over the last five years but the resettlement process has been complicated by the closure of visa offices in the region.