BEIRUT: For the past several months Canada has been quietly speaking with Syria’s opposition, the Vancouver Sun reported earlier this week.

"We have right now a very good relationship with the Canadian government," Syrian National Council member Osama Kadi told the Canadian newspaper Thursday. "We have met with the minister of foreign affairs many times and he has showed a very positive attitude toward the Syrian National Council."

This has been going on at least since August, when Canada’s Ambassador to Turkey Mark Bailey hosted a reception for SNC members to introduce them to representatives from European missions, said Kadi, who is also president of the Syrian Canadian Council.

"They were so positive to us," Kadi said from his current residence in London, Ontario. "Many ambassadors were there and they had some questions and we briefed them on what's going on."

An official with Canadian Foreign minister John Baird's office said Canada has "opened our doors in Ankara to the SNC.”

 The official added that "Canada stands with the Syrian people in their efforts to secure freedom and democracy.”