State of the world

[ * ] An asterisk appears where sensitive information has been removed in accordance with the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act.

Overview

Issue

• Positioning Canada for prosperity and security in a world where international relations are increasingly unstable, with established institutions, alliances, and practices being challenged by a shifting balance of power, new technological, economic and social forces, and ideological competition.

Canadian position

• As a middle power and export-driven economy, Canada’s core interests are advanced through a well-functioning rules-based international system.
• Canada must adapt its tools and approach, including forging new partnerships and strengthening existing alliances with diverse stakeholders to thrive in a context of great power politics.

Background

World dynamics are evolving rapidly – with consequences that imply strategic choices for Canada. [ * ]

Key international challenges

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Canada’s toolkit

Canada’s geography places it in an enviable position. Located in a secure region and bordering a stable and strong neighbour, Canada is at a distance from regions of conflict and instability. However, political, economic and transnational challenges can affect us directly and profoundly. [ * ]

Canada is equipped with a foreign policy toolkit to defend and advance our global interests. Membership of key institutions, such as the United Nations, WTO, G7, G20, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Commonwealth, and La Francophonie, amplifies our voice among leading powers and developing countries. Our trade agreements provide relatively secure access to major economies in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. [ * ] Participation in NATO, North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) and the Five Eyes underpins our national defence while bolstering our influence on issues of peace and security. And Canada’s global reputation for freedom, tolerance, support for humanitarian and development goals, and good governance is the foundation of our substantial soft power resources. [ * ]

To be successful, Canada also needs to ensure that its capabilities and resources are in a position to contribute to collective action. Our military expertise is well recognized, and Canada is well placed to demonstrate continued commitment to burden-sharing among Allies, including by taking leadership opportunities through NATO and the UN, providing specialized military capabilities, assets and skills, continuing to actively participate in missions abroad, and providing training and capacity-building. [ * ] Secure and suitable diplomatic missions and well trained personnel are the means to connect with international partners, assist Canadians abroad, and nurture the networks that keep us safe and economically prosperous. Our longstanding development and humanitarian assistance programs also act as leverage in shaping issues of global concern and are an important part of many bilateral relationships.

North America

Integrated geographic overview: North America

Issue

• Canada benefits from a stable, secure and prosperous North America.
• While continuing to build upon strong bilateral relationships with both the U.S. (U.S.) and Mexico, [ * ]

Canadian position

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Background

Canada, Mexico and the U.S. have long collaborated as continental partners in the world’s most prosperous region, with a combined population of almost 530 million and an economy that represents more than one-quarter of the world’s GDP.

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On the environment, Canada [ * ] working with the U.S. at the sub-national level, and through the North American Climate Leadership Dialogue, an arrangement between Canada, Mexico and the U.S. Climate Alliance (including governors from 25 states).

Canada has also pursued other avenues of trilateral cooperation, such as securing energy infrastructure from cyber-attacks and developing greater energy independence for the region.

Early engagement

Canada’s North American partners are typically quick to reach out to any new government [ * ] In addition, upcoming high-level global summits, [ * ] the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting (November 16-17), and the NATO Leaders’ Meeting (December 3-4), present additional engagement opportunities.

• The Urgent Decisions and Pressure Issues book provides more information on international travel.

Canada-United States relations

Issue

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Canadian position

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Background

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Canada and the U.S. enjoy the largest trading relationship in the world. In 2018, Canada exported $499 billion worth of goods and services (71 percent of Canada’s total exports) and imported $469 billion of goods and services (62 percent of total imports) from the U.S. The U.S. is also Canada’s single most important source of foreign direct investment at $406 billion (2018). The economic partnership between Canada and the U.S. goes well beyond the exchange of goods and services or cross-border investment. The technological, financial, commercial and human capital ecosystems are so complex and deeply integrated that changes to one will have significant reverberations in the other.

Canada works closely with the U.S. to advance common foreign policy interests, [ * ]

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Trade and investment

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Energy and the environment

Canada is the largest foreign source of all forms of energy for the U.S. (including oil, natural gas, hydro-electricity and uranium), with bilateral trade valued at US$95 billion in 2017 and more than 70 cross-border pieces of energy infrastructure. [ * ]

Borders and transboundary issues

Regardless of the political affiliation of national governments, Canada and the U.S. work closely at a practical, experts’ level on programs to improve the management and security of the shared border. This includes preclearance, used by approximately 15 million travelers every year, and the implementation of the entry-exit initiative, involving the exchange of information with the U.S. of travelers arriving through a land border crossing. Canada also works with the U.S. to address the influx of irregular migrants arriving in Canada through the U.S. [ * ]

Defence and security

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Information sharing and cooperation on a wide range of defence and security related issues continues on a bilateral basis, but also through the Five Eyes [ * ]

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement

Issue

• The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) has been signed by Canada, the U.S., and Mexico but not yet ratified
  • The Urgent Decisions and Pressure Issues book provides more information on CUSMA.

Canadian position

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Background

Following signature on November 30, 2018, all three partners have focused their efforts on preparing for the domestic ratification and implementation of the Agreement. For Canada, this includes the preparation of the necessary legislation and regulatory measures required to implement the Agreement. While these preparations are well advanced, movement towards ratification is tied to progress being made in the U.S.

While the U.S. Administration would like to move forward in the near term to ratify the CUSMA, House Democrats – led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi – have called for changes to the Agreement before implementing legislation is considered by Congress. [ * ]

Domestic implementation process

United States: Once implementing legislation is submitted, trade promotion authority legislation provides for expedited consideration in Congress with a simple majority “up or down” vote in both houses. While a maximum of 90 legislative days is allowed for consideration of the bill (60 in the House of Representatives and 30 in the Senate), the process can be completed quickly once political agreement has been reached. For example, after the addition of side agreements on labour and environment, Congress passed NAFTA implementing legislation in 19 calendar days. [ * ]

Mexico: CUSMA was approved by the Mexican Senate on June 19, 2019. Mexico does not require implementing legislation and instead the Agreement would be implemented through the publication of a Presidential Decree in the Official Gazette. [ * ]

Canada: The CUSMA was tabled in Parliament on December 21, 2018, and implementing legislation was introduced on May 29, 2019, but was not adopted before the dissolution of Parliament. In order to advance towards ratification of the Agreement, implementing legislation needs to be re-introduced in the next Parliament. [ * ]

Canada-Mexico relations

Issue

• Mexico is a regional economic powerhouse of over 100 million people and top-tier partner for Canada, [ * ]

Canadian position

• Mexico is Canada’s third largest bilateral trading relationship and an important trilateral partner, with influence across Latin America.
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Background

Canada’s bilateral relationship with Mexico is important for economic and political reasons, close people-people ties and given its influence in Latin America [ * ]

Mexico is Canada’s third largest trading partner. In 2018, Canada exported over $8.2 billion worth of goods (1.4 percent of Canada’s exports) and imported $36.8 billion worth of goods (6.2 percent of Canada’s imports) from Mexico. Canada’s historical economic interest in Mexico has been driven by resource development and manufacturing, but opportunity can increasingly be found in the information technology (IT), aerospace and agri-food sectors. Canadians continue to flock to Mexican beaches and resorts, making it the second most visited country by Canadians after the United States.

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President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador won an overwhelming mandate to deliver sweeping change in 2018 by promising to address many of the country’s most entrenched problems.

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Latin America and the Caribbean

Integrated geographic overview: Latin America and the Caribbean

Issue

• A stable, secure, and prosperous Latin America and Caribbean is good for Canada, given geographic, trade, and people-to-people ties. [ * ]

Canadian position

• Strengthen bilateral and multilateral relationships with key Latin America and Caribbean countries to foster regional stability, promote broad-based and mutual prosperity, and expand the network of allies.
• Participate actively in key regional fora and institutions with a view to understanding perspectives, deepening relationships, and advancing Canadian priorities and interests.

Background

Regional gains: Latin America and Caribbean countries have made important social and economic advances over the last two decades. Strong economic growth in the region since the early 2000s contributed to lifting 72 million people out of poverty and enabling 94 million people to join the middle class. During this period, democratic transitions of power became the norm. Today, more governments are trade and investment-friendly, and taking steps to tackle corruption and strengthen democratic institutions. [ * ]

Regional challenges: Despite these advances, the region will have to overcome significant challenges to realize its full potential, including sluggish economic growth and important social and security challenges. Latin America and Caribbean represents 9 percent of the world’s population, yet accounts for nearly 40 percent of its homicides. Rates of sexual and gender-based violence and femicide are the highest in the world. [ * ] Climate change is creating significant economic, social and political challenges, through an increase in sudden onset events like hurricanes as well as slow onset events like drought, flooding, and fires (see separate brief on climate change).

Key actors

[ * ] Canada and Brazil have a mature relationship, including on defence and security issues, migration, human rights, and the environment. Brazil is Canada’s third largest trading partner in the Americas after the U.S. and Mexico. Chile is a stable country with good relations across the region, [ * ] It will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in November 2019, and the 25th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP25) in December 2019. Canada’s bilateral relationship with Chile is strong, including on trade and equality issues. [ * ] Haiti is a fragile country with the highest poverty rate in the hemisphere. Its political, humanitarian and security challenges may pose risks to the broader region. The increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events pose an existential risk to many Caribbean countries, threatening many development gains. As such, countering the impacts of climate change through increased climate and economic resilience is a top foreign policy priority for these island states. [ * ] Canada has free trade agreements with four Central American countries. This sub-region is key to addressing irregular migration; [ * ]

Regional and sub-regional bodies – particularly the Organization of American States, the Inter-American system, and the Caribbean Community – [ * ] remain important fora for Canadian engagement.

China’s influence in the region continues to grow. It is now the second largest trading partner (after the U.S.), and is filling important infrastructure and financing gaps. [ * ]

Canada’s engagement: Working at both the bilateral and regional levels, Canada has prioritized democracy, human rights, and governance in the region, alongside efforts to strengthen trade relationships. These efforts build on historic ties, people-to-people links (e.g., via tertiary education, temporary seasonal work), and relevant technical expertise.

[ * ] Eight of Canada’s 14 free trade agreements (FTAs) are with countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region and Canada has been seeking to diversify and increase trade in the region through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), with Chile and Peru currently pending ratification. [ * ]

Canada’s international assistance to the region totaled approximately $708 million in 2017-18. In addition, Canada pledged $100 million over five years in the Caribbean as part of its commitment to strengthen the climate resilience of small island developing states. Canada is Haiti’s second largest donor, after the U.S. [ * ] This positioning aligns with Canada’s expertise and its development footprint in the region.

Venezuela

Issue

• The political and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela is a direct threat to peace and security in the region. It has resulted in the world’s second largest forced displacement of people. [ * ]

Canadian position

• Push for regional and global responses that support a peaceful return to constitutional democracy in Venezuela through the holding of free and fair elections and that address the humanitarian impact on the region.
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Background

Venezuela was once one of Latin America’s richest countries with the world’s largest known oil reserves. The descent into its current political, economic, and social crisis was the result of many years of government mismanagement, persistent inequality, and external factors. Under Hugo Chavez (1999-2013) and then Nicolas Maduro (beginning in 2013), Venezuela relied heavily on oil revenues to pay for social welfare programs. Faced with the cyclical nature of global petroleum prices and commitments to sell petroleum to PetroCaribe members at reduced rates, Venezuela failed to invest in the petroleum industry’s aging infrastructure and printed currency, driving inflation. It also borrowed heavily, leading to high levels of external debt. At the same time, a culture of rampant corruption was permitted to grow. The sharp decline of global oil prices in 2014 was a major hit to its revenues. Venezuela’s oil production is now at an all-time low.

Venezuela now faces a major political, economic and social crisis, with hyperinflation, acute scarcity of food, medicine and other basic goods, and one of the world’s highest murder rates. Over four million Venezuelans have fled since 2005, straining neighbouring Colombia (now hosting more than 1.4 million Venezuelans), Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, and Chile. The scale of the migration will likely have a significant destabilizing effect, [ * ] and the broader region. Venezuela’s economy has collapsed. Its gross GDP has shrunk more than 50 percent since Nicolas Maduro took power in 2013. Oil production is plummeting and hyperinflation reached 1.2 million percent (2018). The illegal economy (including illegal gold mining, gasoline smuggling, and drug and human trafficking) is sustaining the regime. A July 2019 UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) report highlights that arbitrary detentions, torture and extrajudicial killings have taken place under the regime, targeting political opponents and critics.

In January 2019, the opposition-controlled National Assembly rejected Maduro’s claim to the Presidency following 2018 elections it, and most members of the international community, deemed illegitimate. It recognized instead the President of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidó, as interim President, in accordance with the Venezuelan Constitution. [ * ]

The U.S. has contributed [ * ] million in aid and has imposed 22 rounds of sanctions on individuals and the oil and gold sectors. The European Union has contributed [ * ] million in aid and initiated the International Contact Group, a dialogue process that includes France, Germany, Italy, the UK, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama and Uruguay.

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Canada’s engagement: Canada has been working through various diplomatic and economic channels to increase international pressure for a peaceful return to constitutional democracy through free and fair elections. It co-founded the Lima Group in August 2017. Members include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela (represented by the interim government). The Lima Group has played a lead role in increasing international pressure.

Canada has contributed $68 million towards mitigating the effects of the crisis, including almost $53 million towards an integrated stabilization, humanitarian and development response. Canada has imposed targeted sanctions on 112 Venezuelans for acts undermining democratic institutions, gross human rights violations and/or significant acts of corruption. [ * ]

In June 2019, Canada suspended operations of the Canadian Embassy to Venezuela temporarily as the regime refused to provide accreditations. A Protecting Power agreement with the resident UK embassy enables Canada to offer limited essential services to Canadians.

European Union

Integrated geographic overview: Europe

Issue

• In a challenging global context, a strong and democratic Europe matters. [ * ]

Canadian position

• Partnerships with EU institutions and influential European actors can add much-needed weight to shared objectives around the globe.
• The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) provides a strong framework to penetrate key European markets. [ * ]
• Canada’s membership in NATO is central to our security engagement with European allies and partners.

Background

[ * ] Rich ties of history, family and wartime sacrifice binds Canada to this area. [ * ]

Global partnerships: [ * ] much encouragement for our country to play a prominent global role, as seen most recently at the July 2019 Canada-EU Summit, in Montreal. There are regular and intensive interactions with the EU and European governments at the leader, minister and senior official level. CETA’s companion political accord, the Strategic Partnership Agreement, offers space to develop our global partnerships with the EU on a wide range of issues such as a well-functioning international economic order and global security.

Prosperity partnerships: The EU contains six of the top 15 Canadian total trade markets, and four of the top 10 foreign direct investment sources. The EU is the second largest Canadian market, a sophisticated and diversified grouping of 28 countries and 515 million people that represents 10.0 percent or $118.1 billion of our global total trade in goods. CETA, provisionally applied since September 2017, brings opportunities to enhance these numbers, as well as our broad-based prosperity.

Canada-EU trade in goods and services increased by 9.4 percent in 2018. Products that saw the largest decline in tariffs as a result of CETA saw the largest trade gains. CETA implementation issues are best managed through dedicated committees that address specific non-tariff issues, including how best to respond to emerging differences over global regulatory issues. Meanwhile, full application of CETA requires ratification by all Member States, and 15 have yet to ratify. [ * ]

[ * ] The UK is the single most important EU market for Canada (21.6 percent of our trade in merchandise with the EU in 2018). [ * ]

Beyond the numbers, our trade relationship with Europe has strong symbolic value, bucking global protectionist trends. Canada finds common cause with European partners in preserving and renewing a rules-based international trading order, centered on the World Trade Organization that has contributed significantly to global prosperity in past decades.

Security partnerships: Canada has long considered that our own security is linked to that of European allies. [ * ]

Brexit

Issue

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Canadian position

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  • The Urgent Decisions and Pressure Issues book provides more information on Brexit.

Background

Since the June 2016 referendum on whether to leave the EU, the issue of how to achieve Brexit has dominated political life in the UK. While former Prime Minister Theresa May negotiated a Withdrawal Agreement with the EU, it was defeated in the UK House of Commons on three occasions.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged to take the UK out of the EU on October 31, 2019, with or without an agreement with the EU, and has indicated he is unwilling to seek an extension, however, the option for an extension still exists by law.

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Implications for Canada

[ * ] The UK is Canada’s largest trading partner in the EU and, taken together, the EU is Canada’s second largest trading partner after the U.S. [ * ]

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Eastern Europe

Integrated geographic overview: Eastern Europe and Eurasia

Issue

• Canada is increasingly affected by developments in the wider (non-EU) Europe that stretches outward to the east and south to include Russia, the Baltics, the Western Balkans, Turkey, Central Asia and the Caucasus. This region is home to some of the prominent fault lines emerging in the current international order.

Canadian position

• Encourage resilience across the region by supporting continued Euro-Atlantic integration and democratic advancement.
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• Pursue market opportunities for Canada to diversify its trade relationships, especially as political and economic reforms in some countries encourage investor confidence.

Background

This region is an arena for great power influence. [ * ]

• Ukraine and Russia: (Please see separate brief)
• Turkey: Turkey has been a Western ally in combatting terrorism and in coping with migration, particularly regarding Syrian refugees. [ * ] On the trade front, Turkey is an emerging market of broad interest with niche markets for Canada in energy, information and communication technology, mining, education and infrastructure.
• Bulgaria: In December 2018 Bulgaria’s National Assembly ratified the EU-Canada Strategic Partnership Agreement, the political counterpart to the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). In April 2018, the Bulgarian Constitutional Court ruled that CETA is compatible with Bulgaria’s constitution, paving the way to ratify the Agreement. [ * ] In December 2017, Canada lifted the visa requirements for Bulgarians travelling to visit Canada.
• Romania: The Romanian lower house approved CETA in December 2017. The final step in ratification is a vote in the Senate. On defence cooperation, Romania replaced Canada in providing helicopters and medical evacuation capability for the UN mission in Mali when Canada’s deployment ended in the summer of 2019. In September 2018, for the second year, Canada deployed five CF-18 Hornets for air policing in Romania. The four-month deployment ended in January 2019. Canada lifted visa requirements for Romania in December 2017. [ * ]
• The Baltics (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania): Canada enjoys good bilateral relationships and collaborates closely with the Baltic States in fora such as NATO, the UN, The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. As part of Operation REASSURANCE, the Canadian Armed Forces contribution to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe, Canada leads a multinational enhanced forward presence battlegroup based near Riga, Latvia.
• The Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia): While this region has progressed despite a difficult past, it still confronts a range of challenges. With prolonged timelines for EU accession, [ * ]
• The South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia): All three states are pursuing closer engagement with the West and consider themselves part of the European community. [ * ]
• Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan): The EU, China and Russia share some common goals in Central Asia: preserving stability; curtailing Islamist extremism [ * ] and promoting infrastructure development. Central Asian states prefer to engage with the West on a number of domestic, largely economic, reform projects. This is especially true for Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, which have undergone positive democratic and economic reforms. Canada’s modest relations with Central Asia are predominantly commercially-driven.

Russia and Ukraine

Issue

• Canada has a close bilateral relationship with Ukraine, strengthened by the Ukranian-Canadian community of 1.3 million people. Russia’s destabilizing actions in Ukraine undermine the latter’s sovereignty and efforts toward Euro-Atlantic integration.
• Ukraine continues to need international assistance to support its sovereignty and territorial integrity, which will in turn reduce the pressure on the government’s reformist agenda.

Canadian position

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• Continue to be at the forefront of support provided to Ukraine and ensure the irreversibility of its reforms and course toward to Euro-Atlantic integration.

Background

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a member of the G20 and Arctic Council, Russia wields influence and is a player on virtually every international security issue. Ukraine figures prominently in Russia’s regional power projection, [ * ] and reinforcing the Kremlin narrative of Western/NATO encroachment. Domestically, Russia faces a stagnating economy, demographic decline, and growing popular dissatisfaction. While President Putin may have benefited from the “Crimea is ours” sentiment in 2014, today, [ * ]

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In Ukraine, Russia’s influence over the public has fallen. [ * ] Ukraine has taken a [ * ] constructive approach to the Trilateral Contact Group negotiations with Russia and the so-called “DNR/LNR” in Minsk, and to the Normandy format (Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany). Zelensky has prioritized winning the hearts and minds of Ukrainians in the Donbas. He has also engaged in dialogue with President Putin and signaled a desire to expand the Normandy format to include the United States and the United Kingdom.

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Canada’s current engagement

[ * ] Canada has engaged with Russia on common challenges and interests (such as on the Arctic and space cooperation), and in multilateral forums (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, UN, and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons). Canada is the only Western country that ceased all of its trade promotion activities in Russia.

Canada has been a leading provider of assistance to Ukraine following Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. Since then, Canada has committed over $785 million in assistance, imposed sanctions against more than 430 Russian and Ukrainian entities and individuals, launched Operation UNIFIER (the Canadian Armed Forces military training mission to Ukraine), and hosted the Ukraine Reform Conference in 2019. Canada has worked to increase Ukrainian prosperity through development programs focused on economic growth, as well as the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force in 2017. While commercial relations are modest, the strong potential for growth is linked to the speed of Ukrainian reforms.

Asia

Integrated geographic overview: North Asia and Oceania

Issue

• Canada’s relations with the countries of North Asia and Oceania must balance the economic opportunities that accompany regional growth and long-standing ties [ * ]

Canadian position

• The relationship with Japan, as the third largest national economy, an important trade and investment partner, and a closely aligned G7 and G20 member [ * ]
• [ * ] like-minded strategic partners: Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.

Background

For Canada, the region of North Asia and Oceania – Australia, China, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, North Korea, South Korea and the Pacific Islands countries – encompasses several of Canada’s largest trading partners (China, Japan, South Korea), three signatories to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (Japan, Australia, New Zealand), and Canada’s first bilateral free trade agreement in Asia (South Korea). The region also encompasses a range of security interests, from “Five Eyes” partners Australia and New Zealand, to the nuclear threat posed by North Korea, and to the complex dynamics between China and its neighbours. [ * ]

Economically, most countries in North Asia continue to capitalize on globalization and regional integration to accelerate development, attract foreign investment, and grow their middle class. [ * ]

Whether viewed from the perspective of diplomacy, trade and investment, or security, the countries of North Asia and Oceania are now playing a more central role in international affairs. Canada’s response to regional challenges – especially where they test current assumptions on trade and security – is strengthened through cooperation with closely aligned, strategic partners in Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, whose approaches to international law, multilateralism, free trade, democracy and human rights are largely consistent with ours, and can be leveraged to protect and promote Canadian interests in the region. To a lesser extent, Canada’s bilateral ties and history of modest international assistance in the developing democracies of Mongolia and Pacific Island countries present opportunities for cooperation and the promotion of Canadian values.

Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea: Canada benefits from having well-established trade, investment and innovation relationships with these four countries. Canada is deepening commercial relations with Japan to diversify its export markets and cement long-standing trade and investment ties with the world’s third largest economy and largest source of foreign direct investment into Canada from Asia. The Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership has created market opportunities in Japan, including in beef and pork, in an environment where exports face increased obstacles and uncertainties. Japan’s alignment with Canada on multiple global economic and security issues is also beneficial in the G7 and G20 contexts and for cooperation in reforming multilateral institutions. South Korea – a closely aligned member of the G20 [ * ] The bilateral relationship is strengthened further by the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement and the Canada-Korea Science and Technology Agreement.

Canada, Australia and New Zealand work closely as Five Eyes defence, security and intelligence partners, and cooperate on a range of areas, including: trade; migration; counter-terrorism; international development; reform of multilateral institutions; and, regional security issues.

Australia and Japan have stepped up their efforts in the region to enhance infrastructure and increase security cooperation [ * ] These and similar efforts, centered on open Indo-Pacific concepts that connect the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean and advanced cooperatively by the U.S., Japan, India and Australia, offer nations in the region a framework for economic and security cooperation [ * ]

Mongolia and Pacific Islands: As a young democracy in a difficult neighborhood, Mongolia actively wishes to strengthen relations with Canada. Canadian influence is bolstered further by large investments in the mining sector. Canada’s development priorities are aligned with those of the Pacific Island Countries, in particular, addressing climate change, oceans, resilience and sustainable economic development.

Integrated geographic overview: Southeast Asia

Issue

• To establish Canada in Southeast Asia as a country of choice for trade and investment, a regional supporter of peace and security and an active participant in regional institutional frameworks.

Canadian position

• Canada has invested substantially [ * ] through a coherent and consistent bilateral and multilateral engagement strategy.
• Canada is seeking to expand trade partnership through negotiation of a Canada-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade Agreement.
• Canada is pursuing membership in the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus [ * ]

Background

Home to more than 650 million people, Southeast Asia is rapidly emerging as an economic powerhouse and will be a considerable driver of the global economy throughout the 21st Century. Real GDP growth rate is forecast to remain above 5 percent through 2024. Per capita GDP across the 10-member ASEAN region is forecast to rise to more than $9,000 by 2030; a threefold increase over 2010. The number of middle-class households will reach 400 million by 2020. This region, where four out of 10 countries are signatories to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership [ * ]

Our relations through international assistance programs, people-to-people and cultural ties, provide historical, long-term connections to the region. [ * ]

Canada’s Southeast Asian partners generally share a commitment to the principles of multilateralism and appreciate the role of middle powers. These countries continue to look to Canada to support regional and multilateral initiatives, including in areas of mutual interest in environmental protection, climate change and peace and security. [ * ]

Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam are all partners through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Vietnam is Canada’s largest trade partner in the region since 2015 [ * ] Singapore, like Indonesia, is a G20 member [ * ]

Challenges

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Integrated geographic overview: South Asia

Issue

• South Asia has had the highest rate of regional economic growth in the world since mid-2014. However, it continues to be buffeted by geopolitical instability, particularly as a result of Indo-Chinese and Indo-Pakistani rivalries, terrorism, and violent extremism.

Canadian position

• Canada stands to benefit from trade and commercial ties with South Asia, in particular India, which is projected to become the world’s third largest economy by as early as 2028.
• The region’s development is hindered by security challenges, including the potential for escalation over Kashmir, [ * ] and the threat of terrorism and violent extremism.
• Canada’s international assistance in South Asia has addressed the challenges faced by the poorest and most vulnerable populations by targeting aid geographically and working with national governments, including on the Rohingya refugee crisis.
• Canada’s relations in South Asia are rooted in strong people-to-people ties, with over two million Canadians claiming South Asian heritage (2016).

Background

Economic interests

South Asia’s economic growth is projected to reach 7 percent in 2019 and 7.1 percent in 2020 and 2021. And yet, life expectancy, rates of education and per capita income all remain low, earning the region the second-lowest overall score behind Sub-Saharan Africa (2018). India, currently the world’s sixth-largest economy, is projected to be the world’s third-largest economy by as early as 2028. Other countries in South Asia are also demonstrating strong potential. Over the last five years, average annual GDP growth for Bangladesh and Pakistan reached almost 7 percent and over 5 percent, respectively, with bilateral trade growing by 28 percent and 128 percent.

Canadian expertise in infrastructure, energy and agri-food, as well as in health, climate change mitigation, clean technology and communications and information technology, is of value to South Asian countries. In India, more than 1,000 Canadian companies are doing business. Canadian portfolio investments in India, now estimated to be worth over $30 billion, have risen dramatically over the past five years. [ * ]

Canada has a long-standing friendship with India based on shared democratic values. Canada is home to a large Indian diaspora community—approximately 4 percent of Canadians are of Indian heritage (1.4 million people)—and people-to-people ties continue to grow. In 2018, 21.7 percent of admissions of permanent residents (69,975 admissions) were granted to Indian citizens, ranking India as the number one source country for new permanent residents. Interest by Indian youth in studying in Canada continues to increase significantly each year. India is the largest source of foreign students in Canada, surpassing China in 2018 for the first time.

Security situation

The conflict in Afghanistan and the ongoing Kashmir dispute have long been sources of tension between New Delhi and Islamabad, as well as hotbeds for terrorism and violent extremism. Domestic politics in South Asia are varied, complex and often fraught. [ * ] Likewise, the broader human rights situation in the region remains precarious. The activities of NGOs across South Asia are increasingly restricted, and ethnic and religious minorities, as well as women and girls, face systematic discrimination.

[ * ] Canada has played an active role in Afghanistan since 2001, providing $3.3 billion in international assistance and contributing a total of 40,000 soldiers to the NATO International Security Assistance Force, which concluded its combat mission in 2014. Canada has committed $195 million to support the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces through 2020.

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Canada has responded to a number of these challenges through bilateral security cooperation and extensive capacity building programming. Sri Lanka, in particular, has benefitted from Global Affairs Canada’s Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program and Peace and Stabilization Operations Program to counter human smuggling and promote inter-religious reconciliation. Canada also cooperates with India through the Canada-India Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism [ * ]

Rohingya crisis

Bangladesh continues to receive refugees following the outbreak of violence in Myanmar in 2017. As of August 2019, more than 912,000 Rohingya had fled to Bangladesh to avoid persecution. Although the influx has slowed, hundreds continue to arrive in Bangladesh every month. Canada has played a leadership role in the humanitarian response to this crisis, with a focus on improving the living conditions of Rohingya in refugee camps and addressing the needs of impacted host communities. Canada’s Strategy to respond to the Rohingya Crisis in Myanmar and Bangladesh dedicates $300 million of international assistance over three years (2018-2021).

International assistance

In 2017-2018, Canada contributed more than $575 million in international assistance to South Asian countries, in large part through bilateral development programs in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Canadian programming in the region has focused on health and education, the protection of human rights, and the empowerment of women and girls. Canada, for example, has led efforts to promote the participation of women and religious and ethnic minorities in the Afghanistan peace process. Canada also deploys technical expertise (e.g., on governance issues) in response to requests by partner governments.

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Korean Peninsula security and stability

Issue

• Bringing about a peaceful, diplomatic solution to North Korea's weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, which pose a serious threat to international peace and security.

Canadian position

• Canada urges North Korea to cease its provocative acts and to return to the negotiating table with the United States (U.S.).
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Background

North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs pose a serious threat to peace and security. [ * ]

Recent Developments: Following an 18-month hiatus in testing, Pyongyang once again began a series of short range ballistic missiles tests in May 2019, firing 20 missiles to date. [ * ]

Canadian engagement

Canadian actions aim to support the effective implementation of UN resolutions and UN Security Council sanctions, and to demonstrate Canada’s contribution to a key security issue. Canada and the U.S. co-hosted the 2018 Vancouver Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Security and Stability on the Korean Peninsula, to discuss means to a peaceful solution. Since 2017, Global Affairs Canada’s Weapons Threat Reduction Program has committed $14.7 million to address North Korea’s proliferation activities via capacity-building and research on North Korea’s sanctions evasion networks. In 2018, Canada increased its commitment to the Armistice-monitoring UN Command, which now includes 13 Canadian Armed Forces personnel. Since 2011, Canada has imposed robust autonomous sanctions on North Korea.

Canada participates in a multinational initiative aimed at countering North Korea’s maritime sanctions evasion, in partnership with Australia, France, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the U.S. [ * ]

Regional dynamics

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Middle East and North Africa

Integrated geographic overview: Middle East and North Africa

Issue

• Eight years after the Arab Spring, the Middle East and North Africa region has experienced increasing geopolitical competition and complex protracted conflicts, including the civil war in Syria, the fight against Daesh in Iraq, and the Iran-Saudi rivalry.

Canadian position

• Advance regional peace and security and promote Canadian interests and values, by working with partners to counter terrorism and violent extremism, support stabilization and humanitarian efforts, and promote human rights and democratic development.

Background

The Middle East and North Africa region is highly polarized, with three main rifts: Israel versus Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas and Syria; Iran versus Saudi Arabia; and the Sunni blocks of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) versus Turkey and Qatar. [ * ] Daesh and al-Qaeda by their nature reject national boundaries, the Muslim Brotherhood is active throughout the region, and the Kurdish nationalist movement touches Turkey, Syria and Iraq. The Palestinian cause, which has taken a back seat to Syria and Iraq, still resonates. [ * ]

Five of the 10 largest oil producers are in Middle East and North Africa, and the Gulf states are home to a third of global oil and gas reserves. Three of the world’s top maritime choke points are in the region: the Strait of Hormuz, Bab Al Mandeb and the Suez Canal.

North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia): Since 2011, and despite positive developments including advancing democracy in Tunisia, North Africa as a whole continues to face the challenges common to the wider region. Proxy battles play out as regional and global powers compete for energy resources and strategic advantage. Egypt is the current President of the African Union and an influential country in the region [ * ] Presidential and legislative elections occurred in Tunisia on October 13 and 6, respectively [ * ] In Libya, the security and political situation deteriorates as hostilities continue between the internationally-recognized government and its challenger over territorial control.

Israel and the Middle East Peace Process: [ * ] In 2019, the U.S. announced the economic portion of a new peace plan, which would invest $50 billion in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and surrounding countries. [ * ]

Israel’s current political context is a complicating regional factor. Israel’s struggle with Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas and Syria is playing itself out in a number of arenas. A long-term struggle is ongoing in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. [ * ]

Canada-Israel bilateral relations are generally positive [ * ]

Syria and Iraq: The Syrian civil war, ongoing since 2012, is a stage on which regional and global geopolitics plays out. [ * ] The October 2019 withdrawal of U.S. troops from northeast Syria, and the movement of Turkish troops into the area against previously U.S.-backed Kurdish forces, will again shift the dynamic. [ * ]

Iraq has been the site of a years-long campaign to drive out Daesh. While Iraq’s Prime Minister announced Daesh’s defeat by the end of 2017, Iraq still faces multiple political, sectarian and tribal conflicts. [ * ]

Iran, Yemen and the Gulf States (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates):In May 2018, the U.S. withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the JCPOA or the Iranian nuclear deal) [ * ]

The Gulf Cooperation Council includes [ * ] stable and prosperous states that are strategic and commercial partners for Canada. However, following social media posts critical of Saudi detention of human rights defenders in 2018, Saudi Arabia expelled Canada’s ambassador and froze trade and investment. [ * ] Saudi Arabia will chair the G20 in 2020 [ * ]

The complex, overlapping conflicts in Yemen [ * ] Canada provides diplomatic, humanitarian, and peace and stabilization support to assist the [ * ] efforts towards a peaceful resolution.

Canada’s current engagement

Canada is investing $3.5 billion over five years (2016-2021) to respond to the crises in Iraq and Syria, and their impact on the region, in particular Jordan and Lebanon as refugee-hosting countries at risk of destabilization.

Canada is a member of the Global Coalition Against Daesh. Established in 2014, it is made up of 80 countries and organizations, including NATO, the Arab League, the European Union and Interpol. Its objective is to degrade Daesh on all fronts, dismantle its networks and counter its global ambitions. Under Operation IMPACT, up to 850 Canadian Armed Forces personnel are deployed to support Coalition efforts in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon.

As of November 2018, Canada assumed command of the NATO mission in Iraq for two years. This non-combat mission helps build more effective security structures, improves demining capacities and increases the professionalism of Iraqi forces, improving the ability to fight terrorism and prevent the re-emergence of Daesh.

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Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Issue

• Canada’s response to the anticipated release of the United States (U.S.) peace plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict [ * ]

Canadian position

• Canada supports a two-state solution and is committed to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
• [ * ]

Background

The impasse in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues. The key final status issues in the conflict – the fate of Palestinian refugees, the future border between Israel and a Palestinian state, the status of Jerusalem and its religious sites, and security for both Israelis and Palestinians – remain unresolved. Other issues [ * ] add further complexity.

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Canada and the conflict

Canada has long supported peace efforts between the two sides. More recently, Canada has provided annual humanitarian and development programming in the West Bank and Gaza, and contributions to Palestinian security sector development. Canada has continued to support a two-state solution to achieve lasting peace.

US Peace Plan

President Trump and his team have been working to develop a Middle East peace plan since taking office. The economic component – which proposed $50 billion in investments into the West Bank, Gaza and surrounding states over 10 years – was presented in June 2019. [ * ]

Sub-Saharan Africa

Integrated geographic overview: Sub-Saharan Africa

Issue

• Canada’s engagement in Sub-Saharan Africa is focused enhancing commercial ties, reducing poverty, advancing peace and security and promoting gender equality.

Canadian position

• Sub-Saharan Africa is a region with major economic potential and growing geopolitical significance.
• Canada has growing trade and investment ties, provides important development investments in the region, makes significant humanitarian contributions to ongoing crisis, and contributes to peace, security and stabilization efforts in the region.

Background

GDP growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to reach 3.5 percent in 2019, with growth rates of 5 percent or higher in almost half of Sub-Saharan Africa countries. The coming-into-force of the African Continental Free Trade Area, in July 2019, enhances economic integration and can spur trade and investment cooperation with the international community, including Canada. Other foreign actors, such as the European Union (EU), China, India and Turkey, are increasingly engaged in Sub-Saharan Africa to leverage these economic opportunities.

African countries are increasingly speaking with a single voice on global issues, notably through the African Union (AU). AU countries exercise influence within international institutions, including the UN, La Francophonie, the World Trade Organization and the Commonwealth. The AU has assumed a greater role in addressing regional security challenges and African countries make significant contributions to UN peacekeeping efforts.

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While it faces economic challenges, South Africa has one of the stronger African economies. President Ramaphosa also recently appointed a gender-balanced Cabinet, joining Rwanda and Ethiopia in making strides towards gender equality. Ethiopia is undertaking broad and comprehensive national reforms. The Prime Minister appointed a gender-balanced cabinet and early in 2018, negotiated a peace agreement with Eritrea, ending one of the continent’s longest standing conflicts. The country continues to strengthen its standing as a regional and continental player. Nigeria also continues to be a significant player on the continent and is an important trading partner for Canada.

Despite progress, 41 percent of Sub-Saharan Africans still live in extreme poverty. Sub-Saharan Africa faces significant challenges exacerbated by demographic pressures, with 60 percent of the population under the age of 25. The impacts of climate change disproportionately affect Sub-Saharan Africa. As of 2018, only 19 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are electoral democracies according to Freedom House. Women’s political participation and girls’ enrolment in primary education has improved, yet African women and girls still face discriminatory legal barriers, unequal access to resources, and sexual and gender-based violence. Irregular migration of Africans to Europe continues to be of concern.

Armed conflict, political instability, terrorism and organized crime affect parts of Africa, including in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin area in the Great Lakes and Central Africa and in the Horn of Africa. Piracy remains a challenge, in particular in the Gulf of Guinea region. Also of concern is the increasing number of affiliations of local African violent extremist groups with global terrorist networks. Since 2012, Mali has seen an increase in insecurity, terrorism and inter-communal violence. Mali’s challenges are quickly spreading to neighbouring countries in the Sahel and risks broader regional destabilization in spite of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali and Operation Barkhane, the French counter-terrorism force.

China has significantly expanded its political and economic footprint in Africa since 2000 through $204 billion in trade in 2018. China established the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation held every three years and several African countries are part of China’s Belt and Road initiative. China is a large contributor of personnel to UN peace operations in Africa and has established a military base in Djibouti.

Canadian engagement with Sub-Saharan Africa

Canada has a diplomatic presence in 19 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa through its network of 16 embassies or high commissions and five offices in the region. Canada maintains 16 bilateral development programs and a regional development program in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2017-18, Canada provided over $2.32 billion in international assistance to the region. Canada has committed to increase the share of bilateral international assistance provided to Sub-Saharan Africa to 50 percent by 2021-2022. In 2018, Canada had $5.5 billion in two-way trade with Sub-Saharan Africa, and has Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements in force with eight countries in the region. In 2017, Canadian mining companies possessed over $26 billion in assets in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Canadian universities hosted 33,500 African students. Canada’s engagement focuses on a number of priority areas, including:

• Promoting human rights and inclusive governance: Canada supports efforts to promote inclusive governance and respect for human rights in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly for women, girls and other marginalized groups.
• Supporting poverty reduction efforts that reach the poorest and most vulnerable: Canada actively contributes to efforts to reduce poverty through investments in education, health, and women’s economic empowerment. At the 2018 G7 Summit in Charlevoix, Canada announced a $400 million contribution for girls’ education in conflict and fragile states over three years – including a significant portion to Sub-Saharan Africa – as part of a $3.8 billion commitment by several G7 partners and the World Bank. Canada also supports maternal, newborn and reproductive health and rights of women and girls.
• Investing in inclusive and green economic growth and diversifying trade: Canada invests in efforts to spur inclusive and green economic growth and helps Canadian companies access opportunities in emerging markets. This includes support to the negotiations that led to the signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area. Canada is contributing $150 million to the objectives of the African Renewable Energy Initiative to increase access to renewable energy, and works with African partners on the development of the Blue Economy. Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service is also promoting Canadian private sector capabilities in clean technology and climate-friendly agriculture.
• Contributing to peace and stability: Canada contributes to peace and stability through assessed contributions and deployments to UN peacekeeping missions, as well as support for conflict prevention, peacebuilding, women, peace and security, and capacity-building efforts. Canada is deploying up to 20 police officers to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali and the EU Capacity Building Mission in Mali, and is deploying a tactical airlift capability to the UN Regional Support Centre in Entebbe, Uganda. As part of the Elsie Initiative on Women in Peace Operations, Canada has established bilateral partnerships with Ghana and Zambia, and is supporting the Senegal Armed Forces’ Gender Integration Strategy, with the aim of reducing barriers to women’s meaningful participation in UN peace operations.

Multilateral and Global Organizations

G7 and G20

Issue

• Effective and well-functioning G7 and G20 remain in Canada’s direct interest and offer important venues for Canada to promote and coordinate key economic, trade and political issues.
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Canadian position

• The 2020 United States (U.S.) G7 Presidency will offer important opportunities for Canada to advance key interests, while strengthening a critical bilateral relationship.
• Saudi Presidency of G20 [ * ] important economic, trade and political issues within the G20 make Canada’s participation important.

Background

The Group of Seven (G7)¹ was established in 1975 to increase international cooperation on pressing global economic and financial matters. The Group of 20 (G20)² was established in 1999 at the Ministerial level and elevated to the Leader level in 2008 to cover similar issues as the G7 but with membership brought from a more diverse group of emerging and advanced economies. A seat at both these tables offers Canada an opportunity to leverage the significant political and economic influence of these groups to address key global issues of priority concern to Canada.

While initially focused on global economic stability and growth, members of both the G7 and G20 now discuss a range of matters, including security, development, environment, health, and gender equality, among other issues.

Member countries take turns hosting the annual leaders’ summit and associated ministerial meetings and working groups. Finance and Foreign Ministers meet every year, with other ministerial meetings being determined by the host country.

Canada has hosted six G7 summits, most recently in 2018 in Charlevoix, Quebec, and one G20 summit, in 2010 in Toronto, Ontario.

G7

France currently holds the Presidency and Leaders met in Biarritz on August 24-26, 2019. In 2020, the U.S. will chair, and the Leaders’ Summit will take place in Doral, Florida, from June 10-12. [ * ]

G7 members have not only represented some of the largest economies of the world, but have historically been bound together by respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law, and by a shared commitment to a rules-based international system. [ * ] the G7 has bolstered international economic unity and proposed coordinated approaches to address pressing global peace, security and economic crises.

[ * ] The real value of the G7 [ * ] lies not just in the members’ ability to reach consensus, but to have open and frank discussions on common challenges and points of division in order to bridge gaps and influence global discussions and decision-making.

Equally, the G7 provides a platform where new initiatives can be launched before being adopted by global institutions and sets ambitious benchmarks and targets that other organizations and international actors are often mobilized to adopt. When the G7 chooses an issue of focus – such as girls’ education under Canada’s Presidency in 2018 or maternal, newborn and child health under Canada’s Presidency in 2010 – it can translate into a shift in global focus and significant international momentum, funding and action.

The U.S. Presidency in 2020 offers an opportunity for Canada to work in partnership with the U.S. to constructively engage in an effort to strengthen the rules-based trading system and the institutions that underpin it.

G20

Saudi Arabia has offered little information in terms of key priorities or work plans for their 2020 Presidency. [ * ]

The Group is most effective when focused on matters affecting stability and growth and international economic governance. In this respect, the real value of the G20 continues to be the opportunity to build consensus amongst the membership to pursue strong fundamentals. This includes pursuing a collective approach in support of the international financial architecture and open, rules-based trade and investment as a means of enhancing prospects for global growth.

For Canada, the G20 is an important platform through which to influence global economic, financial, and trade policy issues. In 2018 and 2019, Canada fought successfully for leader-level outcomes on trade such that all G20 members acknowledged the importance of the rules-based trading system, while recognizing that the current rules and institutions (namely the World Trade Organization) require reform. Canada can continue to bring a practical pro-trade voice to the table in 2020.

At the 2019 Summit, Canada and Japan successfully launched a new initiative entitled Private Sector Alliance for the Empowerment and Progression of Women’s Economic Representation. A first meeting of this private sector network is expected to take place in early 2020 under the Saudi Arabian Presidency.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Issue

• NATO is essential to Euro-Atlantic and international security [ * ]

Canadian position

• NATO is a cornerstone of Canada’s security and defence policy.
• Canada promotes Allied unity and resolve in order to address growing threats and challenges to the Alliance.

Background

NATO has been a stalwart in supporting and protecting the security of the Euro-Atlantic region and the security of member states. Membership gives Canada a seat at the table of the world’s premier political and military alliance. As NATO decision-making is by consensus, it also ensures that Canada has an important voice on issues related to international and Euro-Atlantic security. NATO has three main tasks: 1) collective defence; 2) crisis management within and beyond NATO’s borders; and, 3) cooperative security through partnerships (e.g., capacity building in Iraq, Jordan and Georgia). Collective defence remains NATO’s most fundamental task, which is set out in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty: an attack on any individual Ally is an attack against the entire Alliance.

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NATO remains engaged in Afghanistan chiefly through its Resolute Support Mission and the financial sustainment of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces. [ * ]

On the request of the Iraqi government, NATO agreed to establish a training and capacity-building mission in Iraq (NATO Mission Iraq) in October 2018, which Canada is leading until November 2020.

The United Nations

Issue

• The United Nations (UN) System is a vital component of the global governance architecture and remains a key element in Canada’s foreign relations. [ * ]

Canadian position

• Canada’s national interests are protected and advanced through a well-functioning UN. Our UN engagement provides a means of working with partners to promote international priorities that advance Canada’s security and prosperity, and strengthen the institutions, treaties, arrangements and norms that underpin the international system. Canada supports UN reform efforts currently underway.

Background

The UN is the only multilateral entity with universal membership, currently composed of 193 member states. The General Assembly and major UN summits bring together world leaders to engage on pressing global issues and negotiate normative frameworks to address them. The Security Council remains the only world body authorized to declare threats to international peace and security and deploy responses, including the use of force.

Peacekeeping missions (currently 14) seek to respond to multifaceted conflicts with mandates that encompass a wide variety of activities, including protecting civilians, monitoring human rights, supporting elections, facilitating humanitarian access, and leading security sector reform efforts. The UN Development System provides critical support to countries around the world to assist the poorest and most vulnerable and implement the 2030 Agenda. UN entities such as the World Food Programme and the UN High Commission for Refugees are front-line responders to humanitarian crises. The UN-brokered Paris Agreement guides global efforts to combat climate change. The UN advances human rights norms and contributes to the primacy of the rule of law by codifying and developing international law on a wide variety of subjects.

Given its broad range of mandates and its key role in the global governance architecture, it is important that the UN functions efficiently and effectively. [ * ]

The UN Security Council is confronted with an increasing volume of complex crises [ * ]

The UN currently faces a dire financial situation, with member states owing more than US$7 billion in assessed contributions. [ * ] Paying a share of the UN’s costs is a core obligation of membership. [ * ] Canada always pays its assessed contributions to the UN system in full and on time. [ * ] Assessed contributions cover the UN regular budget (US$5.8 billion for the biennium 2018-2019), the peacekeeping budget (US$6.7 billion for July 2019-June 2020), and International Criminal Tribunals (US$196 million for the biennium 2018-2019).

[ * ] UN Secretary-General António Guterres has advanced an ambitious reform agenda that has upended decades-old structures in the areas of peace and security, sustainable development, and internal management in order to strengthen efficiency, transparency and accountability. Achieving gender parity and combatting sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment are also part of the reform agenda, and progress is being made.

As one of the largest overall contributors to the UN (currently ninth highest for assessed contributions), Canada can continue to lead by example offering our strong support for the implementation of reform measures.

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La Francophonie

Issue

• Canada participation in La Francophonie is at the federal and provincial levels and serves to strengthen Canada’s linguistic duality. As an influential forum, particularly in Africa, it is in Canada’s interest to strengthen its influence within the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) and help define its future direction as an institution focused on core democratic values and francophone culture.

Canadian position

• Canada, Québec and New Brunswick support a review of the future direction of the OIF. The objectives of the Organisation’s Secretary General and Canadian administrator are aligned with Canadian priorities, including on reform of the Organisation, governance, and transparency.

Background

The OIF, with its 88 member- and observer-states and governments, is the second largest multilateral organization after the UN. More than half of the Organisation’s voting members are African countries and it has a clear focus on Africa. With an annual budget of approximately $100 million, its programming is mainly directed at youth, as 60 percent of La Francophonie’s total population is under the age of 35. Through annual contributions of approximately $40 million to the various institutions of La Francophonie, including $24 million to the OIF itself, Canada is the second largest donor to La Francophonie after France.

For Canada, La Francophonie has a significant federal-provincial dimension in which Quebec and New Brunswick enjoy the same full-member status as Canada, and which Ontario joined as an observer in 2016. [ * ]

[ * ] in 2018, at the Yerevan Summit in Armenia, Canada invested $14.6 million in 2019 for the creation of a Francophone digital platform: TV5MONDE Plus. The Secretary General also wants the Organisation to refine its programming and prioritize projects that respond to the needs of the communities (entrepreneurship training, competency development for schoolteachers), in line with Canada’s ongoing efforts to that effect over the past decade.

Expansion

Over the past 20 years, with support from France, the Organisation’s membership has increased by more than 60 percent. [ * ]

La Francophonie’s 50^th anniversary

The OIF will celebrate its 50^th anniversary in 2020 in Tunis, Tunisia. This Summit, the first led by Louise Mushikiwabo and Catherine Cano, will be more than symbolic. The recommendations of the various working groups and commissions which review key themes for the future of the Organisation, such as its directions, governance, expansion, programming, budget and transparency, are to be presented for adoption to heads of state and government and could fundamentally redefine the Organisation.

The Commonwealth

Issue

• The Commonwealth is an important forum to advance Canada’s bilateral relationships and global issues of concern. [ * ]

Canadian position

• In 2015, [ * ] Commonwealth Leaders mandated an independent high-level group to explore how to improve the governance of the organization. [ * ]

Background

Canada is a founding member and one of the top donors of the Commonwealth alongside the United Kingdom and Australia. Canadian Arnold Smith served as the first secretary-general (1965-1975), and Canada has hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting twice in 1973 and 1987. Rwanda will host the next meeting from June 22-27, 2020, in Kigali. Canadian prime ministers have always historically attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Rwanda has identified five key themes for the leaders’ meeting: 1) governance and the rule of law; 2) innovation; 3) youth; 4) environment; and, 5) trade. Leaders will report on the implementation of the London 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting commitments, including the Commonwealth Blue Charter. [ * ] The main leader-level event will be preceded by a Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting and a parallel Business, Youth, People (civil society) and Women’s Fora.

Overall, the Commonwealth represents 2.4 billion people on five continents, and can contribute positively to the development and prosperity of its 53 member states, including many small states which are the majority of its membership. [ * ]

The current secretary-general, Baroness Patricia Scotland, is a dual British-Dominican national. She is serving the last year of her four-year mandate. Her term is due to end in April 2020 [ * ]

In 2018-19, Canada disbursed $10.5 million to the Commonwealth, including $7.9 million in assessed contributions to the Commonwealth Secretariat and Commonwealth Foundation. $2.6 million in voluntary contributions was allocated to the third Commonwealth intergovernmental organization, the Commonwealth of Learning, which is based in Burnaby, BC. [ * ]

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum

Issue

• APEC is the pre-eminent economic forum in the Asia-Pacific region. The primary purpose of the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) is to promote sustainable economic growth and prosperity among its members. [ * ]

Canadian position

• APEC provides an opportunity to further strengthen diplomatic relations and trade and economic ties with the Asia-Pacific region. In APEC, Canada can advance its international leadership on global issues in the context of deeper regional integration.

Background

Canada is a founding member of APEC, which was established in 1989. APEC’s 21 member economies include: Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Russia, Canada, Mexico, Singapore, Chile, New Zealand, Chinese Taipei³, China, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Hong Kong-China, Peru, U.S., Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam. APEC serves as a platform to share best practices with key partners on trade, economic integration and structural reform. APEC initiatives complement work undertaken by other multilateral organizations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the G7 and the G20, and it continues to show its strong support of the multilateral trading system and, by extension, the World Trade Organization (WTO). Hosts rotate annually among members. Chile is hosting the next summit scheduled for November 16-17, 2019, Malaysia in 2020, New Zealand in 2021, and Thailand in 2022. Canada hosted APEC only once, in 1997. Most economies have hosted APEC twice. Leaders did not reach consensus on a declaration at the 2018 summit in Papua New Guinea for the first time since 1993.

Canada in APEC

Four of Canada’s top five trading partners are APEC members, including the U.S., China, Mexico and Japan. In 2017, APEC accounted for more than 84 percent of Canada’s total merchandise trade with foreign direct investment in Canada valued at over $480 billion. APEC remains the only trans-Pacific regional organization that hosts an annual leader-level meeting of which Canada is a member. Canada has participated in all APEC summits, at the prime minister-level, since the organization’s founding in 1983. It serves as a critical platform to pursue Canada’s regional objectives [ * ] Over a dozen partner departments participate in APEC’s broad agenda, ranging from customs procedures and regulatory reform to women’s economic empowerment, mental health and the digital economy.

APEC Bogor Goals and the free trade area of the Asia-Pacific

One of the aspirational goals for APEC is to help foster more trade integration in the Asia-Pacific region, including through the Bogor Goals. The Bogor Goals, adopted by APEC Leaders in 1994, remain the aspirational target to promote more free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region by 2020. Although APEC member economies have repeatedly reaffirmed commitment to the Bogor Goals of freer and more open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region, these goals will not be fully realized by 2020 as originally envisaged. [ * ]

Private sector engagement

Private sector engagement is an important pillar of APEC's activities. The APEC Business Advisory Council represents the interests of the APEC business community. Each APEC leader can appoint up to three APEC Business Advisory Council members. Canada currently has two ocuncil members, Ralph Lutes (VP Asia, Teck Resources) whose term will end in 2020, and Janet De Silva who was appointed in September 2019 for a three-year term. A process is underway led by Global Affairs Canada to nominate one additional member. All APEC Business Advisory Council appointees are recommended by the Minister of Trade to you. The annual APEC CEO Summit, which corresponds with the APEC Leaders’ Summit, provides an opportunity for business leaders to interact with APEC Leaders and to showcase the findings of their annual meetings.

Chile and APEC 2019

In Chile, an APEC Ministerial Meeting is planned for November 13-14, 2019, to which Foreign and Trade Ministers from each economy will be invited. Following the APEC Ministerial Meeting, there will be an APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on November 16-17, 2019, to which the Prime Minister will be invited. This year, Chile has identified “Connecting People, Building the Future” as the theme for the APEC Summit with a focus on: the challenges of the digital economy, including how to keep pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution; increasing women’s economic empowerment; promoting small and medium sized enterprises; and, ensuring sustainable growth, including protecting the ocean.

International financial institutions

Issue

• Canada has a significant shareholder role in a number of international financial institutions. Canada’s shareholdings in international financial institutions contribute to the Government of Canada’s development, trade and foreign policy priorities.

Canadian position

• Canada shares a common interest with other member countries to ensure that international financial institutions are well managed and funded, taking an active role in improving their effectiveness.

Background

International financial institutions include both multilateral development banks such as the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Multilateral development banks aim to reduce poverty, advance sustainable economic and social development, and promote regional cooperation and integration. The IMF shares these objectives and also works to foster global monetary cooperation, financial stability, and international trade. The IMF conducts economic monitoring (referred to by the IMF as “surveillance”) upon which it bases its policy advice, lends to countries experiencing macroeconomic stress or crises, and delivers technical assistance and training to member countries.

International financial institutions are components of the international financial architecture, providing highly needed financial resources for development programs and projects to middle income countries (through loans) and the poorest countries, including fragile states (through concessional loans and grants). Most IFI capital is guaranteed by donor member states, like Canada, so they can provide preferred interest rates to their borrowing members that would otherwise have to access these resources at higher market prices. International financial institutions have comparative advantages in promoting sound economic management, infrastructure, and supporting the private sector through innovative financing mechanisms.

International financial institutions are making efforts to address concerns regarding the representativeness of IFI governance, particularly adjusting how voting rights are distributed. [ * ]

Canada is a significant shareholder in international financial institutions. Canada provides funding by purchasing shares, contributing to replenishments of concessional lending windows (funds dedicated to providing loans, equity investments and loan guarantees), and contributions to trust funds focused on specific development challenges. Canada’s relationship with all international financial institutions is co-managed by Global Affairs Canada and the Department of Finance.

International financial institutions are Canada’s largest development partner institutions and are strategic partners of choice for supporting development interventions at scale given the size of their operations, track record, technical and financial expertise, convening role, and thought leadership. With contributions from Canada and other donors, the World Bank’s International Development Association provided $20 billion in grant and loan operations annually on average over the 2015-2018 in order to support development results in infrastructure, social protection, and other sectors in the poorest countries. For instance, the International Development Association connected 44 million people with new or improved electricity services over the same period.

Current issues at the international financial institutions

• International Monetary Fund (IMF): Kristalina Georgieva became IMF Managing Director in early October 2019. Her key deliverables will include securing agreement among members to renew the IMF’s lending resources and charting a medium-term path to realign how voting rights are distributed between members. This latter undertaking will be in response to requests for improved representation for middle income and low income countries. If successful, this realignment could improve how the interests of the majority of the world’s population are represented at the IMF, which is currently dominated by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development members [ * ]
• World Bank Group: In 2018, Canada, the U.S. and other shareholders agreed to a $13 billion capital increase. Canada has played a key role in advancing gender equality and debt sustainability in current negotiations for the triennial replenishment of the World Bank’s International Development Association concessional window. [ * ]
  • The Urgent Decisions and Pressure Issues book provides more information on on World Bank International Development Association replenishment.
• African Development Bank: In 2019, Canada demonstrated its support to African nations by providing temporary callable capital to the African Development Bank to protect its triple A credit rating. [ * ]
• The Asian Development Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank will start negotiating the replenishment of their concessional windows in 2020. These are key fora to engage with emerging economies and small island developing states on advancing economic and social development.
• The Inter-American Development Bank is an important partner for Canada in reducing poverty and inequality, advancing infrastructure, and improving health and education in developing countries in the Americas. Of note, the Inter-American Development Bank will be a major partner to re-engage to help rebuild Venezuela once a transition takes place.
• The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Canada formally joined the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in March 2018. As a new institution, Canada is focused on helping the bank establish itself as a modern and robust international financial institution. Although the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is an independent organization governed in a multilateral manner [ * ]

World Trade Organization

Issue

• As a trade dependent, mid-sized economy, Canada benefits from an internationally agreed set of rules and a well-functioning trade dispute resolution system.

Canadian position

• Canada critically depends on the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its rules-based trading system, and is taking a leadership role in advancing discussions to strengthen and modernize the organization.

Background

The WTO provides Canada with the opportunity to build alliances, influence multilateral trade rules and secure concessions on results or issues where Canada would otherwise have little individual leverage as a medium-sized economy.

The WTO is facing numerous challenges, including: divergent positions on trade priorities; lack of consensus on how best to treat developing countries (both large and small); an overloaded dispute settlement system; and, a stalemate over filling current and future vacancies on the Appellate Body (AB). [ * ] the majority of WTO members seem to agree that the organization performs an indispensable role in facilitating global commerce.

Negotiations at the WTO

Negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda, which were intended to address inequalities in the distribution of the benefits of trade have repeatedly stalled and failed to produce the anticipated results. As a result, at the 2015 WTO Ministerial Conference, members could not agree on the status of the overall Doha Development Agenda [ * ]

Negotiations on several issues, however, are ongoing, such as agriculture domestic support and disciplining subsidies in the fisheries sector. [ * ]

Some members are also pursuing more flexible plurilateral approaches to negotiations in certain areas, which involve subsets of the WTO membership. In January 2019, 76 WTO members (including Canada) announced their intention to launch plurilateral negotiations on e-commerce. Other plurilateral initiatives underway at the WTO, in which Canada is engaged, include: services domestic regulation; micro, small and medium-sized enterprises; and, investment facilitation.

WTO reform

Recently, Canada has convened a diverse and representative group of WTO members, known the “Ottawa Group”⁴ in order to foster discussions on reform. Its main focus is to identify concrete and pragmatic ways to strengthen and improve the operation and functioning of the WTO over the short, medium and long-term. This initiative is designed to complement other modernization initiatives being undertaken by other WTO members, and is focused on ideas that will appeal to the broadest possible membership. [ * ] Discussions in the Ottawa Group focus on three priority areas: 1) improvements to the efficiency and effectiveness of the WTO’s monitoring and transparency function; 2) safeguarding the WTO’s dispute settlement system; and, 3) updating the WTO rule book to reflect 21st century realities.

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Dispute settlement

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International security

Peace operations

Issue

• International peace operations are a uniquely effective way to respond to complex crises that threaten international security and to advance Canada’s strategic interests.

Canadian position

• Participation in peace operations with the United Nations (UN) and regional organizations is an important way for Canada to demonstrate leadership in crisis management and international security, while advancing its own national security interests.

Background

The UN Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, which includes establishing mandates and managing peace operations. Over 85,000 uniformed personnel from 121 countries are currently deployed across the 14 UN peace operations, at a cost of US $6.7 billion/year. Ethiopia, Rwanda, Bangladesh, India and Nepal are the top five troop/police contributing countries, while the United States, China, Japan, Germany and France are the top five financial contributors. Canada is ranked ninth.

In recent years, there has been a significant expansion in the range of tasks assigned to UN peace operations by the Security Council, in response to the increasing complexity of conflicts and the need of addressing the root causes of conflict. Today’s peacekeeping missions can be mandated to facilitate intra-state political processes, protect civilians, support elections, promote human rights, assist in restoring the rule of law, and advance the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants.

Strategic importance

Violent conflict, regardless of its source, is a significant driver of forced migration and the illicit trafficking of people, drugs and weapons – security challenges that know no borders. The early resolution of conflicts locally, along with the sustainably of conflict resolution, are key to preventing overflow and exportation of instability around the world. With a peacekeeping budget of less than one-half of one percent of annual global military spending, the UN’s ability to keep pace with the growing demand for peacekeeping faces significant challenges.

Regional and international organizations

Organizations involved in peace operations include: the African Union, through its mission in Somalia; the Economic Community of West African States, which recently intervened to prevent violent conflict in The Gambia; the Commonwealth of Independent States’, which has missions in Georgia and Abkhazia; and, NATO, which conducts training operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Entities such as the Organization of American States and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe also engage in conflict resolution and peacebuilding by deploying non-military ceasefire observation missions.

Ongoing engagement

Canada has sought to identify and support efforts aimed at improving the effectiveness of UN peace operations. Specifically, Canada has:

• pledged contributions of critically needed high-end military capabilities (such as medical evacuation helicopters deployed to Mali);
• established the Vancouver Principles on the prevention of use and recruitment of child soldiers in contexts where the UN operates and practical guidance on how to operationalize them – 94 countries have endorsed these principles;
• launched a five-year global project (the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations) to expand the meaningful participation of uniformed women in UN peace operations; and,
• invested in innovative training to align resources to needs and provide targeted, mission-appropriate capacity-building to UN peacekeepers.

Canada’s engagement in UN peace operations has enhanced Canada’s status as a country committed to the effective advancement of international peace and security. Canada’s current assessed annual contribution to the UN’s peacekeeping budget amounts to 2.92 percent (US $196 million/per year). As of July 2019, Canada was ranked 63rd in country contributions with 150 uniformed personnel in six missions: UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (107); UN Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (19); UN Mission in South Sudan (11); UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (8); UN Truce Supervision Organization in the Middle East (4); and, UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (1). With a contribution of 0.2 percent of forces [ * ] Canada’s UN contributions complement its efforts within NATO and other organizations, and add credibility to its initiatives.

Canadian Armed Forces international operations

Issue

• The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are an integral part of Canada’s efforts to promote Canadian values and protect Canada’s national interests.

Canadian position

• Canada’s security and prosperity depend on global stability and order as well as on a credible collective defence.
• CAF domestic and international operations focus on ensuring Canada remains secure, continues to prosper, and exerts a positive influence on the international stage.

Background

Canada remains among the safest and most secure countries in the world. However, the international landscape is shifting and many of the current threats and challenges transcend national borders. Increasingly, instability abroad can directly undermine Canada’s security and prosperity. Thus, defending Canada and Canadian interests not only demands robust domestic defence, but also requires active engagement abroad.

Deploying Canada’s military abroad

To deploy Canada’s military abroad, the Government of Canada exercises the Crown prerogative (the powers and privileges accorded by common law to the Crown). The Crown prerogative may be exercised by Cabinet, the Prime Minister, the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs jointly, or by the Minister of Defence alone. The sensitivity, complexity and risk to CAF members are factors in determining the level of authorization required. For a ministerial authorization, it is customary to inform the Prime Minister of the decision.

Military operations

• Europe: Security and stability in Europe is essential for the advancement of Canada’s strategic interests. Canada is engaged in several operations in Europe to promote security and stability on the continent. Operation REASSURANCE is Canada’s contribution to NATO’s deterrence and defence efforts in Europe and includes approximately 930 CAF personnel. This includes a multi-national land battle group in Latvia, a Maritime Task Force in the Mediterranean Sea, and a rotational Air Task Force to Romania. Operation UNIFIER is part of Canada’s overall effort to help bolster security and stability in Ukraine. Approximately 200 CAF personnel are deployed to Ukraine to provide tactical-level training to Ukraine’s security forces.
• Middle East: The Middle East contains three active areas of conflict (Syria, Iraq and Yemen). In the Middle East, Canada works with partners to advance regional peace and stability. Operation IMPACT is the CAF contribution to Canada’s whole-of-government strategy to address the causes of instability caused by Daesh. It includes contributions to both the Global Coalition Against Daesh and NATO Mission Iraq. Canada deploys up to 850 CAF personnel in support of the Global Coalition Against Daesh, NATO Mission Iraq, and bilateral defence capacity building activities with the Jordanian and Lebanese Armed Forces.
• Asia-Pacific: As a Pacific nation, Canada is committed to being a reliable player in the region through consistent engagement and strong partnerships that balance national security and regional objectives. The most visible deployment of the CAF to the Asia-Pacific is Operation NEON, which is Canada’s contribution to multinational efforts to monitor and deter North Korean maritime sanctions evasion activities. Canada periodically deploys a naval frigate, [ * ] and Long Range Patrol Aircraft to monitor maritime areas where North Korean sanctions evasion activities are taking place.
• Africa: Security challenges in Africa, such as terrorism, irregular migration and kidnapping for ransom, have implications far beyond the continent. The UN, among other international actors, is actively engaged in addressing these issues. In Africa, the CAF work through a whole-of-government approach to advance Canada’s objectives, including Canada’s commitments to UN peacekeeping operations.
  
  The CAF currently have nine ongoing operations in Africa, three of which are UN peacekeeping operations. The most prominent is Operation PRESENCE, which includes commitments to provide specialized military capabilities to UN peacekeeping operations. Canada has committed to provide an air task force (completed), tactical airlift support (ongoing), and a Quick Reaction Force, as well as innovative training support.

Nuclear issues

Issue

• [ * ]

Canadian position

• Canada supports robust international non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament policies in pursuit of its commitment to build a more peaceful and secure world.

Background

Nuclear-armed states are investing significantly to modernize their arsenals, though North Korea is the only state to have conducted nuclear test explosions in the 21st century. [ * ]

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (or Iranian nuclear deal) entered into effect in 2015 with the aim of constraining Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon. [ * ]

• Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons: Frustrations over the slow pace of nuclear disarmament led to the negotiation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which calls for a total ban on nuclear weapons. [ * ]
• Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: This treaty is the key global instrument to promote nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. In June 2019, Canada participated in the Swedish Ministerial Meeting on Nuclear Disarmament. This diverse group of non-nuclear weapons states reaffirmed the importance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as the cornerstone of the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime and called for progress on disarmament.
• Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Priorities: Canada has worked to advance a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty to prohibit the production of highly-enriched uranium and plutonium. As a supported of nuclear disarmament verification, Canada is one of only two countries that have provided both financial and technical support to the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification. Canada promotes the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
• Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technology: Canada is a de facto permanent member of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s decision-making body, the Board of Governors. Canada supports nuclear cooperation through legally binding bilateral agreements with partner countries. In addition to its role on safeguards and verification, Canada supports the International Atomic Energy Agency’s capacity-building, notably its Technical Cooperation Programme, as well as its efforts to enhance the security of nuclear and radioactive materials worldwide to reduce the threat of nuclear terrorism.
• Easing International Tensions: Canada has supported efforts to reach a diplomatic solution in which North Korea completely, verifiably and irreversibly dismantles its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. [ * ]

Counterterrorism and countering violent extremism

Issue

• International efforts on counterterrorism and countering violent extremism remain at the top of the global security agenda [ * ]

Canadian position

• Canada advocates for a coordinated and global civilian-led approach to counterterrorism and countering violent extremism that reinforces a rules-based international order and respect for democracy and human rights.
• Canada works both bilaterally and multilaterally to advance a coordinated global response [ * ] to address violent extremist and terrorist use of the Internet.

Background

Canada, in both its domestic and international efforts to counter terrorism, aims at ensuring the safety and well-being of Canadians while advocating for the protection of human rights, privacy and fundamental freedoms (including free speech and freedom of the press). Canada engages with international partners, including the Five Eyes, G7, and the Global Counterterrorism Forum, which Canada co-chairs with Morocco. Since 2016, Canada has invested $38 million annually to support international counterterrorism and countering violent extremism capacity building. Programming targets reintegration and disengagement strategies and aims to reduce terrorist threats by strengthening community resilience, supporting community policing, and improving communication between communities, civil society and security providers.

Canadian extremist travellers

The territorial collapse of Daesh has drawn fresh attention to the fate of the thousands of Western extremists detained in Syria and Iraq, as well as those who continue to fight in the region. More than 40,000 fighters are estimated to have travelled from outside the region. [ * ]

Violent extremist and terrorist use of the Internet and online hate

Canada has worked closely with its G7 and Five Eyes allies to address violent extremist and terrorist use of the Internet and online hate. Along with 17 other governments and eight technology companies, Canada signed the May 2019 Christchurch Call to Action to eradicate terrorist and violent extremist content online. This initiative outlined voluntary commitments for governments and technology companies to address violent extremist and terrorist use of the internet, and has had significant influence in G7 and Five Eyes discussions. The Christchurch Call signaled the need to establish protocols in emergency situations to remove violent extremist and terrorist content, including safeguards for legitimate news reporting. [ * ] is pursuing G7 concurrence on a Digital Charter that would go well beyond violent extremist and terrorist use of the Internet in encouraging Internet companies to address online harms.

The G20 Osaka Leaders’ Statement on Preventing Exploitation of the Internet for Terrorism and Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism also sent a message to technology companies to improve efforts to prevent, identify, remove and deter the upload of terrorist and violent extremist content. At the recent Five Country Ministerial meeting, Interior Ministers tasked their Countering Violent Extremism Working Group with facilitating exchanges on all forms of violent extremism and terrorism.

Other complementary work is proceeding in the Jordan-led Aqaba Process, launched by King Abdullah in 2015. This works towards countering attempts by terrorist and extremist groups to exploit technology, the Internet and social media platforms.

Foreign cybersecurity threat

Issue

• Malicious state-sponsored cyber acts affect national security and economic prosperity interests. Addressing these threats requires both better security at home and coordinated international actions.

Canadian position

• Rules and norms in cyberspace are critical, but they must be supplemented with measures to impose costs on hostile actors.

As a country with its own cyber capabilities, Canada is well positioned to help shape an international strategic framework for cyberspace and advance Canada’s international peace and security interests. Canada has been pursuing a two pronged strategy: 1) to develop and promote universal understanding of appropriate State behaviour in cyber space; and, 2) to develop coordinated mechanisms among like-minded countries to hold malicious actors to account and impose costs upon them.

Rules and norms in cyberspace

For Canada and like-minded countries, the major forum for advancing discussions on responsible state behaviour in cyberspace is the UN Group of Governmental Experts, which is focusing on advancing international consensus on norms of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace. [ * ]

Deterrence, attribution and response

Canada and its allies consider malicious cyber acts to be a major threat and believe that malicious actors will change their behaviour only when the costs outweigh the benefits. Canada’s objective is to promote and reinforce the international order by imposing costs on those that engage in malicious activity prohibited under international law or otherwise unacceptable under non-binding international norms or deemed a threat to Canada’s security or interests. Deterrence begins with strong cyber defence, led by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (as part of Communications Security Establishment), to make it harder for malicious actors to gain access to systems of importance. Deterrence in cyberspace is also about what Canada is prepared to do to respond to the threat. [ * ]

Defending Canada and its interests against cyber threats is a shared responsibility. As such, Canada is working with a group of likeminded countries, [ * ] For example, G7 Leaders announced the establishment of the Rapid Response Mechanism at the 2018 G7 Summit in Charlevoix, which Canada coordinates on an ongoing basis. The Rapid Response Mechanism is now fully operational, with foundational documents negotiated, annual plan in place and information related to threats systematically flowing through the Rapid Response Mechanism network. Its Coordination Unit has stood up at Global Affairs Canada and has incorporated its activities within broader Government of Canada efforts to safeguard the Canadian 2019 Federal Elections.

Cyber as a tool of statecraft

Communications Security Establishment now has the mandate to conduct foreign cyber operations, which will provide Canada with the cyber means to respond to serious foreign threats, international crises, or events as part of a broader strategic approach and based on Canada’s foreign policy objectives. Communications Security Establishment could be authorized to proactively stop or impede foreign cyber threats before they damage Canadian systems or information holdings, and conduct online operations to advance national objectives. [ * ]

International assistance

Issue

• Canada provides significant international assistance through the International Assistance Envelope. This assistance reflects enduring Canadian values, is significant to a number of Canadian bilateral relationships, and advances multilateral, foreign, trade and peace and security objectives.

Canadian position

• Canada’s international assistance supports poverty eradication in developing countries, promotes peace and security, and addresses the humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable following crises or natural disasters.

Background

Over one billion fewer people are living in extreme poverty today than in 1990. However, some 700 million people continue to live in extreme poverty. While there is an overall decrease in poverty levels, insecurity in fragile states, protracted and ongoing humanitarian crises, continue to result in growing needs for international assistance.

Canada’s international assistance is an important pillar of Canada’s broader foreign policy objectives and advances Canada’s interests at home and abroad, while reflecting enduring Canadian values. Addressing poverty, inequality and underdevelopment, support Canadian peace and security objectives. Contributing to international assistance is important to a number of bilateral relationships and promotes Canada’s ability to influence global discussions about issues of international concern.

Developing countries are important economic partners and sources of global growth. As their economies stabilize and grow, Canada has opportunities for mutually beneficial trade relationships. Canada is committed to domestic implementation of the globally adopted 2030 Agenda, which includes 17 universal goals. The Canadian domestic plan to implement Agenda 2030 falls under the mandate responsibilities of several domestic departments and the leadership of the Department of Employment and Social Development.

Canada has been an active investor and partner with other countries since the 1950s. Canada’s international assistance totalled over $6 billion in 2017-18. Global Affairs Canada delivers the vast majority of these investments, and the fiscal allocation portion comes from the IAE. The Ministers of International Development, Foreign Affairs, and Finance, co-manage this funding and are responsible for establishing the eligibility criteria for activities funded by the international assistance envelope, promote alignment and coherence across the international assistance envelope, and for ensuring performance results of the envelope. The international assistance envelope consists of six pools: 1) Crisis Pool; 2) Strategic Priorities Fund; 3) International Financial Institutions Fund; 4) Core Development; 5) International Humanitarian Assistance; and, 6) Peace and Security.

The Crisis Pool is allocated $200 million per fiscal year and is used to respond to unanticipated crises or an escalation of an existing crisis requiring a Canadian response that is beyond existing budget resources. Accessing Crisis Pool funding requires the approval of the Prime Minister. The Strategic Priorities Fund is an annual allocation of $200 million and supports the Prime Minister’s priorities. Funding for international financial institutions supports mandatory Canadian assessed contributions to international financial institutions, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Asia Development Bank. These contributions are managed by the Department of Finance. The international assistance envelope also funds Canada’s official development assistance through core development, which is largely allocated to Global Affairs Canada and under the purview of the Minister of International Development. The international humanitarian assistance pool is also under the responsibility of the Minister of International Development. To promote global security and conflict prevention, stabilization and peacebuilding, this funding is allocated to Global Affairs Canada and is under the purview of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

According to the Official Development Assistance Act, Canada targets its international assistance to where it can have the greatest impact on the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable, including those living in fragile contexts. Canada disbursed official development assistance in over 130 countries in 2017-18. Programs are tailored to respond to specific needs in each country, while building on Canadian value-added. Canada promotes innovative approaches to delivering international assistance and encourages experimentation and scaling-up of sustainable solutions, for example using new technology for health services. Canada has expanded its development financing toolkit to more effectively support private sector engagement and resource mobilization. This includes the ability to take equity stakes, or offer loans and guarantees. Canada launched a development finance institution in 2018 (FinDev Canada). An institution under Export Development Canada, FinDev Canada is capitalized at $300 million. It has the mandate to provide financial services to the private sector to combat poverty through economic growth. The following ten countries received the highest disbursements of Canada’s assistance in 2017-18: Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mali, Nigeria, Jordan, Bangladesh, Syria, Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The thematic focus areas of Canada’s international assistance are currently as follows. These have evolved over years in response to changing needs, opportunities and Canadian priorities:

• Gender equality
• Global health
• Education and skills development
• Humanitarian assistance
• Economic development
• Climate change and environment
• Governance (political and economic)
• Peace and security

Canada is committed to internationally agreed development effectiveness principles, including the importance of countries leading their own development, focussing on results, working in inclusive partnerships, and promoting transparency and accountability. Canada’s international assistance is delivered through diverse partners, including governments, non-governmental organizations, international bodies and private sector entities. Canada is increasingly working in multi-stakeholder partnerships, because effective development cooperation requires the resources and engagement of all stakeholders to achieve results. Partner organizations are selected based on their capacity to deliver results, and an analysis of past performance.

Canada delivers its international assistance through complementary channels:

• Geographic: Provides funding directly to implementing partners and supports technical assistance to other countries.
• Multilateral: Provides funding to multilateral and global organizations.
• Partnerships: Engages Canadians and Canadian organizations in international development.
• Humanitarian: Delivered through experienced humanitarian partners who are responding to crises. This can include United Nations agencies, the Red Cross Movement, or non-governmental organizations.
• Peace and Security: Programming delivered through geographic, multilateral, and partnership channels with the aim of promoting peace, security and stabilization.

International trade

Issue

• Canada is a trade dependent economy faced with softening global growth due to deteriorating economic conditions, geopolitical tensions and increasing protectionism.

Canadian position

• Canada seeks to ensure predictable and increased access to international markets for Canadian goods, services, capital, and investment. Trade diversification can help in assisting Canadian businesses fully capitalize on international opportunities, and thereby maximize Canada’s economic growth opportunities.
• Canada has been actively seeking to reform and reinforce the multilateral trading system (please see separate brief on World Trade Organization Reform).

Background

Trade is crucial to the Canadian economy. In 2018, total trade (exports plus imports) accounted for 66 percent of Canadian GDP. Trade exports also support a considerable proportion of employment, with one in six Canadian jobs linked to exports.

As global trade growth has slowed in the face of growing trade tensions and protectionism, Canada faces the challenge of maintaining open and transparent rules-based trade. Canada critically depends on a strong multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core, helping to enforce rules, transparency and predictability, and also engages in trade related discussion in other multilateral fora, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), G7, and G20. Canada also continues to use negotiations, litigation and advocacy to protect and advance its trade interests.

Canadian trade remains heavily weighted towards the United States (U.S.), accounting for three-quarters of Canada’s merchandise exports (and more than half of imports) in 2018. A large proportion of Canadian exporters sell only to the U.S. and, of those who move into new markets, most export first to the U.S. Continued stability and predictability in this commercial relationship is a key priority, including through ratification and implementation of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) (please see separate brief on CUSMA).

While goods exports to the U.S. climbed by 5 percent in 2018, exports to non-U.S. destinations grew even faster, up almost 10 percent. In this way, Canada’s concentration of trade with the U.S. has remained high, but has actually decreased over the last two decades while expanding with other markets. In support of businesses expanded interest in market abroad, Canada now has 14 bilateral and regional trade agreements in force covering 51 countries and two-thirds of global GDP.

Recently implemented trade agreements include the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The CETA has been provisionally applied since 2017⁵, including all economically significant parts of the agreement (e.g., tariffs, origin and tariff-rate quotas, services commitments). The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership entered into force for seven of the 11 signatories in 2018⁶. Another four members⁷ are pending ratification, and the Parties are working to prepare for the possible accession of new economies.

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Larger firms account for the bulk of Canada’s international trade. While the continued international success of these firms is critical, there would likely be benefits from broadening and diversifying Canada’s exporter base. For example, while Canada’s small and medium-sized enterprises account for most of the businesses in Canada and provide nine in 10 private-sector jobs, only about 12 percent of small and medium-sized enterprises currently export. Further, as Canada seeks to position itself as a leading innovation and knowledge economy, it will be crucial to get businesses from a more diverse set of sectors – especially from the technology, science and digital fields – to scale-up through trade. A vibrant innovation ecosystem is coming into its own in Canada, but that ecosystem’s capacity to deliver strong economic results will depend on fostering a trade-oriented mind-set among its constituent entrepreneurs. At the same time, any efforts to encourage further trade diversification and/or to broaden and diversify Canada’s exporter base must balance the objective of increasing prosperity with economic security risks.

There are several federal organizations mandated to help Canadian businesses succeed in foreign markets. These include: 1) Trade Commissioner Service (Global Affairs Canada): a network of over 1,300 trade professionals around the world who help Canadian businesses develop international strategies, connect with foreign customers and partners, and overcome challenges entering markets abroad; 2) Export Development Canada: a Crown corporation that provides financial products and services to Canadian exporters and their customers to facilitate sales; 3) Canadian Commercial Corporation: a Crown corporation that helps Canadian exporters sell to foreign-government buyers through government-to-government contracts; and, 4) Invest in Canada: a departmental corporation launched in 2018 with a mandate to promote foreign direct investment into Canada and coordinate FDI attraction efforts among government, private-sector, and other stakeholders.

Other foreign policy issues

Sanctions

Issue

• Sanctions are imposed in order to compel changes in behaviour by certain countries or actors; to send a strong message in support of the rule of law and human rights; to combat corruption; to deter potential impunity and criminality; and, as a measure of last resort to avoid recourse to stronger means by the United Nations and like-minded allies such as the use of force.

Canadian position

• Canada applies sanctions as part of its wider suite of foreign policy and national security tools. Wherever possible, Canada seeks to impose sanctions in concert with other countries to optimize their effectiveness, enhance their political legitimacy, and diminish the likelihood of sanctions evasion.

Background

Sanctions listings are implemented through the regulatory process. Canada has three separate pieces of legislation authorizing the imposition of sanctions:

1. Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law)
   
   The Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act came into force in October 2017, and allows Canada to directly target foreign nationals responsible for or complicit in gross violations of internationally-recognized human rights or acts of significant corruption in foreign states. Since 2017, Canada has designated 70 individuals from Myanmar, Venezuela, South Sudan, Russia (in relation to the case of Sergei Magnitsky) and Saudi Arabia (in relation to the extrajudicial killing of Jamal Khashoggi) under the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act. Canadians are prohibited from dealing with listed individuals, effectively freezing their Canadian assets. Listed individuals are inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
2. Special Economic Measures Act
   
   The Special Economic Measures Act came into force in 1992, and allows Canada to impose sanctions against a foreign state, as well as individuals and entities related to that foreign state. It can be used in four types of situations: 1) grave breach of international peace and security resulting in a serious international crisis; 2) when an international organization to which Canada belongs calls on its members to take economic measures against a foreign state; 3) when gross and systematic human rights violations have been committed by the state; and, 4) in response to acts of significant corruption. Measures could include: a dealings ban; restrictions or prohibitions on trade; restrictions or prohibitions on financial transactions or other economic activity between Canada and the target state; and/or, restrictions on activities such as the docking of ships or landing of aircraft from the foreign state in Canada. Canada currently imposes sanctions under the Special Economic Measures Act on 11 countries – Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Russia, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
3. United Nations Act
   
   The UN Security Council may decide what measures member states shall take to restore or maintain international peace and security. Such a decision imposes a legal obligation on UN member states to introduce the measures into domestic law. In Canada, this is done through regulations under the United Nations Act. Thirteen countries are currently subject to UN sanctions: Central African Republic, Mali, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Yemen. Canada also imposes UN sanctions against individuals and entities associated with terrorist activities, including Daesh, Al-Qaida and the Taliban.

Outlook

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Canada has enhanced engagement with public and private stakeholders to facilitate and improve compliance with sanctions measures, including through outreach activities, enhanced communication, and more user-friendly public information (e.g., updated website, handouts) and is also working to improve whole of government coherence and coordination on sanctions compliance.

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Arctic policy

Issue

• As international interest in the Arctic region increases, Canada’s effective engagement, multilaterally and bilaterally, will be essential to ensuring the Arctic remains peaceful, stable and secure.

Canadian position

• Canada is committed to ensuring the Arctic remains a region of peace and security grounded in a rules-based international order, and will project its interests through domestic investments and by driving international priorities in the Arctic and Antarctic.
• A product of Canadian diplomacy, the Arctic Council continues to be the preeminent forum for Arctic cooperation.

Background

The Transformation of the Arctic: While the Arctic is known for a high level of cooperation, emerging pressures may make cooperation more challenging in the future. Climate change is opening access to the Arctic’s natural resources and waterways, and is leading to shifts in the geostrategic calculus by Arctic and non-Arctic states alike.

[ * ]

Recent years have, however, also seen the conclusion of a number of important legally binding agreements governing the Arctic such as the Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean, and the International Code of Safety for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code). A potential ban on heavy fuel oil in the Arctic is being considered by the International Maritime Organization.

Arctic Policy: The Arctic is a vital element of projecting Canadian sovereignty. The federal government’s Arctic and Northern Policy Framework was co-developed with territorial, provincial and Indigenous partners. It sets out a long-term, strategic vision that is intended to guide the Government of Canada’s activities and investments in the Arctic to 2030 and beyond. It identifies three key international priorities: 1) strengthen the rules-based international order; 2) clearly define Canada's Arctic boundaries; and, 3) broaden Canada’s international engagement on the Arctic and north. [ * ]

With the exception of Hans Island, Canada’s sovereignty over the lands of the Canadian Arctic archipelago is not disputed. The waters of the Canadian Arctic archipelago, including the “Northwest Passage,” are considered by Canada to be internal waters by virtue of historic title, giving Canada an unfettered right to regulate those waters. [ * ] the situation has been well managed through the 1988 Canada-U.S. Arctic Cooperation Agreement, according to which the U.S. government seeks Canada’s consent for its icebreakers to navigate the waterways.

Canada also works through the Arctic Council, the preeminent forum for Arctic cooperation, which brings together the eight Arctic states, six Indigenous peoples’ organizations, and 13 observer states to advance sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic. While the Council has a strong record of cooperation [ * ]

Climate change international commitments

Issue

• Growing scientific evidence and public concern over the impacts of climate change is building international momentum for climate action. The Paris Agreement has become the primary vehicle for global climate action and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction.

Canadian position

• In support of the implementation of the Paris Agreement, Canada is working with a variety of actors (e.g., sub-nationals, private sector, civil society, indigenous communities) to meet its commitments domestically and globally and to pursue economic opportunities presented by the transition to a clean economy.
• Canada is taking an innovative approach to mobilizing private sector financing and partnering with multilateral development banks and bilateral partners to help remove barriers to private investment.
• Canada is delivering $2.65 billion over five years to support developing countries, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable, in their transition to clean and climate-resilient economies.

Background

Climate change is shaping the international agenda, including within key international institutions and fora, such as the G7 and G20, in addition to other dedicated meetings such as the Conference of the Parties, the highest decision making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The Paris Agreement: Following years spent securing political commitments from all countries to reduce GHG emissions, the Paris Agreement (the Agreement) was adopted under the UN Framework on Climate Change in 2015, and ratified by Canada in early 2016. The 186 countries that have ratified the Agreement include China, the United States (U.S.) and India, and account for more than 95 percent of global GHG emissions. Under this Agreement, countries will collectively strengthen the global response to climate change by:

• limiting global warming to well below 2°C, while pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C;
• increasing the international community’s ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change; and,
• making global financial flows consistent with low-carbon and climate resilient development.

In June 2017, the U.S. announced its intent to withdraw from the Agreement, effective November 2020 at the earliest. [ * ]

Some countries have announced new and more ambitious commitments, including the EU, which will increase its nationally determined contribution target in 2020. A number of other countries, including France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom, have recently announced commitments to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 or earlier. Further, there is some interest globally in using mechanisms like tariffs or other trade barriers against countries that fail to meet climate targets, in an effort to enforce climate commitments.

Canada’s Engagement: In November 2015, in support of the Agreement, Canada pledged $2.65 billion over five years to help developing countries, in particular the poorest and most vulnerable, address climate change and transition to a low-carbon, sustainable economies. This financing supports the collective climate finance goal of donor countries to mobilize US$100 billion per year by 2020 from a wide variety of sources. Canada’s support is being delivered through a variety of channels, including through the financial mechanism of the Agreement, the Green Climate Fund, and a number of multilateral and bilateral initiatives.

Consular issues

Issue

• Canada’s consular policy framework and consular services face unique challenges in the form of high-profile, complex cases [ * ] which require multi-faceted interventions and attract a high volume of media attention.

Canadian position

• Consular Policy Modernization: A renewed consular strategy was published in June 2019 to meet current operational needs and challenges.
• High-profile, Complex Cases [ * ]

Background

Global Affairs Canada provides consular services in more than 260 points of service in 150 countries. In 2018, 215,400 new cases were opened. Most (97 percent) are of a routine or administrative nature (e.g., passport services and proof of citizenship applications) and are typically resolved quickly and directly at the mission. The remaining cases require complex interactions involving intensive engagement with local authorities, host governments and Canadian stakeholders, including provincial and territorial partners and service providers.

Two essential components of the consular program are: a) providing Canadians with information and advice on situations, circumstances and trends that may affect their safety and security abroad; and, b) ensuring that the consular network has the tools and skills to deliver professional consular services. In June 2019, the department unveiled its renewed consular strategy, built around four strategic pillars: 1) Consular Diplomacy in Action; 2) Client-Focused Service; 3) Active Engagement; and, 4) Targeted Partnerships.

Canada cooperates bilaterally and multilaterally with partners on topics such as the treatment of dual nationals and prisoners, emergency management, complex family cases, and the sharing of resources. Canada has several active bilateral agreements, including with Australia, Lebanon, the United Kingdom and Mexico.

[ * ]

Response to international natural disasters and complex international emergencies

Issue

• The impact of international emergencies continues to grow in scope and complexity. Canada is expected to meet the needs of Canadian citizens requiring assistance and to contribute to global emergency responses.

Canadian position

• Canada works to ensure timely and integrated responses to international emergencies in order to assist Canadians and to advance Canadian objectives. This is a whole-of-government effort and there are a number of government tools that can be deployed in response to any given situation.
• Canada’s international humanitarian assistance pool is within the reference levels of Global Affairs Canada and is used to respond to natural disasters and conflicts, to help save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain the dignity of affected populations in the aftermath of a conflict or natural disaster.

Background

Canada’s response to international natural disasters and complex emergencies takes place in an increasingly challenging context. Since 1975, there has been a five-fold increase in natural disasters, the impact of which has been significant: between 2005 and 2015, over 700,000 individuals died, 1.4 million were injured, and an estimated 1.5 billion people were affected in some way as a result of natural disasters. The total economic loss during the same timeframe was over $1.3 trillion. Concurrently, complex international emergencies have intensified. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ Global Trends Report for 2018 describes the number of people fleeing violence as the highest recorded since World War II, with the number of people displaced by conflict reaching 70.8 million last year, up from just over 43 million a decade ago.

Though large-scale natural disasters generally cause short-term spikes in humanitarian needs, complex and protracted humanitarian crises account for the bulk of humanitarian needs. In 2018, 86 percent of funding allocated by Canada was for crises that have lasted longer than five years. Among these crises are the ongoing conflicts in Syria, Yemen and South Sudan. Canada also responded to other high priority crises, including in the Lake Chad basin, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Haiti and Venezuela.

Canadians may be directly or indirectly affected by an emergency abroad. Canadians made 3.3 percent more trips overseas to non-United States destinations in the first half of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018. While increased connectivity and social media have strengthened awareness of emergencies [ * ]

How emergency responses are managed

Global Affairs Canada maintains a 24/7 monitoring and reporting capacity through an Emergency Watch and Response Centre. When Canadians abroad are affected and in need of assistance, they can access this Response Centre through a 24/7 phone and email service. When responding to emergencies, Canada tailors the response to the scale and scope of Canadian interests at stake. As required, a whole-of-government Interdepartmental Task Force may be convened to coordinate Canada’s approach. A number of tools may be deployed, including a consular-focused Standing Rapid Deployment Team, and the humanitarian-focused Canadian Disaster Assessment Team, which is comprised of Global Affairs Canada and Department of National Defence experts. These tools enable timely responses to ensure Canadians in distress receive assistance and, at the same time, that Canada is present to address the humanitarian needs of local populations. Canada also has the capacity to deploy relief supplies to an affected country, along with experts to support an international humanitarian response. Under the authority of the Minister of International Development, Global Affairs has a pool of funding that supports Canadian contributions to international humanitarian efforts. When a crisis exceeds existing resources, the Ministers of International Development and Foreign Affairs may request the approval of the Prime Minister to access the international assistance envelope Crisis Pool, which is allocated $200 million each year. In circumstance where there is high public attention to a crisis, the government may also decide to launch a Matching Fund, wherein cash donations of Canadians to registered humanitarian organizations are matched by the government.

Canada works closely with like-minded international partners, including trusted humanitarian partners such as the World Food Programme, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and the United Nations Refugee Agency, to ensure needs are properly assessed and met. Canada’s response is proportionate to needs and is guided by humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, humanity and independence. Canada also works with like-minded to ensure the greatest possible reach and service to Canadians during crises.