Download - Report2009-The Americas Eng
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Government
of Canada
Gouvernement
du Canada
Canada and
the Americas Priorities& Progress
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Her Majesty the Queen in Right o Canada, 2009Catalogue number: FR5-41/1-2009ISBN 978-0-662-06708-5
This publication is also available in French.
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Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the Colombian Integral Rehabilitation Centre in Bogota, Colombia, during his visit to Latin
America and the Caribbean in July 2007
OfceothePrimeMinis
terPhoto:JasonRansom
In July 2007, Prime Minister StephenHarpers tour to South Americaand the Caribbean launched a newbeginning or Canadas engagementin the western hemisphere.During his visit, the Prime Minister
described the governments visionor Canada and the Americas:
Since then, Canada has beenully and actively engaged witha number o partners in theregion to advance a wide range ocommon interests rom tradeand investment to education, rom
development assistance to sharingo best practices and inormationon pandemics, and rom policingto the monitoring o elections.In November 2008, the PrimeMinister underlined Canadascontinuing commitment to theAmericas through the appointmento a Minister o State o ForeignAairs with special responsibility
or the Americas. With a sustained,collaborative and consistent eort,working with partners in thehemisphere over time, Canada cancontribute to ensuring that citizensin the region see improvements
now and in the uture.
The Americas are and will remaina oreign policy priority orCanada. Canadians have muchto gain by being involved in theregion, and they also have much tocontribute. As the region tacklesthe current global economic crisis,Canadas economic leadership
Canadas government has made it clear that re-engagement in the Americasis a critical international priority for our countryCanada is committed to
playing a bigger role in the Americas and to doing so for the long term.
Prime Minister Stephen HarperJuly 17, 2007
A more democratic,prosperous, and secureregion that creates stabilityand opportunity or its
citizens.
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Why the Americas matter to Canadians
and membership in the G8 andG20 are valued by its neighbours.Indeed, Canadas economic model,based on open markets, prudentand appropriate regulation, andresponsive and equitable social
policies, is attracting signicantattention rom other countries in
the region and beyond. Regionalsolidarity and collaboration duringthis dicult period will help theregion weather the downturn,but ongoing eorts are alsorequired or the long term. This is
a message Prime Minister Harperbrought to his meetings with
hemispheric leaders at the FithSummit o the Americas inTrinidad and Tobago in April 2009.
The purpose o this report is toprovide an overview o priorities
and progress to date in achievingCanadas vision or the Americas.
Canada is a country o theAmericas. By geography, historyand multi-aceted relationshipsbetween states, in terms o trade,immigration and cultural and
social exchanges, the Americas isa region o strategic domestic andinternational interest or Canada.
An important segment oCanadians come rom the region.As a country o reuge, Canadahas welcomed new immigrantsduring periods o civil unrest inLatin America, rom Chile in the1970s to Central America in the
1980s. Today, over 11 percent oCanadian immigrants come romLatin America and the Caribbean,including Mexico. Indeed, thereare over 70 Latin America and
Caribbean diaspora organizationsacross Canada. The three largestdiaspora communities are rom
Jamaica, El Salvador and Haiti.
But Canadas ties to the region arebroader and deeper than theserecent migratory fows. Througha long history o commerce,investment, development, militaryassistance, immigration and
the promotion o democraticvalues, Canada has established areputation as a reliable partnerand a principled participant whosevoice and infuence count.
Canadas interests and relations inthe region align with three mainobjectives which orm the basis oCanadas vision and engagementin the Americas: democraticgovernance, prosperity andsecurity.
%G
row
thYearoverYear
World
8.2
20.2
5.8
21
0.92.3
7.2
29.5
14
16.5
Latin America & Caribbean
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Annual growth in Canadian merchandise exports,
2004-2008*
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
*Excludes Mexico
*Source: Statistics Canada (Preliminary data subject to revision)
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Democratic governance is important to Canadian interests and relations in the regionbecause:
Despitetheadvanceofrepresentativedemocracyandoveralleconomicgrowthintheregion,poverty,inequality,
exclusion and marginalization, including along ethnic and racial lines, continue to persist in the Americas.
Theproliferationofdrugtrafckingandthewebofcorruptionandviolencethataccompaniesitalsothreatenthedemocratic abric o the Americas neighbourhood.
Thesocialandeconomicchangerequiredintheregioncanonlybeachievedthroughasustained,coherenteffort.
Strong democratic institutions, ree and open media, credible political parties, an independent judiciary and a
vibrant civil society are necessary or the political health o the region.
On economic interests and relations, the Americas matter to Canadians because:
Inthepastdecade,theAmericashavewitnessedsustainedgrowthwiththeadoptionofprogressivemacroeconomic
policies.Canadahasbenetedfromthesedevelopmentsthroughincreasedtradeandinvestmentwiththeregion.
Canadaseconomicengagementintheregionisalsobasedonthepremisethatincreasingtradewithcountriesinthe
Americas can have a positive impact on democratic reorms and security issues.
In2008,ourexportstoLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean,excludingMexico,totalledmorethan$8.6billion.Thisgure
represents about a 30 percent increase in exports to the region rom 2007, compared to a 7.2 percent increase in
exportsworldwideoverthesametime.Duringthisperiod,CanadasimportsfromLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean
amountedto$13.7billion,resultinginatotalofmorethan$22billioninbilateraltradein2008.
In2007,foreigndirectinvestment(FDI)fromCanadatotheAmericas,excludingMexicoandBermuda,stoodat
$94.9billion,anumberthatisthreetimesthesizeofCanadianinvestmentinAsia($32.4billion).Investmentinthe
regioniscreatingjobsathomeandabroadwhilealsoincreasingourtrade.
CanadianbankinginterestspredominateintheCaribbean,extendingthesecurityofsoundbankingpracticeintimes
whenotherfnancial sectors are beleaguered.
On security interests and relations, the Americas matter to Canadians because: Thepeople-to-peopletiesbetweenCanadaandtheregionareincreasing.In2007,over4millionCanadians
travelledtoLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean,includingMexico.Inrecentyears(2005-2007),thenumberof
Canadians visitingthe region has increased on average eight percent annually.
PeoplefromotherpartsoftheregionarecomingtoCanadainincreasingnumbers.Canadahasbecomethesingle
largestdestinationforstudy-abroadprogramsforBrazilianyouth.SeasonalmigratorylabourersowtoCanadafrom
the Caribbean, Mexico and Central Americaandserveasanexampleoforderlyexchangeoflabour,withclearmutual
benefts.
Inadditiontobenets,increasingpeople-to-peopletiesbetweennationsalsohaveconsular,securityandhealth
implications.Organizedcrime,naturaldisastersandpandemicstranscendbordersandcannotberesolvedwithout
regionalcollaboration.Theglobaleconomicdownturnmayfurtherexacerbatecrimerates,aseconomiesslow
downandremittancesmoneysenthomebydiasporaworkinginCanadadecrease,particularlyinCentralAmericaandtheCaribbeanwheretheyaccountforalargeshareofgrossdomesticproduct(GDP).
Simply put, Canadas commitment to democratic governance, economic prosperity and security is
closely linked with those o our hemispheric neighbours. What aects the Americas has a directimpact on Canada. Canada is well placed, by our location, our contacts and by our reputation, tomake a dierence.
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Engagement in the Americas Canadas Vision
Canadas oreign policy approach to the regionis based on three interconnected and mutually-reinorcing objectives:
Democratic governance: to strengthendemocratic institutions, practices and principles thatdeliver reedom, human rights and the rule o law;
Prosperity: to build dynamic and growingeconomies, and promote responsible investmentand open markets that will create newopportunities and jobs;
Security: to enhance regional stability and securityby addressing the threats o drugs, organized crime,health pandemics and natural disasters.
This is a long-term vision. While Canada has viewsand experience, it does not have a monopoly onsolutions or a complex and diverse hemisphere.Canadas engagement in the region is unique,refecting its own history, interests and ideals.Canada is committed to advancing these objectivessimultaneously, recognizing that neither sustainable prosperity and growth nor equitable development and strongdemocratic governance can fourish in an environment o insecurity. Clearly, democracy is at risk when personalsecurity and the possibility to improve living standards are compromised.
The advancement o this vision requires a sustained, consistent and ocused eort that is based on the
ollowing instruments:
Reinforcing bilateral relationships:
Canada is strengthening its relations with key bilateral partners to deliver on common objectives, pursue mutualinterests, and advance shared values in the Americas.
Strengthening regional organizations:
Canada is working closely with regional multilateral institutions such as the Organization o American States (OAS),the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Pan American HealthOrganization (PAHO), and the Summit o the Americas to search or joint solutions to hemispheric challenges.
Bolstering Canadian partnerships:
Canadas engagement in the Americas is a whole-o-government priority, but it is also advanced through the work
o other organizations, such as provinces and territories, Crown corporations, the private sector,non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academics and experts, and diaspora rom the Americas.
Expanding Canadas presence:
Canada is also increasing its diplomatic presence in the region through high-level visits by the Governor General,the Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers, as well as by increasing the deployment o Canadian civil servants inthe coming years.
Canadas Vision in the Americas
Democratic
GovernanceProsperity Security
Reinforce bilateral relationships
Strengthen regional organizations
Bolster Canadian partnerships
Expand Canada's presence
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Canadas engagement in the Americas is guided by its vision, and is advanced through these collaborative instruments.Throughout this report are examples o Canadas engagement in the Americas. They are intended to demonstratehow Canada is making progress on the governments vision or the Americas through the right mix o bilateral,multilateral and partnership instruments, to ensure eective, meaningul results. Rather than being exhaustive, theyare illustrative. Consult the Annex or a more detailed listing o Canadas activities, or visit www.americas.gc.ca.
Instruments and capacity
OutsidetheUnitedStatesandMexico,Canadahas27
embassies, high commissions and ofces in the Americas.
TheCanadianInternationalDevelopmentAgency(CIDA)
disbursed$492.1millionindevelopmentassistanceinthe
Americasin2007-2008.Majorrecentcommitmentsfor
assistanceincludea$600millioninvestmentover10years
in the Caribbean, focused on governance and private
sector development.
TheInternationalDevelopmentResearchCentre(IDRC),aCrowncorporation,currentlysupports
approximately160activeprojectswithpartnersin
Latin America and the Caribbean.
Morethan80Canadianuniversitiesandcollegeshave
academicagreementswithpartnerinstitutionsinthe
region to promote exchanges among students.MinisterofStateofForeignAffairs(Americas)PeterKent,withOASSecretaryGeneralJosMiguelInsulza
A mechanical systems engineer on board HMCS St. JohnsdelivershumanitarianaidtoalocalcitizeninPortauPrince,HaitiinSeptember2008
DNDPhoto:MCplEduardoMoraPineda,FormationImaginingServices
DFAITPhoto
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Democratic governanceObjective: to strengthen democratic institutions, practices and principles that deliver reedom,human rights and the rule o law
Abusydowntowncommercialarea,SanJose, CostaRica
The Americas have madeimportant progress toward theconsolidation o democracy.The Inter-American DemocraticCharter symbolizes a regionalcommitment toward democracy.Emanating rom the 2001 QuebecCity Summit o the Americas andsigned that same year in Peru, thecharter mandates governments topromote and deend democracy.
Canada is delivering on this
objective by ocusing onmultiple elements o democraticgovernance such as ensuringree and air election results,supporting independent civilsociety and media outlets, aswell as working with multilateralorganizations in the region.
In Bolivia, or example, Canada issupporting the electoral system toensure that there will be ree andair results, strengthening judicialinstitutions and promoting reeand open media outlets. CIDAsupported Bolivias NationalElection Commission in organizingree and air elections in 2005,which resulted in the highest voterturnout in 25 years. To continueimproving accountability and
transparency, CIDA also helped todevelop an independent nationalombudspersons oce in Boliviaby training and supporting 4,000public servants by mid 2007.Given growing social tensionsin Bolivia, Canada assisted inthe development o an anti-discrimination campaign that wasbroadcast by more than 125 radioand television stations.
Rights & Democracy workin the Americas
Rights&Democracyisan
independentinstitutionwitha
mandatefromCanadasParliament
to promote human rights and
democratic development abroad.
ThroughitsprogramsinHaiti,
Colombia and Bolivia, Rights &
Democracyaimstostrengthen
democratic institutions and practices;
tofostergreaterstate-society
dialogue around human r ights; to
promote the political participation
ofwomenandindigenouspeoples
inmunicipalgovernmentandwithin
political parties; to reinorce state
capacity to ulfll international human
rights obligations; and to promote
justice and reparations or victims o
human rights violations.
IDRCPhoto:YvesBeaulieu
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< Priorities and Progress
Foreign Aairs and InternationalTrade Canadas (DFAIT) GlynBerry Program has allocatedover $1 million o its democracysupport unding to the Americas.Part o this unding has supported
the development o a strongand vibrant civil society, ree andopen media outlets, and researchnetworks ocusing on democracyissues in the region. For example,in March 2008, Canada supportedthe OAS convening a specialmeeting o the PermanentCouncil with representativesrom civil society to examinethe contribution o civil societyorganizations to strengtheningdemocratic culture in thehemisphere.
Canada has also supported thecreation o the rst broad-basedcivil society network o democracychampions in Latin America. Thenetwork provides over 90 civilsociety organizations with thespace to exchange best practices
and develop strategies or thedeence o civil society in theregion, and increase awarenessin the international communityabout the challenges acing civilsociety. Similarly, Canada supported
the development o the AndeanDemocracy Research Networkwhich produces timely, impartialand high-quality assessments odemocracy in the Andean region.The network also provides a orumto analyze and debate ways tostrengthen the implementation othe Inter-American DemocraticCharter.
Another example is Canadassupport to the Carter Center
which has acilitated a series oworkshops with journalists andmedia proessionals to addressthe political polarization in theVenezuelan media. With Canadassupport, the Carter Center hasalso engaged with governmentsto encourage the application othe Inter-American Democratic
Charter and to assist citizen groupsand other domestic actors thatwork in concert with the Chartersprinciples to tackle the root causeso potential democratic crises.
Building transparent andaccountable institutionsin Haiti
Canada recognizes that institutions
arethebuildingblocksof
democraticgovernance.Tothis
end,Canadaisworkingwith
Haiti to transorm the police, the
judiciary and the prison systems
into proessional and accountable
institutions.Inpartnershipwith
the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police(RCMP)andCorrectionalServicesCanada(CSC),DFAIThas
acilitated the deployment o police
and correctional ofcers to the
UnitedNationsStabilizationMission
inHaiti(MINUSTAH)toprovide
practical advice that has led to
security sector reorms.
IDRCPhoto:YvesBeaulie
u
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0 Canada and the Americas >
At the multilateral level, Canadacontinues to strengthen and workwith the OAS on its key prioritieso democracy and security. Asthe second largest contributorto the OAS in both assessed andvoluntary contributions, Canada issupporting a strong OAS role inthe hemisphere. Canada has beena steadast supporter o the OASGood Oces Mission to Colombiaand Ecuador, which is workingto acilitate condence-buildingbetween those two countries.
Canada also unds the OASMission to Support the PeaceProcess in Colombia, which hasoverseen the demobilizationo over 30,000 paramilitaries;and the OAS Special Missionto Haiti, which is contributingto strengthening the electoralprocess. Canada has contributedthroughout the years to OASelectoral monitoring missions inthe region, and supported ninemissions in 2007-08 with bothnancial and human resources.
Indigenous democraticgovernance project
CanadasIndigenousPeoples
PartnershipProgram(IPPP)has
established74projectstofoster
partnershipsbetweenCanadian
aboriginal entities and indigenous
communities in Latin America
and the Caribbean that promote
social connections and inclusion
through training, dialogue and
sharingofgoodpractices.Between
July2007andDecember2008,17
newdevelopmentinitiativeswere
unded, bringing together indigenous
communitiesin10countriesBolivia,
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa
Rica,Ecuador,Guatemala,Guyana,Nicaragua,andPeruwithCanadian
aboriginal partners.
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ProsperityObjective: to build dynamic and growing economies, and promote responsible investment andopen markets that will create new opportunities and jobs
Until the current global nancialdownturn, the Americas hadexperienced several years osustained economic growth,with signicant evolution in themacroeconomic policies o mostcountries demonstrated by greateropeness to trade and investment.According to the EconomicCommission or Latin Americaand the Caribbean (ECLAC), theregional domestic growth rate was
4.6 percent in 2008.
In this region o dynamic economicopportunities, Canada is pursuingrobust bilateral and regional reetrade agreements (FTAs), doubletaxation agreements, oreigninvestment protection agreements,stronger nancial and bankinginstitutions, and a developmentassistance agenda.
Canadas experiences with the
North American Free TradeAgreement (NAFTA) and FTAswith Chile and Costa Rica have
resulted in wealth and job creationin all the countries involved. Basedon these results, Canada signedFTAs with Peru and Colombia in2008. These initiatives also includeparallel agreements on labour andenvironment standards that commitCanada and its partners to workingtogether to ensure high levels oprotection or workers and theenvironment.
Canada is also currently advancingthe negotiation o FTAs withPanama, Dominican Republic,the Caribbean Community(CARICOM), and the CentralAmerica Four (Guatemala,Honduras, Nicaragua andEl Salvador). To advance Canadascommitment to trade liberalization,CIDA has developed an $18 millionTrade-Related Technical Assistance(TRTA) Program to assist FTApartners in the Americas. This
support will assist partners inmaximizing the benets o increased
trade and investment as meansto reduce poverty and promotesustainable development.
A snapshot o trade andinvestment in the region
TherelationshipbetweenCanadaand Brazil has advanced throughtheyears.Theyareamongthe
top10largestsourcesofFDI
ineachotherseconomies,and
both are major exporting nations
and energy producers. Canada
has identifed Brazil as a priority
marketinitsGlobalCommerce
Strategy, and is increasing its
presence in Brazil by opening
twoadditionaltradeofces
in2009,inPortoAlegreand
Recie, or a total o fve. Similarly,
BrazilsExportandInvestment
PromotionAgency(APEX)has
made Canada one o its top
prioritymarketsin2009.The
recent purchase o Inco by Vale
o Brazil has propelled Brazil to
therankofseventh-largestsource
ofFDIinCanadaandthelargest
source rom Central and South
America.
Merchandisetradebetween
Canada and Chile has more thantripledsincetheCanada-Chile
FreeTradeAgreementcame
intoforcein1997,growingto$2.5billionin2008.According
to Industry Canada, Canada is
the largest source o oreign
investmentinChilesmining
sector.
10,000
9,000
8,000
7,000
6,0005,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
02001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
*Excludes Mexico
*Source: Statistics Canada (Preliminary data subject to revision)
$Millions(C
AD)
Canadas merchandise exports to Latin America
and the Caribbean, 2001-2008*
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Economic prosperity, however,extends beyond trade andinvestment. For example, it includesthe environmentally and nanciallyresponsible management o naturalresources. To this end, CIDA is
assisting the government o Peru inimplementing a new natural gas andregulatory mining ramework. Parto this work involves strengtheningthe capacity o Perus Ministry oEnergy and Mines to create andimplement environmental guidelinesby using inormation technologyto increase transparency andmanage decentralized public unds.In Cuba, Canadian developmentassistance has ocused on preparing
or participation in the globaleconomy, such as developing thenascent taxation system required tosustain a higher degree o privateenterprise and activity. CIDAunding has also helped introducemodern auditing techniques andpractices throughout the country inorder to improve the managemento state resources.
Strong Canadian partnershipshave increased and diversiedeconomic ties between Canadaand the hemisphere. In 2008,Export Development Canada(EDC), which supports trading
eorts by Canadian businesses inLatin America and the Caribbean,supported over 1,300 Canadiancompanies that were ready toexport. Business volume was closeto $10 billion, representing anincrease o more than 40 percentover 2007.
Another example o Canadianpartnership is the work undertakenby the Canadian CommercialCorporations (CCC) eorts inemerging and developing countries.
Over the past ve years, CCChas provided approximately$900 million in opportunitiesor Canadian exporters, almostall in Latin American andCaribbean markets. The bulk o
these opportunities have beenin inrastructure sectors such astransportation, water and energy.
Canada also recognizes thatinormation and communicationtechnologies are essentialcomponents o a prosperousregion. For this reason, the IDRCis working with the IDB toanalyze practices and regulatoryrameworks in Latin America anduse inormation and communicationtechnologies in public procurement.
NewInternationalAirportinQuito,Ecuador,a$413millionprojectthroughtheCanadianCommercialCorporation
$0.0 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000
Mexico
South America
Caribbean
Central America
Source: Statistics Canada (Preliminary data subject to revision)
Canadas Bilateral Merchandise Trade with
Latin America and the Caribbean (by sub-region), 2008
$Millions(CAD)
$23,740.4
$15,982.5
$4,864.0
$1,545.5
CCCPhoto:Aecon
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Security threats in the region rangerom crime, violence and drugs tohealth epidemics and natural disasters.
These challenges transcend territorial
boundaries, aecting Canadians and
other citizens in the Americas. The
economic downturn - whose impactsinclude reduced remittances and
employment opportunities - also
risks deepening security challenges
in the months and years ahead.
Canadas anti-crime eorts in the
region are largely conducted through
the United Nations Ofce on Drugs
and Crime (UNODC) and the
OAS Inter-American Drug Control
Commission (CICAD). Canadasannual contributions provide support
or eorts in the region to address
drug control, corruption and human
trafcking issues, provide training
and technical assistance aimed
at improving international legal
cooperation, and support mentoring
programs and criminal justice reorm,
among other eorts.
Canada is closely engaged with
counterpart customs administrations
in the hemisphere to secure its
borders. The Canada Border Services
Agency (CBSA) has a network o
16 border ofcers posted in the
Americas, whose mandate includesinterdiction, cargo examination,
intelligence liaison and anti-raud
activities.
Canada also plays a role in enhancing
transportation security through
aviation and marine networks. In
particular, Canada co-chairs (with
Colombia) a regional consultative
group and unds capacity-building
activities through the Group o
Experts on Aviation Saety, Security
and Assistance, a committee o the
Summit o the Americas process.
SecurityObjective: to enhance regional stability and security by addressing the threats o drugs, organizedcrime, health pandemics and natural disasters
HerMajestysCanadianShipIroquois, joined by HMC Ships Calgaryand Protecteur,inApril2008leavingforasix-monthmaritimesecuritymissionthat
beganwithsurveillanceoperationsintheCaribbean
DNDPhoto:MCplRobinMugridge,FormationImaginingServices
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Canada is also investing in preventiveand responsive health-relatedinitiatives in the region. The PublicHealth Agency o Canada (PHAC)is supporting the CaribbeanCommunity in creating a pan-
Caribbean Public Health Agency(CARPHA), which will integrateexisting regional health institutionsinto a single, sel-administered,integrated health agency. Byimproving the governance structureo these institutions, Canada isinvesting in their capacity to addresspublic health issues and respondto pandemics. Another initiative isthe IDRCs and CIDAs $6.2 millionsupport to combat dengue ever
in the region by generating a seto good practices to assist aectedcountries in ghting the mosquito-borne disease.
Natural disasters such asearthquakes, hurricanes and foodscan hinder and even reverse acountrys development. Canada has
provided assistance by contributingmore than $10 million to assistHaiti in the wake o the three majorhurricanes in 2008 Gustav, Hannaand Ike. The ship HMCS St. Johns
delivered humanitarian aid in theatermath o these three hurricanes.Moreover, CIDA has contributed$20 million to build a new CaribbeanCatastrophe Risk InsuranceFacility within the World Bank and$20 million to the CaribbeanDisaster Risk Management Program.
Canada has also worked to improvedeence and security cooperationin the hemisphere. Five CanadianDeence attachs are posted inLatin America and the Caribbean.Their primary objectives are tomanage Canadas bilateral deencerelations with the 22 countrieswhere they are accredited, provideinormation collection, initial analysisand reporting capabilities, assist with
international operations and bilateraldeence material cooperation, andprovide advice on military matters toCanadian heads o missions.
ThroughCIDAfunding,CanadianUniversityServiceOverseas(CUSO)volunteershelp
remote amilies gain access to health services, Huallanca, Peru
CIDAfundinghelpstorebuildhomesafterearthquakesandothernaturaldisasters,
Chincha, Peru
CIDAPhoto:JoshuaKrae
mer
CIDAPh
oto:JoshuaKraemer
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The situation in Haiti highlightshow security challenges aremulti-aceted and inter-related.Canadas initiatives in improvingsecurity in Haiti demonstrates theimportance that Canada attaches
to contributing to its long-termstability and development. Since thedeparture o President Aristide inFebruary 2004, Canada has helpedre-establish stability in Haiti and
assisted in longer-term developmenteorts. Over ve years (2006-2011), Canada has committed$555 million to Haiti, and hasbecome its second largest bilateraldonor. In act, Haiti is the largest
beneciary o Canadian developmentassistance in the Americas andthe second largest in the world(ater Aghanistan). Assistance iscoordinated across government
and designed to support three coreobjectives in Haiti: improved accessto basic services, restoration orule o law and reinorcement odemocratic institutions. In addition,the Department o National Deence
(DND) is supporting MINUSTAHthrough the deployment o ourCanadian Forces personnel inkey positions in the missionsheadquarters.
The Global Peace and SecurityFund (GPSF)
ThroughtheGPSF,the
Stabilization and Reconstruction
TaskForce(START)ofDFAIT,
Canada has strengthened the
operational and institutional
capacityofHaitissecurityforces
to help improve security in
communities so that amilies can
liveandworkwithoutfearfor
their personal saety.
Since2005,throughSTART,
Canada has also contributed
atotalof$15millionto
Colombiasconictprevention
and peacebuilding eorts.Ofthis,$2millionhavegone
towardstheOASMissionto
support the Peace Process
inColombia.STARTfunding
supports government and civil
society eorts to investigate
andprosecuteconict-related
crimes, to strengthen transitional
justice programs, and to protect
the rights o vulnerable groups
such as indigenous communities.
ThesefundsalsobolstertheOASsongoingeffortstosupport
demobilization o paramilitary
orces in Colombia.
HerExcellencytheRightHonourableGovernorGeneralMichalleJeanduringhervisit
toHaitiinJanuary2009
OfceoftheSecretaryto
theGovernorGeneral(OSGG)Photo:SgtSergeGou
in,RideauHall
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Port-of-Spain 2009: Canada at the Summitof the Americas
The Summit o the Americas is
a valuable hemispheric orum
that allows Leaders to work
together on issues o prosperity,
security, and democraticgovernance. The Fith Summit
o the Americas, held in Trinidad
and Tobago in April 2009, was
an important opportunity to
address key challenges acing
our region, including restoring
growth and prosperity, promotingenergy security and sustainable
development, enhancing publicsecurity, and consolidating
democracy.
Canada worked very closely
with host Trinidad and Tobago
and other partners in the
region, providing logistical
and substantive assistance toensure the success o the Fith
Summit. The positive outcome
is a promising development
or the renewal o hemisphericrelations. It also demonstrates the
eectiveness o the multilateral
approach that Canada is takingin advancing its priorities in the
Americas: strengthening regional
organizations such as the OAS
and the Summits o the Americas
process to develop joint solutions
to hemispheric challenges.
On the occasion o the Summit
o Trinidad and Tobago, Prime
Minister Harper made importantannouncements that urther
demonstrate Canadas ongoing
commitment to the Americas.
Emerging Leaders
in the Americas
Scholarship Program
Building on the Prime Ministers
2007 scholarship announcement
in Barbados, the new EmergingLeaders in the Americas
Scholarship Program will
promote the development o
uture leaders in the Americas
while strengthening institutional
linkages between Canada and the
Americas or sustained academicand research collaboration. This
$18 million program will award
up to 1600 scholarships or Latin
American and Caribbean students
to pursue studies or do research
in Canada, in areas o study that
serve to address the priorityneeds in these regions.
Support to
the Inter-AmericanDevelopment Bank
In response to the urgent capital
needs identied by the IDB as
essential to an eective response
to the eects o the economiccrisis in the Americas, Canada will
temporarily make available up to
US$4 billion to increase by almost
45 per cent the IDBs lending
capacity. This timely increase in
support to the IDB will providecountries in the region withgreater access to credit to
promote economic growth, an
essential element o economic
recovery.
Bilateral Visit to Jamaica
Following the Summit o the
Americas, Prime Minister Harper
travelled to Jamaica, an important
and longstanding par tner or
Canada. The key issues addressed
during the visit included reinorcing
security-related cooperation,
moving orward on discussions
o a Canada-CARICOM trade
agreement, and the impact o the
world economic crisis. PrimeMinister Harper met with Jamaican
Prime Minister Golding, and
addressed a special joint sitting
o the Jamaican Parliament. The
Prime Minister also announced
a our-year program to support
JamaicasJustice Undertakings
or Social Transormation (JUST)
justice reorm project. The visit
strengthened bilateral ties and
reafrmed Canadas commitment
to orge a mature, mutuallybenefcial partnership with the
broader Caribbean region.
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OfceothePrimeMiniste
rPhoto:JasonRansom
Canada and CARICOM leaders meet during the Summit o the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, April 2009
Canada-Americas
Trade-Related Technical
Assistance ProgramCanada will provide $18 million
over ve years to help countries
that have signed, or are about to
sign, ree trade agreements withCanada. The Canada-Americas
Trade-Related Technical Assistance
Program (TRTA) will provide
advice and training to partner
governments and institutions. It is
aimed at helping trade partners
and potential trade partnersin the Americas maximize the
opportunities and benets o
increased trade and investment.
The key results o this program
will be increased two-way trade
with Canada, improved market
access and better regulatoryreorm, all o which will lead to
aster customs clearances and
improved health, saety and labour
standards or eligible countries
wishing to trade with Canada.
Support to the OAS
Hemispheric Electoral
Assistance Initiative
Canada will contribute $5 million
to the OAS HemisphericElectoral Assistance Initiative,
a program that seeks to help
countries in Latin America and
the Caribbean to improve the
transparency and eectivenesso their elections, including
organization, administration andspending. Support to the OAS
will increase its ability to rapidly
deploy election observers, leading
to increased voter condence
in the democratic processes
and institutions o their country.
This initiative will allow or
increased fexibility in electoral
mission management as well as
leverage multi-donor unding.
For the period 2008-2010 it is
expected that there will be over30 elections in the region, and
the OAS will likely be invited to
observe a number o them.
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Canada and the Americas: partners in the world
The signing o the Free Trade Agreement with Colombia, 2008
Geography has bound Canada
with its partners in the Americas.
Common interests, democraticvalues and respect or cultural
and ethnic diversity provide the
oundation or a uture in which
democratic governance, prosperity
and security or all can become
reality.
Progress towards these goals is
being made, but it is not uniorm
across the region. Lessons willbe learned, new developments
will arise, and strategies will need
to be adjusted along the way to
ensure meaningul results.
The Government o Canada
remains committed to working
with partners in the region andat home, to do its part to build
the best possible uture or the
Americas, or Canadians and or
all citizens o the hemisphere.
Canada is committed to playing a bigger role in the Americas a role that
reflects best practices as well as our identity, our tradition of order andcommunity values and the simple reality that were all in this together asmembers of the western hemisphere.
Prime Minister Stephen HarperJuly 19, 2007
DF
AITPhoto
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Annex: Fulflling Canadas Vision in the
Americas
To complement the specic examples o collaborationin the Americas provided in the main body o thereport, the ollowing pages contain a list o some othe many projects and activities in which Canada isengaged as part o the ullment o Canadas vision inthe Americas.
They are divided into three categories:
1)Buildingcapacityandinstitutions;
2)Reinforcingbilateralrelationsandmultilateral
organizations; and
3)CollaboratingwithcounterpartsintheAmericas.
1) Building capacity and institutions
Justice and legal systems
JusticeCanada,withfundingfromCIDA,isworking
withJamaicasMinistryofJusticeonthemulti-year
JusticeUndertakingsforSocialTransformation
(JUST)program,whichaimstomodernize theJamaican justice system. Alternative disputeresolutionmechanismshavenowbeenincorporated
intoJamaicaslegalsystems,andpolicereports
demonstratefewerviolentincidentsincommunities
participating in the pilot project.
Childrensrightspoliciesandprogramshavebeen
strengthened at the local, provincial and national
government levels and in civil society organizations
withmorethan12,000civilservantsand3,500
communityleadersprovidedwithtraining on thenew Colombian Law on Children and Youth as partofprojectsnancedbyCIDA.
Canada,throughCIDAandtheLabourProgramof
HumanResourcesandSkillsDevelopmentCanada
(HRSDC),isfundingan$8.5millionproject,theInternational Program or Proessional Labour
Administration, to support labour law reorm andenorcement in the Americas.
Anotherexampleistheworkunder takenbyCIDA
in Peru to help establish the oce o the peoplesdeender and strengthen the ability o the state topromoteandprotecthumanrights.In2006,theofce
ofthepeoplesdefenderregisteredmorethan85,000
cases,ofwhich90percentwereresolved.
Health and social well-being
ThePublicHealthAgencyofCanada(PHAC)is
workingwiththeInter-AmericanChildrensInstitute
oftheOAStofulllandpromoteinternationalhealth-
related commitments in the Americas by sharing best
practices and building capacity to address healthchallenges or children and adolescents.
In2008,CIDAannouncedacontributionof$18
million in unding orprojects supporting health, oodin schools and water sanitation or marginalizedyouth in Honduras.
Recognizingthatlocalagentsarebestplacedto
ndhome-grownsolutions,theIDRCislaunchinga
$15millioncompetitionoverthenextveyearsto
support think tanks in Latin America.Long-termfundingwillbeprovidedtoindependentinstitutions
to research social and economic policies that can help
promotegrowthandreducepovertyintheregion.
CanadaisalsohelpingHaitiwithpreventivehealth
programming and is the top contributor to its
vaccination program. Majorvaccination projectshaveimmunizedmorethan850,000childrenagainst
measles,1,150,000againstpolioand385,000against
diphtheriaandtuberculosis.Theseeffortshave
contributed to a decline in the prevalence o theseserious diseases.
Military and police infrastructure
In2008,DFAITthroughtheCounter-Terrorism
CapacityBuildingFund,allocated$4.8millionof
bilateral support to the Caribbean and Central
America.Thiscontributionhasresultedin training olocal police, equipment as well as technical and legalexpertise.
TheshareofDNDsMilitary Training AssistanceProgram allocated to the Americas has risen rom18percentofitstotalbudgetin2005-2008to25
percent(approximately$4million)fortheperiod
2008-2011.TwentyLatinAmericanandCaribbean
countries beneft rom this Canadian program,withBolivia,GuatemalaandHondurashavingbeen
admittedtotheprogramin2008.
ThroughcontributionstotheRegionalPeace
OperationsTrainingCentreinGuatemala,Canada
supports the training o Central American troopswhowillparticipateinUNpeacekeepingmissions,
includingMINUSTAH.
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Aspartoftheirpre-Afghanistandeployment,some
200CanadianForcesengineershavesupported
inrastructure and capacity-building projects inJamaicaandBelize.Theyhaveconstructedclassrooms,
ofces, accommodations, a dining hall and a library
or the Caribbean Junior Command and Sta College
andtheJamaicaMilitaryAviationSchool.Theyalsoparticipatedininfrastructureandcivil-military
relations projects in a Belizean village destroyed by a
tropical storm.
Security
Canadahascontributed$2.5milliontoUNODC
for2008-2009,ofwhichapproximatelyone-quarter
isdevotedtoprogramswithaLatinAmericaand
Caribbeanfocus.Canadascontributionstothe
UNODCandtheTerrorismPreventionBranchhave
provided training and technical assistance to nearly 20benefciary states in the Americas and the Caribbean
to strengthen legal regimes.
DFAITsCounter-TerrorismCapacityBuildingProgram
hascontributed$600,000toatwo-yearcollaborative
initiativebyPAHO,theUniversityofBritishColumbia
(UBC)andtheInfectionControlNetworkofBritish
Columbia, to support occupational health and saety
in the health care sector and the Bioterrorism
PreparednessPlaninTrinidadandTobago.Thistraining
willstrengthen the capacity o health care systemsand health care workers to respond quickly, saelyand eectively to potential bioterrorism threats.
Canadaisproviding$1milliontotheOASInter-
AmericanDrugAbuseCommission(CICAD)and
$1.5milliontotheOASInter-AmericanCommittee
againstTerrorism(CICTE)in2008-09.Thelargest
donortotheCICTE,Canadahasprovided
roughly$6millionforcounter-terrorism capacitybuilding in transport, maritime and aviation security,
documentintegrity,cyber-securityandcritical
infrastructureprotectionsinceitsinceptionin2005.
ThroughCIDA,Canadahascontributed$355million
toColombiasince1972.Forscalyear2007-2008,CIDAprovided$14millioninaidandisfocusingits
bilateral development assistance on childrens rightsand protection and attention to internally displacedpersons (IDPs).Thisincluded$3.0milliontotheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees
(UNHCR)toaddresstheprotectionofIDPs,and
$1.1millioninhumanitarianassistancethroughtrusted
multilateral partners such as the Red Cross and the
WorldFoodProgramme(WFP).
2) Reinforcing bilateral relations and
multilateral organizations
Government-to-government agreements
TheCanada-Chile Partnership Framework(CCPF)
wassignedbetweenPrimeMinisterHarperandPresidentBacheletinChile,July17,2007,toadvance
Canada-Chilecollaborationandtoensureannual
bilateral discussions.
FiveMemorandaofUnderstanding(MOUs)were
enactedundertheCCPFduringPresidentBachelets
visittoCanadainJune2008toadvancecollaboration
on science and technology, scholarships, youthmobility, bilateral investment promotion andsustainable mining.
Air agreements
Canadahasairagreementswith23 countries in LatinAmerica and the Caribbean.
CanadaconcludedOpen Skies agreementswithBarbados(2007),theDominicanRepublic(2008),
andCostaRica(2009).Italsoliberalizeditsbilateral
airtransportagreementwithMexicoin2007and
concludedarstagreementwithPanamain2008.
Research and development
CanadaisworkingwithChileonjoint research anddevelopment activities, through agreements such as:
o MOUsongeospatialknowledgeandsustainable
aquaculturedevelopmentsignedinJuly2007
andMarch2008respectively;and
o FisheriesandOceansCanadaMOUon
sustainableaquaculturedevelopmentsignedin
2008.
Asleadinginnovationpartners,CanadaandBrazil
signed the Science, Technology and InnovationCooperation AgreementinNovember2008during
theMinisterofInternationalTradesvisittoBrazil.
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CanadasworkinHaitigoesbeyondgovernment
andinvolvesotherCanadianpartners.Forexample,
theIDRCiscontributing$2milliontosupport theeorts o Latin American countries to oster peaceand re-establish unctioning institutions in Haiti.Participating research centres in Argentina, Brazil,
Chile,MexicoandUruguayarehelpingpromote,informandcoordinatepoliciessothatHaitis
regionalneighbourscancontributetothecountrys
reconstruction.
Academic relations
Over600 scholarshipsareavailableannuallytopost-secondary students rom the Americas under the
followingprograms:the Canada-Chile LeadershipScholarships; the Canada-Chile Equal OpportunitiesScholarship; the Canada-CARICOM Leadership
Scholarships; and the Emerging Leaders in theAmericas Scholarships.
InLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean,one regionalnetwork or Canadian Studies, 53 Canadian StudiesCentres and 8 Canadian Studies Associationsallowuniversity students and proessors in Argentina, Brazil,
Chile,Colombia,Cuba,Mexico,Paraguay,Uruguayand
Venezuela to learn about Canada through various
activities, such as conerences, roundtables and
Canadianexpertsvisitsonspecicthemes.
Labour and employment agreements
InNovember2008,CanadaandBrazilsigneda
LabourCooperationMOUtopromote betterworking conditions, policies and employmentprograms.
In2001,Canada and BrazilsignedanMOUforcooperationinlabourandemployment,whichwas
thenrenewedin2004andin2007.ThisMOUcovers
industrial relations, labour administration, occupational
healthandsafety,workercompensationsystems,
equityintheworkplace,labourmarketandworkplace
information,andcreationofdecentworkinsmalland
medium enterprises.
CanadasignedaLabourCooperationMOUin
November2007withArgentinatopromotebetter
workingconditions,policiesandemployment
programs.ThisMOUfacilitatesand encouragescooperation, exchange o inormation and bestpracticesbetweenArgentineandCanadianofcials,aswellasunionandbusinessrepresentatives.
Health
PHACisproviding$18 million over our years tosupport PAHOs program on human resources orhealth,HIV/AIDSandsexuallytransmittedinfections,
pandemicinuenzaandinstitutionaldevelopment.
3) Collaborating with counterparts in the
Americas
High-level meetings in Canada
CanadahostedtheConerence o DeenceMinisters o the Americas (CDMA) in Ban romSeptember2-4,2008undertheleadershipof
DND.DefenceministersfromacrosstheAmericas
gathered to discuss mutual concerns and regional
challenges,suchasnaturaldisasters,illicittrafcking,
transnationalorganizedcrime,civil-militaryrelationsandpeacekeeping.Theyalsomadeacontinued
commitmenttoMINUSTAH.TheCDMAalsomade
progresstowardsinstitutionallinkageswiththeOAS.
Sincethemeeting,Canadahaschairedaworking
grouptoexplorewaysfortheCDMAtocooperate
withtheOAStoimprovetheinstitutionalcapacity
oftheconferenceforfollow-upbetweenmeetings.
CanadaisalsoworkingcloselywithBolivia,thehost
ofthenextCDMAin2010,toensureaneffective
handover o hosting responsibilities.
Canadahostedthe28thAnnualMeetingofthe
Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Board oGovernors inHalifaxinMay2008,withCaribbeanheads o governments, ministers o fnance and
development,governorsofcentralbanks,aswellas
representatives rom international organizations and
Canadian fnancial institutions, participating in the
meeting.
InSeptember2008,theDepartmentofCanadian
Heritage organized Ignite the Americas: Youth ArtsPolicy ForuminToronto,whichbroughttogetheryoungleadersandartists,culturalpolicymakers
and industry leaders rom around the hemisphere.
Thiseventfocusedontheimportantrolethatthe
arts and cultural expression play as an engine or
economicgrowth,socialinclusionandpositiveyouth
engagement both in Canada and throughout the
Americas in addressing issues related to poverty,
security and the stability o democratic institutions.
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InFebruary2008,DFAIThostedaDemocracyDialogue entitled Canadian Approaches toDemocracySupportintheAmericas.Itbrought
together143membersoftheCanadian,regionaland
international community to discuss challenges and
opportunities or democratic development in the
Americas.
InMarch2008,DFAIThostedaconferenceorganized
bytheCentreforTradePolicyandLawandthe
CanadianFoundationfortheAmericas(FOCAL)
onCanadasroleintheAmericas,whichledtothe
publication o a special issue on the same topic in theCanadian Foreign Policy Journal.Afollow-upExpertsDialoguemeetingwasheldinFebruary2009todiscuss ongoing challenges and the role or Canada in
the region.
Canadahostedthe83rdRegularMeetingofthe
Directing Council o the Inter-American ChildrensInstituteonOctober15-16,2008.
WesternEconomicDiversicationCanada(WD)
recentlycompletedastudylookingatWesternCanadas potential business opportunities withLatin America.InMarch2009,WDhostedDFAITTradeCommissionersfromLatinAmericaandthe
Caribbean(Argentina,Barbados,Brazil,Chile,Costa
Rica,Cuba,DominicanRepublic,Guyana,Jamaica,
TrinidadandTobagoandDFAIT-Headquarters)
toenhancetheirknowledgeofwesternCanadas
technology capabilities.
Asafollow-uptoabusinessnetworkingeventorganized byAtlantic Canada Opportunities Agency(ACOA)andDFAITonthemarginsoftheCDB
annualmeetingheldinHalifaxinMay2008.ACOA
led a delegation o business leaders and educational
institutionsfromNovaScotiaonatrademissionto
BarbadosandJamaicainJune2008,incollaboration
withEduNovaandNovaScotiaBusinessInc.Afollow-
uptrademissionforNovaScotiacompaniestook
placeinSaintLuciaandJamaicainMarch2009.
High-level meetings in the region CanadahasbeenastrongplayerinoftheSummit
o the Americasprocesssinceitscreationin1994.CanadahasworkedverycloselywithTrinidadand
Tobagoandotherpartnersintheregiontoensurea
successfulFifthSummitoftheAmericasthatwillallow
or eective discussion and measurable results or
citizens o the region.
InJuly2008,HRSDCledtheCanadiandelegationto
the First Meeting o Ministers and High Authoritieson Social Development in the Americas,whichtookplaceinChile.Canadaactivelyparticipated
inmeetingsonissuesofpovertyandinequality
and discussed Canadian experiences by sharing a
documententitledTheInstitutionalizationofSocialPolicyinCanada.
CanadaparticipatedintheMeeting o Ministers othe Americas Responsible or Public Security,whichmet or the frst time under the auspices o the
OASonOctober7-8,2008inMexicoCity.Ministers
identiedcooperativelawenforcementtrainingas
apriorityforfollow-upundertheCommitmentto
PublicSecurityintheAmericas.Ministersrequested
that the OAS Secretariat conduct a easibility study
toidentifyeffectivewaystostrengthenthetraining
andeducationofpersonnelintheregionwith
responsibilities related to public secur ity.
CanadaworkedwiththegovernmentofCostaRicato
hold a workshop on international reugee protectioninCostaRicainAugust2008.Organizedthroughthe
RegionalConferenceonMigrationwiththesupport
oftheUNHCR,thethree-dayworkshopfocused
on legislation and programs or migration patterns.
Representatives o governments and civil society
from12countriesaswellasseveralinternational
organizations attended.
Canadawasinvitedasanobservertotheemerging
Pacic Arc meetings hosted by Latin AmericacountrieswithPaciccoasts,andisalsofollowingthe
development o the Partnership or Prosperity in theAmericas (PPA) as an emerging vehicle or dialogue.