Services
World Trade Organization (WTO)Creating opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses through active participation in the WTO is a central part of our trade strategy. Our Global Markets Action Plan includes reinforcing the multilateral trading system through various next-generation agreements, and addressing barriers to trade and investment through targeted advocacy, troubleshooting and dispute settlement. The WTO provides a framework for pursuing those objectives on a global scale. Canada has been a member of the WTO since January 1, 1995.[22]
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The Arctic Council
The Arctic Council is the leading multilateral forum through which Canada advances its Arctic foreign policy and promotes Canadian Arctic interests internationally. It was established in Ottawa in 1996 with the Ottawa Declaration.
It is a consensus-based, high level intergovernmental forum that works to promote the environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainable development in the Arctic region. The Arctic Council comprises the eight Arctic States: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden and the United States. Canada was the first Chair of the Arctic Council from 1996 to 1998.[23] |
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum was established in 1989 and has become the pre-eminent economic forum in the Asia-Pacific region. Its primary purpose is to facilitate economic growth and prosperity in the region, with the vision of creating a seamless regional economy. APEC pursues these objectives through trade and investment liberalization, business facilitation and economic and technical cooperation.
Canada was a founding member of the APEC forum in 1989 and has been active in helping APEC achieve its current status. Canada has helped advance APEC's core work streams of regional economic integration through its involvement across more than 30 APEC forums, including committees, working groups and sub-forums.[24] |
Inter-American Development Bank(IDB) |
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) |
Canada in the IDB Background
Canada has been a strong and reliable partner of the Inter-American Development Bank since 1972. Canada contributes just over 4 percent of the bank’s ordinary capital. The Canadian government has consistently demonstrated its commitment to the IDB and its goals of reducing poverty and inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean. Canada has been a significant contributor to the IDB’s Multilateral Investment Fund, a leading promoter of microfinance in Latin America and the Caribbean. As part of Canada’s engagement in the Americas, Canada continues to strengthen its links with its Latin American and Caribbean neighbors. The Canadian government’s commitment to promoting a more prosperous, secure and democratic hemisphere is exemplified by its support for Haiti. Canada has hosted annual meetings of the IDB Board of Governors on three occasions: in 1978 (Vancouver), in 1990 (Montreal), and in 2011 (Calgary).[25] |
Canada’s Delivery on Host-State Commitments to ICAO
Canada has been the host state to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) since 1947 and, along with its Quebec and Montréal partners, remains strongly committed to the organization. The Government of Canada renewed its hosting agreement with ICAO for another 20 years and delivered on additional commitments to the organization: Canada completed major renovations to the ICAO premises to better accommodate the 38th ICAO Assembly in the fall of 2013 and future conferences, and increased services and outreach, including at the ministerial level , to the ICAO community. Canada and its partners continue to work hard to deliver optimal services to the ICAO community in its Montréal home.[26] |