Report2009-The Americas Eng

8/9/2019 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.


3/22< Priorities and Progress

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.


4/224 Canada and the Americas >

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)



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.



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



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



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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YouthenjoyingtheircomputerfacilitiesattheMuseo de los Nios , San Jose, Costa Rica

< 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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AGuatemalanteenagegirlweavingatraditionalindigenoushandicraft

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.

IDRCPhoto:NeilMckee



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*



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



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



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



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



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.



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.



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


19/22Canada and the Americas > Annex

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.


20/220 Canada and the Americas > Annex

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.


21/22Canada and the Americas > Annex

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.


22/22

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.

Documents

Report2009-The Americas Eng