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Canada

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Last updated: 19 June 2009

Country information

International relations

Relations with neighbours

Canada has particularly close relations with its immediate neighbour, the United States of America. US President Barack Obama made his first official overseas visit to Canada in February 2009. The United States is Canada’s main trading partner and with Mexico, comprise the North America Free Trade Association (NAFTA). Canada and the US are both members of NATO. The United States remains Canada's most important bilateral relationship, which includes joint Canadian and US membership of the NORAD defence alliance.

Canadian relations with the international community

Canada is a strong supporter of the World Trade Organisation and of the World Trade Organisation and of expanded free trade areas. The other strand in foreign policy includes the promotion of international peace/security through multilateral bodies and of respect for human rights/human security (e.g. on landmines, where the Canadians were instrumental, strongly supported by UK, in concluding the Landmines Treaty in 1997). Canada has made a substantial contribution to stability in Afghanistan. Canada commanded ISAF V until August 2004 and their current contribution to ISAF numbers around 2,500 troops. In April 2008, the Canadian Parliament voted to extend the Canadian deployment to Afghanistan by two years until 2011.

Canadian relations with the UK

The UK/Canada bilateral relationship is strong. Both countries work together across a wide range of bilateral and international initiatives.

Cultural relations with the UK

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for educational and cultural relations. In its support of cultural relations between the UK and Canada, the British Council works closely with British diplomatic posts and trade promotion agencies. The focus is now largely on climate change. More information is available on the British Council website.

Recent visits

The Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper visited Britain  in July 2006, May 2008 and most recently in April 2009 for the G20 London summit. Prime Minister Stephen Harper also called on Her Majesty The Queen. Canadian Defence Minister, Peter MacKay, visited the UK and met the Foreign Secretary on 16 February at the Foreign Office. Minister Peter MacKay was previously the Canadian Foreign Minister and visited London in February 2006 and Northern Ireland in May 2007 in that capacity. Prime Minister Tony Blair made his first visit to Canada (Ottawa) in February 2001.

Other high level visits to Canada within the past two years have included previous FCO Minister Dr Kim Howells to Ottawa in February 2008 and Montreal followed by Vancouver, British Columbia in July 2008.  The then Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, in June 2006, FCO Minister, Douglas Alexander, the Scottish First Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State DEFRA, and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Baroness Scotland, Minister of State at the Home Office, in February 2007.  Lord West visited Ottawa in June 2008.

Diplomatic representation

UK Representation in Canada

Canadian High Commission, London

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