Canada has played an increasingly important role in the United Nations since 1945. Over the last fifty years Canada has continued to evolve into a multicultural nation that has proceeded with a multilateral approach towards international affairs. Canada's multilateral approach in reaching international consensus is the result of a widely held value in Canada that the collectivist approach toward solving problems is the path to prosperous international relations. International events and agreements that Canadians have supported include:
Peacekeeping in the Suez Crisis 1956.
Korea 1950-53.
Canada's internationally recognized peacekeeping efforts around the world.
The Canadian International Development Agency : CIDA.
The Ottawa Accord: International land mines ban.
The establishment of an International Court of Justice to prosecute international criminals for crimes against humanity including genocide.
The Kyoto Protocol: International agreement on harmful emissions and environment.
UNICEF: United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.
NEPAD : New Economic Plan for African Development.
the creation and promotion of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Other international organizations that Canada is a member of include:
OAS : Organization of American States
NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NORAD: North American Air Defence
FTAA: Free Trade in the Americas
NAFTA: North American Free Trade
APEF: Asian Pacific Economic Forum
la Francophonie: An association of French speaking nations in the world
The British Commonwealth
To do:
(note: the links below will open in new windows so that your instructions/information is also available to work with)
Follow the link in this step to retrieve a graphic organizer (Microsoft Word). Print this document and complete it after following steps #2 and #3.
Visit the Historica website and view the Heritage Minutes related to Canada's international involvement since 1945. (Use the search tool at this website to achieve this)
Conduct further research on the internet using:
The government of Canada-Canadians in the world: Department of Foreign Affairs
www.google.ca with the agreements, events, and organizations listed above as key words in your search.