Canada-Colombia Relations

Fact Sheet: General country information, political and economic data.

Beginning of Diplomatic Relations

Diplomatic relations between Canada and Colombia began in 1953 with the opening of a Canadian Embassy in Bogotá under Ambassador Edmond Turcotte, previously Canada's Consul General in Caracas. The first Embassy of Colombia opened in Ottawa that same year under Ambassador Carlos Martinez Aparicio, a prominent newspaper publisher. The partnership built upon an already healthy trade relationship between the two countries. Earlier that year, Canada's Trade and Commerce Minister, the Rt. Honourable C.D. Howe, had taken a group of prominent Canadian business people and government advisers on a five-week trade mission to 10 Latin American and Caribbean countries, including Colombia.

Over the past 50 years, diplomatic relations have expanded to include bilateral political relations, academic and cultural relations, development assistance, immigration services, and cooperation in the areas of security, landmines and connectivity.

Key Issues

• Peace Process: Canada supports a negotiated solution to the Colombian conflict, and participated in peace talks with the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) during the former Pastrana administration as one of the Group of 10 facilitator countries. We continue to work, with like-minded countries and international organizations, to lay the foundations for peace. As a member of the Troika of the Group of 24 (G-24) donor countries in 2004, and as Chair of the G-24 from January to June, 2005, Canada coordinated international participation in the International Coordination and Cooperation Meeting for Colombia, held in Cartagena February 3-4, 2005.

• Terrorism: In solidarity with the Colombian government's efforts to end the internal conflict, and as part of Canada's own contribution to the global campaign against terrorism, the Government of Canada has listed Colombia's three illegal groups — the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), the ELN (National Liberation Army), and the AUC (United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia) — as terrorist entities under two separate pieces of legislation, the UN Suppression of Terrorism Regulations (UNSTR) and the Criminal Code. With these listings, which have been applied equally to all three groups, Canada joins with other nations that believe many actions of these groups constitute terrorism and can no longer be tolerated. An end to terrorist acts is, in our view, essential for a future peace process to be successful.

• Human Rights: The protection of human rights in Colombia is a priority for the Canadian government. We speak out against abuses each year in multilateral fora, including the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the UN General Assembly, and the International Labour Organization, and we make direct representations to the Colombian authorities when opportunities arise. We also hold annual consultations with NGOs on human rights in Colombia. The Canadian Embassy in Bogota has sought to improve the human rights climate by meeting regularly with human rights officials, providing strong and visible support to vulnerable groups and individuals, including human rights defenders, and by accompanying the return of displaced people to their communities.

Trade and Investment

International Trade Canada is responsible for positioning Canada as a world business leader and for promoting Canada as a dynamic place to do business. Visit the International Trade Canada web site for information about services for Canadian companies, non-Canadian companies, business development, and information relating to investment or trade policy.

Indigenous Relations

Learn more about the Aboriginal dimension of Canada's relations with countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Development Assistance

CIDA supports projects in the Americas and around the world that are eligible for Canadian aid through development cooperation initiatives.

April 2005