Canada-Ecuador Bilateral Relations

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

Beginning of Diplomatic Relations

Canadian official contacts with Ecuador date from the early 1960s, although Canadian railway and mining engineers and Protestant missionaries have worked in Ecuador since the turn of the century. In 1960, the first Ecuadorian Ambassador appointed to Canada was officially accepted by the Canadian government. The following year, the Canadian Ambassador to Colombia, Jean Morin, was accredited to Ecuador. Today the Canadian Ambassador to Ecuador continues to promote the development of relations between the two countries in the areas of politics, trade and the economy, and investment.

Key Issues

• Democracy:, Good Governance, and Human Rights:
  Ecuador , with six presidents in eight years, suffers from chronic instability. There has been increasing political violence since December 2004, when supporters in Congress of President Lucio Gutierrez voted to replace 27 of the 31 Supreme Court judges with their own political allies, and to dissolve the Electoral Court, the Constitutional Court, and the Judiciary Council. The political unrest has been characterized by strikes, protests, massive anti- and pro-government marches, and attacks against critics of the government. The human rights situation is a concern.

• Impact of the Colombian conflict on Ecuador:
  Security in the northern part of the country is a major concern for the Government of Ecuador. Aerial spraying of coca fields in southern Colombia and the Colombian government's military offensive against the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) guerrillas in southern Colombia have pushed refugees as well as insurgent and drug-related activities across the border into Ecuador, causing a rise in violent crime. The Embassy is working with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to resettle as refugees in Canada those Colombians at greatest risk.

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