Canada’s Membership of International Organizations “Canada’s current and future prosperity depends on an international framework of rules that provides access to growing world markets and keeps pace with changes in technology, business practices, social priorities and public interests.” Organization Description World Trade Organization (WTO) North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) Established in 1995 Multilateral institution through which global trade rules are negotiated and enforced. Established 1994, joining Canada, the US and Mexico forming the world's largest free trade area. La Francophonie The Commonwealth The Group of 8 (G8) (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK, USA) The United Nations Established in 2005, the FTAA is a collaboration among 34 democratic governments in the Americas, to ensure prosperity, democracy and free markets for goods and services in the hemisphere. Now includes 50 states and governments, which, united by the links created by their shared use of the French language, want to benefit from multilateral co-operation, and use these links to promote peace, cultural exchanges and development. -Is a voluntary association of 54 diverse countries spread world wide, interacting through a network of governmental and non-governmental links. -Canada played a leading role in the Commonwealth's efforts to peacefully dismantle apartheid. -Objective is to strengthen international institutions by using a co-operative and consensus-building ability to deal with major issues and to contribute to negotiating and implementing agreements. -Established in 1975 by 6 leaders of major democratic countries. Canada joined in 1976 and Russia in 1998. -Meet annually (summit) to discuss current world political and economic issues. Objective is to maintain international peace and security; to develop friendly relations among nations; to cooperate in solving international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems and in promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in attaining these ends.