Canada-Saint Lucia relations
On this page
Bilateral relations
Canada and Saint Lucia have enjoyed longstanding diplomatic relations since 1979, when Saint Lucia gained independence. Our relationship is based on multilateral cooperation, shared values of democracy, rule of law, and strong people-to-people ties, including through tourism. Canada is home to approximately 7,280 Saint Lucians.
Canada and Saint Lucia actively collaborate bilaterally and in multilateral forums, such as the Organization of American States, the Commonwealth, and the United Nations on issues of mutual importance, from climate change to regional security. Canada also represents Saint Lucia on the Board of Governors at both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Canada is represented in Saint Lucia by the High Commission of Canada in Barbados, which opened in 1967. Saint Lucia is represented by a non-resident High Commissioner, based in Washington, D.C., and a Consulate General in Toronto.
Trade relations
Commercial relations between Canada and Saint Lucia are modest but have potential for growth. In 2025, bilateral merchandise trade with Saint Lucia totaled $20.0 million, with exports valued at $19.5 million and imports at $543.2 thousand. Please see Canada’s international trade and investment country fact sheet for Saint Lucia for additional details.
Saint Lucia is a beneficiary of CARIBCAN – a non-reciprocal economic and trade development assistance program established in 1986 that provides 18 Commonwealth Caribbean countries and territories with preferential access to the Canadian market through the Commonwealth Caribbean Countries Tariff (CCCT), allowing the vast majority of imports from CARIBCAN beneficiaries to enter Canada duty-free.
Related links
Development
Canada’s international assistance supports Saint Lucia’s efforts to foster resilient economies, climate action, and regional security and stability. Canada works with local, regional and international partners to help communities strengthen resilience to climate change and natural disasters, promote sustainable economic growth, improve food security, advance gender equality and social inclusion, and strengthen institutions that contribute to safety, stability, and prosperity. These efforts help Saint Lucia address development challenges while creating opportunities for a more resilient and sustainable future.
Canada supports Saint Lucia’s efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness, response and recovery through organizations such as the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and the Caribbean Development Bank. In September 2025, Canada renewed a Memorandum of Understanding with CDEMA to improve tactical mobility coordination for enhanced disaster response. Canada continues to advocate for small island and low-lying states in the Caribbean, who are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change like rising sea levels and extreme weather events.
A principal means of support in the Caribbean is technical assistance and training to increase the capacity of governments and organizations. For instance, the Canada-CARICOM Expert Deployment Mechanism provides technical assistance to CARICOM governments, including Saint Lucia, to help diversify and strengthen the economy, build climate resilient communities, and reduce gender and economic inequalities. Another collaborative initiative is bringing Canadian and Saint Lucian institutions of higher education together for technical and vocational training in the climate sector.
Information on Canadian development initiatives is available on Project Browser.
Saint Lucia benefits from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.
Security
Canada and Saint Lucia enjoy strong cooperation in enhancing security in the region, collaborating through Canada’s Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP). Canada’s current commitment to Saint Lucia is $1.7 million (2026) through regional programming to strengthen law enforcement, judicial, and operational responses to organized crime. In September 2025, Canada announced a $20 million investment to strengthen maritime security in the Caribbean. This funding supports regional and international partners, including CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), INTERPOL, UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and the Regional Security System (RSS), to strengthen regional cooperation and information sharing, enhance maritime domain awareness, improve operational readiness and investigative capacity, and assist in legislative and judicial updates and reforms.
Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to global challenges, Canada and Saint Lucia work closely in multilateral fora, such as:
- Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
- Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
- The Commonwealth
- Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- La Francophonie
- Organization of American States (OAS)
- Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
- United Nations (UN)
- World Bank (WB)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
- Date modified:
