Canada and the Commonwealth

On this page

• History
• Mandate and institutions
• Intergovernmental organizations
• Commonwealth Secretariat
• Commonwealth of Learning
• Commonwealth Foundation

History

The modern Commonwealth is a values-based association of 56 countries, most with historic links to the United Kingdom and home to 2.7 billion people over five continents.

Canada first joined the British Commonwealth as an independent state in 1931. The modern Commonwealth came into existence in 1949 with the London Declaration, and Canada has played an important role in its evolution.

Canadian diplomat Arnold Smith served as the first Commonwealth Secretary-General from 1965 to 1975. The current Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, is the sixth Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, chosen in 2015, and is the first woman to hold the post.

Queen Elizabeth II served as the Head of Commonwealth during her 70-year reign, a role which has now passed to King Charles III.

Mandate and institutions

The mandate of the Commonwealth is to serve the needs of its member governments and their citizens in political, economic and social development. The Commonwealth also provides a forum for deliberation, problem solving, consensual decision-making and action on matters of importance to its membership.

The priorities of the Commonwealth Secretariat are to advance democracy and good governance, to support sustainable development, resilience and climate action, and to advocate for small and vulnerable states, helping to strengthen their climate and financial resilience and inclusion in the global order.

The 56 members of the Commonwealth celebrate Commonwealth Day on every second Monday of March. The 2024 Commonwealth Day theme – “One Resilient Common Future” – was especially relevant given the Commonwealth’s contributions against climate change and toward international peace and security and more prosperous economies.

Canada participates in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) every two years, providing leaders a forum to discuss matters of mutual interest, review progress on prior commitments and provide direction to the organization. Canada hosted CHOGM twice, in 1973 in Ottawa and in 1987 in Vancouver.

The most recent CHOGM was held in Apia, Samoa, from October 21 to 26, 2024. Under the general theme of “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming Our Common Wealth”, the Commonwealth “Aiga” (Samoan for family) rallied together under the sub-themes of: resilient societies and peoples; resilient democratic institutions; resilient environment; and resilient economies. Leaders also celebrated the 75th anniversary of the modern Commonwealth. The outcome documents include a Leaders’ Statement and the Samoa Communiqué, as well as the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration; the Commonwealth Principles on Freedom of Expression and the Role of the Media; and the Youth Declaration.

CHOGM 2024 was significant as the first Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting hosted by a small Pacific Island developing country and the first with King Charles III as the Head of the Commonwealth. Among their decisions, Heads selected the 7th Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghana’s current Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, who will take over the position on April 1, 2025. Heads of Government also accepted Antigua and Barbuda’s offer to host the next CHOGM, in 2026.

Since 2022, Canada has been a member of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), a rotating group of nine Commonwealth foreign ministers that addresses country situations and recommends measures for upholding Commonwealth Charter values, including democracy and human rights. Canada has accepted a second term as CMAG member until 2026.

Within the Government of Canada, Global Affairs Canada acts as the lead for Canada’s overall relationship with the Commonwealth, joined by other government departments, reflecting the organization’s actions in diverse areas, such as climate change and the environment, education, gender equality, ocean sustainability, democracy, freedom of expression, and the rule of law.

Intergovernmental organizations

The Commonwealth includes 3 intergovernmental organizations:

1. the Commonwealth Secretariat
2. the Commonwealth Foundation
3. the Commonwealth of Learning

Canada is the second largest donor to the Commonwealth and is contributing a total of $14.14 million to the organizations in 2023-2024.

Commonwealth Secretariat

Established in 1965, the Commonwealth Secretariat:

• convenes summits and high-level meetings
• executes plans of the Commonwealth Heads of Government
• promotes Commonwealth values and principles
• facilitates the work of the Commonwealth organizations as defined in its strategic plan
• coordinates several election monitoring missions each year

The Secretary-General uses her good offices to support democratic processes and to prevent or help resolve conflicts.

In 2023-2024, Canada contributed $8.26 million to the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Commonwealth of Learning

The Commonwealth of Learning focuses on strengthening institutions in Commonwealth countries that are striving to provide affordable education to larger numbers of their people. It is a global leader and champion in the use of open, distance and technology-based learning as a cost-effective development tool to provide access to quality education and skills for employment opportunities, the empowerment of women and children, and to reduce poverty and inequality.

Canada is the Commonwealth of Learning’s host (located in Burnaby, British Columbia) and largest donor. In addition to core funding, Canada currently supports the Commonwealth of Learning to implement a project called Empowering Women and Girls in the Commonwealth. This initiative promotes gender equality and provides education and skills for livelihood training to 75,000 women and girls, allowing them to better support themselves and their families, and contributing to reducing poverty in their communities.

In 2023-2024, Canada contributed $4.6 million to the Commonwealth of Learning.

Commonwealth Foundation

The Commonwealth Foundation is dedicated to supporting the active participation of Commonwealth citizens in all aspects of their governance, nurturing the growth of vibrant and free civil societies in all Commonwealth countries, and advancing the principles and ideals of the Commonwealth. It does so by focusing on the three areas of health justice, climate justice and freedom of expression, while constantly working towards gender equality, responding to the specific needs of small and vulnerable states, and involving young people.

In 2023-2024, Canada contributed $1.29 million to the Commonwealth Foundation.