Canada Swot Analysis

What are the benefits and disadvantages to Canada of being a member of international and intergovernmental organizations? (e.g. the UN and NATO)
Being a part of international intergovernmental organizations generally has more advantages then disadvantages for all member countries. As a member of NATO, Canada receives protection from international threats and assured help if under attack. As a member of the UN, Canada is able to positively intervene and potentially assist in resolving conflicts around the world. However membership also has the disadvantages of requiring large financial contributions to maintain the organizations, meaning Canadians pay higher taxes as a result. Membership to the UN and NATO also require a standing commitment
Canada’s military, although small, is well respected among its allies and has made significant contributions to recent conflicts such as Afghanistan, Haiti and Libya. Having much shared history and geography with the United States, it is natural that the interests of Canada and America are closely aligned and the countries are reliant on each other for trade, continental security and economic success. However, there have been occasions when the governments did not agree on certain courses of action with respect to both international and domestic challenges. For example, when the US led an international coalition against terror into Afghanistan, Canada committed troops. When that mission extended into Iraq, Canada refused to take part in the new campaign. So, while the bilateral relationship has experienced tensions, it remains one of the worlds closest, rooted in a long tradition of peace and respect. Canada also enjoys close relationships with other countries as well, particularly Britain and the
Canada not only often speaks out to help advance human rights around the world but also contributes generously to causes in which it believes. Foreign aid as a percentage of GDP has been declining in recent years but Canada nonetheless remains one of the world’s most active donors to areas of disaster, crisis or conflict as well as to ongoing long-term developmental projects such as vaccination and agricultural assistance programs. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) was founded in 1968 with a mandate “to support sustainable development in developing countries in order to reduce poverty and contribute to a more secure, equitable and prosperous world.“ In 2013 CIDA was incorporated into the Department of Foreign Affairs, where it continues to dedicate itself to those goals. One of CIDA’s most recent mobilizations was to assist the country of Haiti after a severe earthquake in 2010 and Hurricane Matthew in October