The protection of security within a stable global framework. The projection of Canadian values and culture. Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade administers foreign policy and looks after the concerns of Canadian citizens abroad. Canada has a long and honoured reputation as an international development assistance partner. A founding member of the Colombo Plan in 1950, Canada helped educate many of those now leading the world's newer nations.
All Canadian aid is in the form of grants and contributions.
A founding member of the United Nations, Canada is the fourth largest contributor to its budget. The International Civil Aviation Organization is headquartered in Montreal, as is the Secretariat for the Conventin on Biological Diversity. Canada also leads in humanitarian aid, and has been one of the top two providers of emergency and regular food aid to people facing starvation around the world. As a middle power without an imperialist past, Canada is welcomed internationally in its role as peacekeeper. Over 85,000 Canadians have served in the UN peacekeeping forces since 1956.