Canada–Denmark relations
Encyclopedia
Canada — Denmark relations refers to the current and historical relations
between Canada
and Denmark
. Canada has an embassy in Copenhagen
. Denmark has an embassy in Ottawa
and a consulate-general in Toronto
. Both countries are full members of NATO and the Arctic Council
. Relations between the two countries have been strained since the dispute over Hans Island
.
.
The first treaty between Canada and Denmark was a visa requirements agreement, signed on 22 September and 14 October 1949. Both countries signed and agreement concerning taxes in 1956. Canada and Denmark agreed to corporate with defence science in 1969. In 1983, an marine environmental
, social and economic agreement was signed in Copenhagen.
In 2010, The Denmark-USA/Canada Program was launched. The programme aims the internationalization of Danish education programmes.
is a small, uninhabited barren knoll measuring, located in the centre of the Kennedy Channel
of Nares Strait
. The island is claimed by both Canada and Denmark. In 1984, Tom Høyem
raised the Danish flag on the island. On 25 July 2005, Canadian Defence Minister Bill Graham
visited the island, the visit sparked anger in Denmark. The Government of Denmark sent a letter of protest
to Canada. Canada also sent two war ships in 2005 to Hans Island, the HMCS Shawinigan (MM 704)
and the HMCS Glace Bay (MM 701)
.
On 19 September 2009, both governments processed to end the dispute.
In January 2011, both countries were close to a resolution over the island.
In 1991 Danish Queen Margrethe II visited Canada.
, Alberta
and British Columbia
.
New Denmark
is a Canadian
rural community in Victoria County
, New Brunswick
. The community derives its name from several Danish
settlers who inhabited the area in 1872, eventually forming the largest and what would become the oldest Danish community in Canada; the Danish influence has diminished somewhat in recent decades due to out-migration.
Bilateralism
Bilateralism consists of the political, economic, or cultural relations between two sovereign states. For example, free trade agreements signed by two states are examples of bilateral treaties. It is in contrast to unilateralism or multilateralism, which refers to the conduct of diplomacy by a...
between Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. Canada has an embassy in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. Denmark has an embassy in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and a consulate-general in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. Both countries are full members of NATO and the Arctic Council
Arctic Council
The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental forum which addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic.- History of the Arctic Council :...
. Relations between the two countries have been strained since the dispute over Hans Island
Hans Island
Hans Island is a small, uninhabited barren knoll measuring , located in the centre of the Kennedy Channel of Nares Strait—the strait that separates Ellesmere Island from northern Greenland and connects Baffin Bay with the Lincoln Sea...
.
History
In 1928, the bilateral relations between Canada and Denmark got strengthen, when members of the Canadian National Railways met with Thomas Madsen-MygdalThomas Madsen-Mygdal
Thomas Madsen-Mygdal was Prime Minister of Denmark from 14 December 1926 to 30 April 1929, as leader of a Liberal Party government...
.
The first treaty between Canada and Denmark was a visa requirements agreement, signed on 22 September and 14 October 1949. Both countries signed and agreement concerning taxes in 1956. Canada and Denmark agreed to corporate with defence science in 1969. In 1983, an marine environmental
Marine biology
Marine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather...
, social and economic agreement was signed in Copenhagen.
In 2010, The Denmark-USA/Canada Program was launched. The programme aims the internationalization of Danish education programmes.
Hans Island
Hans IslandHans Island
Hans Island is a small, uninhabited barren knoll measuring , located in the centre of the Kennedy Channel of Nares Strait—the strait that separates Ellesmere Island from northern Greenland and connects Baffin Bay with the Lincoln Sea...
is a small, uninhabited barren knoll measuring, located in the centre of the Kennedy Channel
Kennedy Channel
Kennedy Channel is an Arctic sea passage between Greenland and Canada's most northerly island, Ellesmere Island.It forms part of Nares Strait, linking Kane Basin with Hall Basin. From the south, its beginning is marked by Capes Lawrence and Jackson; its junction with Hall Basin is marked by Capes...
of Nares Strait
Nares Strait
Nares Strait is a waterway between Ellesmere Island and Greenland that is the northern part of Baffin Bay where it meets the Lincoln Sea. From south to north, the strait includes Smith Sound, Kane Basin, Kennedy Channel, Hall Basin and Robeson Channel...
. The island is claimed by both Canada and Denmark. In 1984, Tom Høyem
Tom Høyem
Tom Høyem was born on 10 October 1941. Between September 1982 and September 1987, he served as Minister for Greenland within the Danish government under the premiership of Poul Schlüter...
raised the Danish flag on the island. On 25 July 2005, Canadian Defence Minister Bill Graham
Bill Graham
William Carvel "Bill" Graham, PC QC is a former Canadian politician, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of National Defence, and Leader of the Opposition and interim Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.-Personal life:...
visited the island, the visit sparked anger in Denmark. The Government of Denmark sent a letter of protest
Letter of Protest
A letter of protest or diplomatic note is a diplomatic document presented by one state's foreign ministry to another state.A letter of protest is written in a highly formal manner, intended to be both courteous and critical at the same time...
to Canada. Canada also sent two war ships in 2005 to Hans Island, the HMCS Shawinigan (MM 704)
HMCS Shawinigan (MM 704)
HMCS Shawinigan is a that has served in the Canadian Forces since 1997.Shawinigan is the fifth ship of her class which is the name for the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel Project. She is the second vessel to use the designation ....
and the HMCS Glace Bay (MM 701)
HMCS Glace Bay (MM 701)
HMCS Glace Bay is a that has served in the Canadian Forces since 1996.Glace Bay is the second ship of her class which is the name for the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel Project. She is the second vessel to use the designation ....
.
On 19 September 2009, both governments processed to end the dispute.
In January 2011, both countries were close to a resolution over the island.
High level visits
Danish Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik of Denmark visited Canada in September 1967.In 1991 Danish Queen Margrethe II visited Canada.
Danes in Canada
About 90,000 people in Canada are of Danish origin. They mostly live in OntarioOntario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
New Denmark
New Denmark, New Brunswick
New Denmark is a Canadian rural community in Victoria County, New Brunswick.The community derives its name from several Danish settlers who inhabited the area in 1872, eventually forming the largest and what would become the oldest Danish community in Canada; the Danish influence has diminished...
is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rural community in Victoria County
Victoria County, New Brunswick
Victoria County is located in northwestern New Brunswick, Canada. Farming, especially of potatoes, is the major industry in the county.-Communities:...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. The community derives its name from several Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
settlers who inhabited the area in 1872, eventually forming the largest and what would become the oldest Danish community in Canada; the Danish influence has diminished somewhat in recent decades due to out-migration.
See also
- Jens MunkJens MunkJens Munk was a Danish navigator and explorer who was born in Norway where his father, Erik Munk, had received several fiefs for his achievements in the Northern Seven Years' War. He returned to Denmark at the age of eight...
- Canadians of Danish descent
- Danish Embassy, Ottawa
- International Security Assistance ForceInternational Security Assistance ForceThe International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
- 2011 military intervention in Libya2011 military intervention in LibyaOn 19 March 2011, a multi-state coalition began a military intervention in Libya to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, which was taken in response to events during the 2011 Libyan civil war...