As many as two third of Lithuanian Canadians live in and around Toronto today. However, that is not the only reason Canada has a link with Lithuania. Lithuanians started arriving in Canada right from 1905.

During the Second World War, there was a considerable increase too. Even after independence of Lithuania in 1990, Canada has remained a favorite destination for many. Back in the 1800’s, Lithuanians even fought in Canada for the British Army. A lot has changed since then, but the two countries remain steadfast friends.

The relation between Lithuania and Canada

The foreign relations between Canada and Lithuania have been steadily rising, thanks to the constant flow of trade between the two countries. Lithuania has several organizations in Canada including the Lithuanian Embassy in Ottawa and two other honorary consulates in Vancouver and Montreal. In the same vein, both Canada and Lithuania are full members of NATO and Organization for Security and Co-operation.

Canada, today, enjoys great relations with Lithuania. Both countries see regular and ongoing exchanges and bilateral meetings,and as a whole, have maintained positive trade relations and constructive defense relations.

There’s a very interesting piece of data on Canadians and Lithuanians that states that if you lived in Lithuania instead of Canada, you would:

1. Die 5.69 years earlier
2. Make 47.56% lesser money
3. Have 74.65% more chances of being unemployed
4. Have lesser babies by 9.04%
5. Be less likely to contract HIV/AIDS by 66.67%
6. Consume less oil by 68.98%
7. Be more likely to be murdered by 4.9 times
8. Use lesser electricity by 79.53%

Trade relations between the two countries

Besides this, the CETA, (EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement) has opened up a plethora of opportunities for the people residing in Lithuania. CETA is aimed to be beneficial for Lithuanians in the following different ways:

1. Protection of the research and creativity of the Lithuanians
2. Encouragement of much more investments between Canada and Lithuania
3. Make it more accessible for the Lithuanians to be employed in Canada
4. Help the small businesses in Lithuania to export more than usual to Canada
5. Scrap the tariffs related to customs for the importers and exporters who hail from Lithuania
6. Enable the firms in Lithuania to be able to bid for many more public contracts in the Canadian countries
7.  More ease of access for the Lithuanian firms to the Canadian Services Market

CETA is a massive boon to Lithuanians as it will provide them with a better chance at life with more possibilities of suitable employment, higher savings, preservation of their research and creativity and overall security as a nation.

Lithuania and Canada have a common history together, and their relations have only got better with more trade and commerce between the two nations.

What’s left to be seen is how CETA will boost the economic and political relations between the two countries in the foreseeable future.