The G7 is a forum designed for frank and open discussion between leaders, ministers, and policy-makers. As a member of the G7, Canada plays a leading role on the international stage and is able to advance domestic and international priorities.

The G7 provides global leadership and serves as a powerful catalyst on issues that are later taken up by other fora with broader global and regional membership. The G7 brings together the world’s advanced economies to influence global trends and tackle pervasive and crosscutting issues, as well as emergent global crises. The G7 has strengthened international economic and security policies, advanced discussion of global issues including climate change and gender equality, brought donors together and supported disarmament programs.

The next G7 Leaders’ Summit will be in Kananaskis, Alberta, in 2025, where Canada will assume the Presidency and work with G7 partners on common priorities, such as building economies that benefit everyone, fighting climate change, and managing rapidly evolving technologies.

The role as host, also known as the G7 presidency, rotates annually among member countries in the following order: France, United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada. The European Union is not part of the rotation.

Canada has hosted six G7 summits to date:

• Charlevoix, Quebec (2018)
• Muskoka, Ontario (2010)
• Kananaskis, Alberta (2002)
• Halifax, Nova Scotia (1995)
• Toronto, Ontario (1988)
• Ottawa-Montebello, Ontario-Quebec (1981)

Canada, during its G7 presidencies, has demonstrated global leadership by developing innovative initiatives to address global security and economic crises, health issues, and development challenges while also inspiring progress on ambitious priorities such as democracy, cyber security, oceans, and women and girls’ education in crisis situations. The G7 amplifies Canadian efforts, such as the historic G7 investment of nearly $3.8 billion in education for women and girls in crisis and conflict situations made during the 2018 Charlevoix G7 Summit.

History and membership

In 1976, Canada joined the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States to discuss coordinated responses to global crises, and in 1977 the European Union was invited to attend. The G7 is not based on a treaty and has no permanent secretariat. The group’s presidency rotates annually among the seven member countries. It is the presidency’s prerogative to define a set of priorities, in consultation with other members, for the year ahead and that country is responsible for hosting and organizing the annual Leaders’ Summit. Leaders traditionally release a final statement or communiqué summarizing agreed initiatives and policy advancements.

A number of ministerial-level meetings may also take place during the year; the number and choice of ministerial meetings is the prerogative of the G7 presidency. Ministerial meetings also typically culminate in ministerial communiqués or joint plans of action.

In addition, arms-length, civil society-led bodies called the G7 engagement groups typically provide recommendations to the G7 on an annual basis. These groups of stakeholders often hold their own summits in the months leading up to the G7 Summit. These engagement groups include the:

• Business 7 (B7)
• Civil Society 7 (C7)
• Labour 7 (L7)
• Science 7 (S7)
• Think Tank 7 (T7)
• Women 7 (W7)
• Youth 7 (Y7)

Although G7 Summits and ministerial meetings are highlights of any G7 presidency, the G7 is active year-round. G7 Leaders and Ministers convene additional meetings as needed to address emergent global crises or other acute international challenges. G7 expert and working groups meet throughout the year, often to move forward commitments made at high-level G7 meetings. In 2018, Canada established the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC) as an independent advisory body to advance gender equality in the G7 and globally. Canadian officials also engage civil society stakeholders year-round in order to inform and support Canada’s participation in the G7.