Editing Organization of American States (section)

=== Canada and the OAS ===
Although admission into OAS's predecessor, the Pan American Union, was initially restricted to republics, several overtures were still made for Canada to join the organization in 1928, 1933, 1936, and 1938. During the 1936 Pan American Union Conference, the organization extended its membership from only "American republics" to "American states" to accommodate Canada's admission as a constitutional monarchy.{{sfn|Pharand|1986|p=432}} However, U.S. opposition to Canadian membership prevented their admittance, with the U.S. fearing the admittance of Canada to the OAS would bring with it British influence that could impede its freedom of action within the organization. The U.S. reversed its position on Canadian membership in 1947.{{sfn|Pharand|1986|p=433}} However, by that time, Canadian foreign policy had adopted an [[Atlanticist]] position with a European focus;{{sfn|Pharand|1986|p=454}} resulting in the Canadian government seeing little value in pursuing OAS membership.{{sfn|Pharand|1986|p=433}} 

From the 1960s to the 1980s, the Canadian government expressed some interest in joining the OAS, having successfully applied for permanent observer status in 1972 to evaluate potential membership.{{sfn|Pharand|1986|p=436}} In the 1980s, the Canadian government incrementally increased its participation in OAS activities.<ref>{{cite book|title=Canada and the OAS: From Dilettante to Full Partner|publisher=McGill-Queen's University Press|year=1995|last=McKenna|first=Peter|isbn=0886292581|page=144}}</ref> Canada signed the Charter of the Organization of American States in 1989. Canada's membership in the OAS was formalized when the decision was ratified in 1990.<ref>{{cite web |last1=OAS |title=Charter of the Organization of American States (a-41): Signatories and Ratifications |url=https://www.oas.org/en/sla/dil/inter_american_treaties_A-41_charter_OAS_signatories.asp#Canada |website=OAS |date=August 2009 |access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref>