Prime Minister Stephen Harper will focus on trade promotion and raising Canada's economic profile during a six-day visit to Latin America and the Caribbean.
Harper left Ottawa on Sunday for Colombia where he is expected to push a free-trade agreement with the thriving country; a move that has prompted protest from Canadian human rights groups.
Advocates are urging the prime minister to push for progress on responsible mining operations by Canadian companies in the area and an end to the persecution of Columbian trade unionist leaders.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has been associated with an ongoing "death squad" scandal in the country that has seen his congressional allies and former security chief jailed for providing names of union leaders to right-wing paramilitaries.
Harper is scheduled to tour a Canadian-funded rehabilitation centre that aides in the recovery of Columbian landmine victims.
Canada is Colombia's second-largest donor of aid for de-mining activity and equipment.
On Tuesday, Harper is slated to land in Santiago, where he will mark the 10th anniversary of the Canada-Chile free trade agreement.
After two days in Santiago, Harper will meet with Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur and other Caribbean leaders in the Barbados.
He will then end his tour in Haiti with a brief chat with President Rene Preval.
Harper's visit marks the first time a Canadian leader has visited the area since 2004.
The trip will be significant in renewing hemispheric trade talks between Canada and region.
"Canada's interest and involvement in the region has really been inconsistent over the years. To be taken seriously, this needs to be more than one visit and followed up with some real initiative," Jim Travers, of the Toronto Star, said Sunday on CTV's Question Period.
The Economist.com suggests two-way trade with Latin America is increasing and amounted to $39 billion in 2006, which represents 15 per cent of Canada's total trade outside of the United States.
Analysts speculate it will be a challenge for Harper to step out of the shadow of the U.S., a country that has lost popularity due to surging leftist support in Latin America.
With files from The Canadian Press
