Celebrating Canada: Your trusted partner

Why are we celebrating Canada Day on July 1st? Let me take this opportunity to explain. At this time of year when the warm summer weather is finally arriving across the country, Canadians reflect upon our history and the founding national notions such as “peace, order and good government” and “the true North strong and free.”

It was 154 years ago today that separate colonial provinces decided to unite in a confederation as an independent country brought about by the passage of the British North America Constitutional Act. The new country brought French, British and Indigenous Peoples together to grow and prosper as a New World destination for immigrants from around the world over succeeding decades.

Given its vast geography, our founders decided that governance had to be decentralized from national and provincial governments to municipalities and First Nations governing levels, with their own respective accountabilities and powers. Federalism has proven to be a key success factor in building the country, including when it comes to dealing with public health emergencies. Our reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous Peoples remains a work in progress where we must strive to do better.

Over the decades, the world’s second largest country became a bilingual, multicultural and a modern industrialized G7 member with links to both the Commonwealth and La Francophonie. As a Pacific Ocean country, we forged links with the Philippines and other Asian trading partners through our membership in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

So today, we enjoy vibrant, mutually advantageous relations with the Philippines across a broad spectrum of activities and interests. There are similarities: Both countries were colonized by Europeans and feature indigenous peoples. We are both democracies and we value diversity. Our coastlines are among the world’s longest, our countries are mineral-rich and we offer friendly, world-class tourist destinations.

Today, an estimated one million Canadians are of Filipino origin because the Philippines is a top source of successful immigrants to Canada. Tens of thousands of temporary foreign workers including seafarers are welcome in Canada and they have been sending $1 billion (approx P39 billion) in remittances to their families back home every year. More students are choosing to study in Canada where they can work unimpeded. Today, there are 8,000 students attending Canadian universities and colleges.

These strong people-to-people linkages enrich Canadian society and reinforce tourism, trade and investment both ways. As a leading global agri-food producer, Canada helps reinforce food security for Filipino consumers, thereby increasing choice and keeping food price inflation in check. Canadian companies employ thousands of talented Filipinos right here in the Philippines. These include Sun Life, Manulife, Telus International, B2Gold and OpenText. As economic reforms take hold, more business and more jobs are inevitable. Negotiating a Canada-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement is a logical step to diversify and grow trade as part of a post-pandemic economic recovery.

Our partnership has been strengthened over the past difficult and challenging year. We have been there for our friends, donating personal protective equipment (PPE) and increasing pandemic-related health and education assistance focused on women and girls.

Canada is a leading donor to the COVAX Facility that aims to accelerate the development and production of COVID-19 vaccines. COVAX unites 190 economies to maximize buying power to guarantee fair and equitable access to vaccines for every country in the world.

In September last year, Canada announced its contribution of $220 million to COVAX. In December, Canada provided another $75 million to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to develop, deliver and distribute vaccines.  Canada has also reallocated another $30 million to the COVAX through an earlier commitment. Early last month, Canada announced it is doubling its funding by making a commitment of another $220 million to COVAX. This would bring Canada’s total contribution to the COVAX Facility to $545 million.

Prime Minister Trudeau announced late last year that any COVID-19 vaccine doses we expect in the future which become excess to our needs will be donated as part of our overall global effort to win the war against this virus. At the recent G7 Summit, Canada announced a donation of 100 million vaccine doses to low- and middle-income countries. Canada will continue to engage internationally to ensure the predictable and timely delivery of vaccine doses to countries such as the Philippines. Increases in vaccine delivery are helping to slow down and contain the virus.

While the pandemic has felt all-consuming these last months, consider how far we have come and how we can build back better toward a more inclusive and sustainable recovery. Marking Canada Day provides an opportunity to underscore the value of our friendly partnership on issues such as economic growth and jobs, health; especially for women and girls, reducing inequalities and poverty, and slowing climate change to fight extreme weather disasters.

Filipino friends – You can continue to count on us as a trusted friend. As Canada’s ambassador to this beautiful country, let me wish you all a Happy Canada Day. Long live the Philippines-Canada partnership!

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Peter MacArthur is Canada’s Ambassador to the Philippines.