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InvestinginTomorrow:BuildingCanada’sAsiaCompetenceGoodafternooneveryone.Iwouldliketowelcomeyoutothe38thAnnualBishopWhiteCommitteeWinterLuncheon,partoftheRoyalOntarioMuseum’songoingmissiontoconnectpeopletotheirworldandtoeachother.Thankyouforjoiningus,andforhelpingsupporttheEastAsiansectionoftheROM.BuildingAsiaCompetenceisthesubjectofmytalktoday,andtherearecompellingreasonstounderstanditsimportance.TheeconomicgrowthofAsiahasbeenremarkableandlikelytotranslateintohigherincomegainsandgrowthofthemiddleclass,turningtheregionintoa“consumerpowerhouse.”By2020,1.7billionpeopleinAsia—or54percentoftheworld’smiddleclass—willrepresent42percentoftheworld’stotalconsumption.Chinaisexpectedtobeattheforefrontofthisconsumption,withitsmiddleclassrepresentingmorethanhalfofChina’surbanpopulation.From2007to2025,IndiaisprojectedtoincreaseitsaggregateconsumptionfromC$364BtoC$728Band,by2030,couldevensurpassChinaandtheUnitedStatesastheworld’slargestmiddleclassconsumermarket.ASEANisalsoonthepathtodoubleitsnumberofaffluenthouseholdsto125millionbetween2014and2025.TocapitalizeonthisremarkablegrowthweneedtobeAsiaCompetent.

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By‘AsiaCompetence’ImeantheAsia-relatedskillsandknowledgethatwillhelpusbuildourengagementwithAsia,andwinsupportathomeformuchneedednewpoliciesandinitiativesbyourfederalandprovincialgovernments.Itisnotthatthatwehaven’thadAsiacompetentCanadiansinourhistory.Infact,BishopWilliamWhite,ourcommitteenamesake,wasanearlyadopterwhoestablishedimportantCanadianlinkagesinAsiainthe19thand20thcenturies.Frommyowndiplomaticexperience,theroleCanadianmissionariesplayedwaspivotal.AsAmbassadortoBhutan,IwasintroducetotheimpactoftheCanadianJesuitpriestFatherWilliamJosephMackeyonmyfirstvisittothecountry.TheDeputyChiefofProtocolmetmeonarrivalandproudlyannouncedhehadgonetoschoolinCanadaandwasoneofFatherMackey’sgraduates.InthenexttwomeetingsthreeofthefiveofficialsImethadbeenFatherMackeygraduates.AllattendedFatherMackey'shighschoolsinBhutan,andtwoattendedhisalmamater,UNB,onCIDAscholarships.Thiscertainlyleftanimpression,andIsoonlearnedthatFatherMackeyhadworkedfor26yearsinBhutantodevelopasecularschoolsysteminthecountry.

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ThelegacyofFatherMackeyisstillverymuchprevalentinthemindsofBhutanese,andCanadaisstillindeliblyassociatedwithBhutan’seducationsystem.ItwasmypostingtoTaiwanwhereIwasintroducedtoPresbyterianmissionaryFatherGeorgeLeslieMacKay,fromZorroTownship,Ontario.ToquoteWikipedia,heis“amongthebestknownWesternersinTaiwan.”HearrivedinwhatwasthenFormosain1871andthescopeofhisworkandinfluenceexpandedfarbeyondbeingaMinisterofthecloth.Althoughhedidnotgraduateasadentist,hetravelledthecountrysideprovidingdentalrelieftothelocalsandheworkedforthreedecadesbuildingschools,includingthefirstschoolforwomen,chapelsandhospitals.ThefirstPresidentofTaiwan,LeeTeng-hui,wasagraduateofaMacKayschool(andit’snosurprisethatLeeisaPresbyterian),andoneofthelargestandmostwellknownhospitalsinTaiwaniscalltheMacKayMemorialHospital.FatherMacKayevenmarriedintotheculture,anddeclaredhimself“theson-in-lawofTaiwan.”HislegacystillservesasasymbolofthewarmtiesbindingTaiwanandCanada.AndinIndia,CanadianJesuits,FatherMacKaybeingoneofthem,playedafundamentalpartinthedevelopmentofeducation,particularlyintheDarjeelingregionofnortheastIndia.ThefirstJesuitmissioninDarjeelingbeganin1946,andmarkedthebeginningofaconstantstreamofJesuitmissionariesthattothisdaystilltraveltoDarjeelingtopromotedevelopmentandeducation.

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Iwasn'tpostedtoKoreabut,again,CanadianProtestantmissionariesplayedaverylargeroleinCanada'searlyengagementwithKorea.And,althoughhewasn'tamissionary,NormanBethuneleftanincrediblelegacyforCanadainChina.AsConsulGeneral,Bethune'snamewasraisedatthebeginningofalmosteverymeetingIhadwithaChinesefunctionary.Andfinally,ofcourse,BishopWilliamWhite.IwouldarguethatofallofourinformalAsiaambassadorsofthatage,BishopWhitedidthemostforAsiaCompetenceinthathebroughtAsiahometoCanada.HeconnectedCanadianswithAsiadirectlythroughhisartandlectures.AndthatisexactlywhatmyFoundationisstrivingtodotoday–buildthattwo-wayconnectivitybetweenCanadaandAsia,andencourageCanadianstoembracetheglobaleconomy’sshiftingcentreofgravity.Asia’sremarkabletransformation–theresurgenceofChina,thegrowthofIndia,thematurationofJapanandKorea,andthedevelopmentswithintheASEANregion—providesnewopportunitiesaswellaschallengesforCanada.Weareideallyplacedtonotonlybenefitfromthisglobalseachange,butalsotoserveasabridgelinkingthisdynamicregiontotherestoftheworld.CanadahasbeenfortunatetohavetraditionalpartnersintheUnitedStatesandEuropeassourcesofgrowthandstability,andthesepartnershipsmustbemaintained.ButthegrowingsignificanceofAsiahasdemonstratedtheneedforCanadatostrategicallydeepenanddiversifyitsexistingpartnershipsintheregion.

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Someprogresshasalreadybeenmadeonthisfront,butCanadacontinuestofacehurdlestodemonstratingitsrelevance,importanceandcommitmenttoAsia.TheresearchandsurveysconductedbyAPFCanadaoverthepast10yearsindicatethatthereisalackofknowledgeamongCanadiansregardingcountriesinAsia,andthatfewCanadianshavebeentoAsiaorhavebeenexposedtoAsianbusinessculture.Thisknowledgegaphasthreedetrimentalimpacts.First,itpreventsCanadiansfromrecognizingandpursuingthetremendousopportunitiesthatexistinbuildingtieswithAsia.Second,itreducesCanadians’abilitiestoprovideinformedinputintoCanada’spoliciesandstrategiestowardsAsia.Andthird,itreducesoureconomiccompetitiveness.AsAPFCanadaoutlinedinourBuildingBlocksforaCanada-AsiaStrategydocumentforthefederalgovernmentlastyear,OttawashouldspearheadandsupportinitiativesthathelpCanadiansbecomemoreAsiaCompetent.ThisincludesfamiliaritywiththediversityofAsiancultures;knowledgeabouttheregion’seconomies,societies,andpoliticalsystems;andtheabilitytospeakAsianlanguages.CanadamustalsoencourageCanadianbusinessestotakeadvantageoftheAsianlanguageandculturalskillsofrecentimmigrants,andfosterAsiaCompetenceamongpublicservantsinarangeoffederalgovernmentdepartments,includingGlobalAffairsCanada.Asiaisnowattheforefrontofmoderntechnologyandinnovation,withcountriesintheregionscramblingtobethemostinnovativeintheworld.

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The2016BloombergInnovationIndexranked10Asiancountriesoreconomiesamongthetop50ofthemostinnovativecountriesglobally.SouthKoreacamefirst,followedbyJapanfourth,Singaporesixth,andChina21st.Forward-lookingAsianbusinessesandgovernmentsareactivelyseekingopportunitiestolearnfromcountrieslikeCanada,whereopenness,toleranceandgoodgovernanceprevail.Theywanttoestablishhealthyinnovationecosystems,learnhowtocatalyzeentrepreneurship,andcreatecollaborativeopportunitieswithtrustedpartners.Ultimately,governmentandtheprivatesectorinCanadashouldcommittoestablishingglobalcentresofexcellenceinresearch,technologyandinnovationwithkeycountriesinAsia.Frommyexperience,collaborationinscienceandtechnologycanbeandshouldbeviewedasaforeignpolicytoolinourtoolkit.Thiscollaborationwoulddriveforwardourowntechnologicalprogressandinnovativecapacities.Anditwouldnotbeaone-wayrelationship:anumberofcountriesintheregionhavethefinancialresourcestohelpcatalyzenewideas,deepresearchcapacities,andtheexperienceofscalingideasuptofitawidesetofconsumers.Sadly,alackofAsiaCompetenceisanimportantbarrierpreventingCanadaandCanadiancompaniesfromrealizingthesegoalsandsuccessfullyenteringAsianmarkets.Theysimplylackstaffthathasknowledgeofthelocalbusinessenvironmentandculture,andpossessesrelevantlanguageskills.Toaddressthisgap,Canadaneedstoinvestinyoungpeople,supportingprogramsforyouthtostudyandworkinAsiancountries.

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OurnewworkattheFoundationisattemptingtobridgethisdivide.Likethoseinformalambassadorsofold,wetoorecognizetheimportanceofjumpingintotheenvironmentinwhichoneisworkingandhopingtohaveanimpact...andbeingabletoshareinsightsintoAsianculturesandsocietieswithotherCanadians.Insteadofstudyingtheworldthroughthetimewornlensofwesternhistoryandculture,weareencouragingyoungCanadianstolookeast.InconsultationwiththeBritishColumbiaMinistryofEducation,wearecreatingAsiaPacificCurriculummodulesatthehigh-schoolleveltogivemoreyoungCanadiansexposuretoAsianhistories,cultures,andsocieties.ThisinitiativewillequipCanadianstudentswithbasicknowledgeaboutthecountriesthatwillreallymattertoCanada’sfuture.WehopetostimulatetheirintellectualcuriosityaboutAsiaanditspeoples,andencouragethemtolearnandexperiencemorethroughtheirfutureeducationandcareers.Theprojectincludesteachingmaterials,adedicatedandinteractiveresourcewebsite,andprofessionaldevelopmentopportunitiesforteachers.LaunchinginB.C.nextmonth,wehopetoexpandtheprogramCanada-wideinthecomingyears.OursecondinitiativeisourAsiaConnectbursariesprogramcreatedtoincreasethenumberofCanadianuniversityandcollegestudentsgettingon-the-groundworkexperienceinAsia.Ourprogramgivesthemadditionalfinancialsupporttoparticipateinco-opsandinternshipsofferedthroughtheirownschools.

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Sofar,wehavefinanciallysupported21studentsineightcountries,withmoretocome.Throughevents,conferencesandsocialmediaweareleveragingthesestudents’experiencestodemonstratetootheryoungCanadiansthevalueofstudyingandworkinginAsia,particularlyintermsofcross-culturallearningandpersonalandprofessionalgrowth.Recently,wefeaturedoneoftheprogram’sparticipantsinavideoandastorypostonourFoundation’swebsite.AaronChoisafifth-yearco-opstudentattheUniversityofBritishColumbia’sSauderSchoolofBusiness,wherehe’sfocusingonfinanceandhumanresources.Ourbursaryhelpedsupporthisparticipationinasix-monthinternshipwithAdidasinHongKong,whereheworkedwiththehumanresourcesteam.Weaskedhim,“WhatwouldyousaytoaCanadianstudentwhoisalsothinkingaboutdoinganinternshiporstudyabroadinAsia?”Hisreply?“’Doit.’Ifyouthink,‘Oh,thisisnotforme,’takeamomentandaskyourself,‘Whynot?Whyisn’titforme?Whereistheapprehensioncomingfrom?’I’mastrongbelieverthattogrowasaperson,youneedtopushyourboundariesandstepoutsideofyourcomfortzone.’”AspartofourAsiaConnectprogramforyoungCanadians,we’vealsolaunchedtheAsiaConnectStudentWorkingGroupsprogram,whichengagespost-secondarystudentsinproject-basedlearningaboutcontemporaryAsia.EachWorkingGroupfocusesonaspecificissueinAsiarelatedtocontemporarypolitics,economics,society,culture,theenvironment,arts,oreducation.

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AndeachGroupproducesafinalproductthatcanbeusedtoinformotherCanadiansabouttheirfeaturedissue.Topicstodateinclude:theenvironment,agingpopulations,displacedpersons,diaspora-businessconnections,usingtechnologytotacklecorruption,thePhilippines’election,andChina’ssoftpower.OurFoundationalsoworkscloselywithAIESEC,theworld’slargestyouth-runnot-for-profitorganization,with2,600chaptersglobally,and30university-basedchaptersacrossCanada.IwouldliketotakeamomenttorecognizetwonationalmembersofAIESICCanadajoiningustoday:PresidentJoaquimSanvictores,andNationalVice-President,BusinessDevelopment,SheilaYue.In2015,AIESECCanadawasawardedaC$50,000grantbytheFoundationtopromoteAsia-relatedskillsandknowledgeamongyoungCanadians.AndIcanreportthattheyhavebeendoingabang-upjobofmobilizingCanadianstudentsandco-ordinatingyouthworkexperienceprogramsintheAsiaPacific.WehavecreatedastrongpartnershipwithAIESECCanada,andwehavetakenpartinmanyofAIESEC’seventsacrossthecountry–includingtheAIESECYouthtoBusinessForuminTorontolastMay,featuring350studentsandan‘AsiaCompetence’theme.AlloftheseactivitiesarepartofoureffortstoboostAsiaCompetenceamongCanadians,particularlythenextgenerationofCanadiansthatwillbenavigatingaverydifferentglobaleconomythantheoneweinherited.AnimportantplayerinourAsiaCompetenceprogrammingisourAsiaPacificYouthCouncil,anAPFCanada-sponsoredgroupformedlastMarch.

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Thisyouth-runorganizationoperateswiththemandatetoinformyouthaboutAsiaanditsfutureimportancetoCanadathroughprogrammedeventsandseminars.TheYouthCouncileventstodatehaveincludedpreparingforandpursuingcareeroptionsrelatedtoAsia,andafilmscreeningandmartialartsdemonstration.AddressingourAsiaCompetenceshortcomingisgrowingincreasinglyurgent,asanumberofCanada’sfriendlycompetitorshavetakenimportantstepstoimprovetheirownstrategicandeconomicpositioningwithintheregion.OurinternationalpartnersarealreadywelldowntheroadtoraisingtheAsiacompetenceoftheirownstudentsandyoungadults.In2009theU.S.launchedthe“100,000StrongFoundation”committedtogetting100,000U.S.studentsstudyingabroadinChinaoverfouryears,from2010-2014.Between2010-2012alone,theprogramraisedUS$15million.Notably,ithadtop-levelsupportfromthePresident,twosecretariesofstate,governors,mayorsoflargecities,andmajorU.S.corporations,includingCoca-Cola,GE,andCaterpillar.Theyactuallyreachedtheirgoalearly,andthenbroadenedthatgoalin2015to“OneMillionStrong”—acommitmenttogettingonemillionAmericanstudentslearningMandarinoverthenextfouryears.In2014,Australia’s“NewColomboPlan”earmarkedAU$100millionoverfiveyearstosupportAustralianstudentstodopracticums,languagetraining,andresearchspecificallyinAsiaPacificcountries.Alsoin2014,NewZealandcommittedNZD$10millionforstudentlanguagetraininginChinese,JapaneseandKoreanforfiveyears.

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WhenIseeouryouths’counterpartsinAustralia,NewZealand,andtheU.S.benefitingfromwell-resourcedandwellco-ordinated,national-scaleinitiativesthatprovidethemwithstudy,research,andworkexperienceinAsia,IknowwemustjoinforcestodothesameforCanada.Itisnotlikewedon'thaveprogramsinCanadatopromoteAsiaCompetence.Wedo,justnotpaidforbyCanadiangovernments.TheFoundationadministerstheKakehashiProgramfundedbytheJapaneseGovernment.Itisamillion-dollar-ayear-programforstudentexchangesatthehigh-schoolanduniversitylevel.Thisyearthereare90studentsfromfiveuniversitiesinOntarioandfoursecondaryschoolsinQuebec,AlbertaandB.C.Andthereare100JapanesestudentscomingtoCanadaaspartoftheexchange.APFCanadaisassumingacatalyticroleandthisisthankstotheforesightofourBoard,whounderstandourstudentsandyoungadultsneedafoundationofknowledgeaboutthehistories,societies,economies,andpoliticalissuesinCanada’spriorityAsianmarkets—andtheyhaveprovidedthefundstohelpmakethishappen.Butwecannotdoitalone.Itiscriticalthatbusiness,government,organizationsandinstitutionsacrossthecountryassistinhelpingusdevelopthiscornerstoneofsuccessfulCanada-Asiaengagement.IwouldliketofinishbyrecognizingtheroletheROMhasplayedandcancontinuetoplayinbuildingAsiaCompetency.TheROM-witheightgalleriesnowdedicatedtoAsia—helpsconnectCanadianswiththerichhistoryandvibrantculturesoftheAsiaPacific.TheROMhasbeenbuildingitsAsiacollectionsince1908.Ithasforgedalong-standingrelationshipwithChinaandotherpartnersintheregion,

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andhasbeeninstrumentalinbringingAsiaaliveintheheartsandmindsofCanadians.Fosteringfamiliarity,creatingmutualrespect,sparkingtheimaginationofyoungCanadians...theseareallcriticalcomponentsoftheAsiacompetencethatwillhelpusasCanadiansbetterconnectandengagewithpartnersintheAsiaPacific.ThisengagementhelpsAsia,ithelpsCanada,andithelpsensurethefutureprosperityofCanadians.AnditrecognizesthechangingfaceofCanadaandCanadians.Thankyou.