The leaders of Canada and the Philippines signed agreements Thursday on energy, natural resources, labour and tourism, as the countries reinforced their shared priorities and hope for a trade deal.
“We share the same aspirations, in terms of what we would want to achieve in the world,” Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told reporters in Vancouver, during the first visit to Canada by the Philippines’ head of government in more than a decade.
Prime Minister Mark Carney had invited Marcos to visit Canada as the two countries aim to have a bilateral trade agreement concluded by the time Carney heads to Manila for a November summit.
Marcos will be chairing the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a bloc with whom Canada is also undergoing trade negotiations.
On Thursday, Marcos and Carney oversaw the signing of agreements meant to boost economic activity between the two countries, including a memorandum that seeks more protection for Filipino workers in Canada and more labour mobility.
“Filipino workers make extraordinary contributions to communities,” Carney said, giving the example of care-workers and nurses. “We will make sure they are treated fairly, can work safely and have their rights respected.”
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Marcos said there are already strong people-to-people ties, and both countries can craft “a mutually beneficial talent pipeline for the future” involving more sectors of the economy.
“To unleash this full potential, it is essential that Filipino professionals are able to practice their professions in Canada. In this regard, we will convey our hope that Canada’s federal and provincial governments will continue working together,” Marcos said.
Carney says Filipino-Canadians are “at the very heart” of Canada, and both countries can benefit in energy security and critical minerals through a strategic partnership.
Nearly one million people in Canada identified as Filipino in the 2021 census.
He said the countries have shared values and “self-reinforcing momentum” in the relationship, with the two already having signed a series of agreements involving defence.
Asia Pacific Foundation vice-president Vina Nadjibulla wrote in an analysis that the Marcos visit demonstrates Canada’s four-year-old Indo-Pacific strategy is starting to yield results.
“Since the strategy was launched in 2022, a relationship once anchored primarily in deep people-to-people connections has broadened into a more consequential partnership spanning trade, investment, energy, maritime security, cybersecurity and defence,” Nadjibulla wrote this week in Policy Magazine.
Canada’s work in dark vessel detection is helping the Philippines identify vessels engaged in illegal or unreported activity, she said, while Manila has appreciated Canada’s repeated endorsement of a UN tribunal that ruled against Beijing’s territorial claims in waters widely understood as Philippine jurisdiction.
The Philippines is now looking to Canada for oil, gas and nuclear technology to shore up mineral processing, data centres and advanced manufacturing, she wrote, particularly as the Iran war hits Asian countries hard.
Nadjibulla wrote that Carney and his predecessor Justin Trudeau had visited Asian leaders abroad, but having them come to Canada shows a real interest from those countries. She noted recent Canadian invitations to Japan and India’s leaders.
“Canada’s strategic relevance also depends on whether other leaders are prepared to invest political capital by coming here,” Nadjibulla wrote.
Wowee way to add $50 to the GDP there Mark
Y’all remember Marcos Sr right? Enough said. Another deal with a devil.
Meanwhile in Canazuela, the carnage continues.
Strange? Chairman Mark Mao Carnage? Sounds about right.
What are you talking about Commie Carny. You should start taking care of Canadian workers first before you start selling them out to cheap labour from abroad. That’s what this is about. Liberal lefties detonate in 3,2,1….!
Smoke and mirrors, Carney the great illusionist. Fools all the leftards yet once again.
So, we’ll get more Jollibee locations? Are they any good? Never tried them.
Another useless ‘strategic pact’. What the f does that mean anyway? Do we have a decent trade deal in which Canadians will actually benefit? Or is this just more hot air blown up peoples arses to protect Carney and his flyboy ways.
Come on people, 11 plus years of this horsesh*t from these azzholes. First Trudeau and now this dirt bag wasting jet fuel and trying to look relevant. Doing nothing but running from responsibility and accountability! THE COUNTRY IS GOING BROKE! THE LIBERALS ARE NOTHING BUT A w e f GROUP OF ACOLYTES, SPREADING POISON!
What is the Philippines going to buy from Canada? Canada doesn’t build anything that the Philippines can get from other countries cheaper. About the only unique export Canada has is Maple Syrup
Oh good we get to give them money too now. Good ole cornhole Carney, sucking up to all the nations that have absolutely no money at all and are only in a position to take from us. Put it through Brookfield and get rich off it while Canadians sleep on the ground. What a great leader he’s like the CEO of Sears that took over only to save Sears and instead bankrupted it faster and syphones all the money out. Canada is the new Sears and Carney is our CEO
Corrupt play together
Carney promising that we can sell oil and gas to the Philippines, just after the moron told BC that the tanker ban will remain in place, so no more oil and gas can be shipped from the west coast.
WHAT IS HE THINKING????
Gotta give Carney credit, he really makes it look like he’s actually doing something whilst jet setting around on our tax dollars.
Please tell me what does Canada has that the Philippines might want ? Other than our scrapped PCB’S and garbage.
Yet another MOU with a friendly nation that they will.spin into.a trade deal that doesn’t really exist