How To Take Advantage of the Pacific Century

Canadians still don't fully appreciate what the ascendancy of Asia means for our country.

As the world emerges from a global recession, Canadians are beginning to realize that they are now living in the Pacific Century, but they are still struggling to put Asia on their mental map. A national opinion poll released last week by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada shows that Canadians believe business and government need to focus more attention on Asia. However, it also shows that they still have reservations about some aspects of the country’s ties to the region. It seems Canadians still have some way to go to fully appreciate how to take advantage of the Pacific Century.

The poll reveals that Canadians are recognizing the importance of Canada-Asia relations for this country’s future. 62 per cent of respondents believe Asian economies are vital to the well-being of Canada and 63 per cent feel the relative strength of Asian economies during the recession underscores the importance of Canadian companies being involved in the region. This is especially important in the context that 76 per cent of respondents feel that Canada should diversify its trade to be less dependent on the United States. Coming out of a global economic crisis that began with our major trading partner and ally, Canadians are witnessing not only the ways in which Asian countries are rapidly recovering from the downturn, but the sustained and growing interest of Asian investors, tourists, students, and government officials to engage with Canada.

Canadians have yet to realize, however, how Asia is an inherent part of their country’s contemporary identity. The most disconcerting finding is that only 29 per cent of respondents considered Canada as part of the Asia Pacific region. This is shocking considering Canada’s long participation in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and that Asian immigration over the last four decades has significantly changed this country’s visage. It is especially alarming as a similar statement obtained a 39 per cent agreement rate in the Foundation’s 2006 poll.

Respondents do identify specific ways in which the federal and provincial governments can support greater engagement with Asia. Whereas 68 per cent of respondents encourage the facilitation of trade missions to Asia and Asian missions here in Canada, 63 per cent of Canadians would like greater support given to student exchanges, university agreements, and cultural exchanges. These initiatives are interesting to the extent that they focus mostly on people-to-people interactions outside governmental circles.

Promoting this kind of Canada-Asia relations will not only ensure a way for Canada to profit from the Pacific Century, it will also set the stage for Canadians to reconfigure a Euro-centric sense of self to include Asia as part of their present and future.

For our current decision makers, new global realities require greater Canadian engagement with Asia at all levels. This survey shows that Canadians are realizing this structural shift, but it also reveals their ambivalence to improving their engagement with Asia. Building on the momentum created by Prime Minister Harper’s visit to Asia and Canada’s global exposure with the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, there is an opportunity to push Canada in a new direction that will matter for generations to come.