The honorable Jean Chretien
Frank Li July 23 2018
I have long recognized the honorable Jean Chretien as unique rational politician.
Dr. Pierre Trudeau was few outstanding politicians globally, under his tenure as Prime Minister, in Canada, the social development index and quality of life has been among the highest in the world.
As the right hand of Dr. Pierre Trudeau, the honorable Jean Chretien also made decisive contribution by playing key role with being times changed positions on functional department, which were, as my judgment today, for dealing with some thorny social problems that any others cannot deal with, which showed his governing ability gained full trust of Dr. Pierre Trudeau.
The unique quality of the honorable Jean Chretien is at his lofty pragmatic realm with decisive action, he was never blindly follow those West politicians, which showed his quality that was without the constraining of ideological bias-prejudice for one party ruled socialist countries, according to Jean Chrétien on Wikipedia, he was known to be a Sinophile and an admirer of the People's Republic of China.
In Nov. 1994, he led the first of four "Team Canada" trade missions to China for increasing Sino-Canadian trade to stimulate the economy out of the recession with the great goal of going back to the 1970s of a Canadian economy less dependent on trade with the United States, which showed that he shared same view with that of Dr. Pierre Trudeau on our neighbor country. Today, when facing with being forced insulting trade war, we would be convinced by his farsighted vision.
Until today, in Canada, such constraining of ideological bias-prejudice has been negatively affecting the way of dealing the affairs with China, especially, it caused big loss in economic interest from the fast growing economy. The most pity was at that the ideological bias-prejudice was from succumbing to the kidnapping of populist electorate, rather than from the inner recognition of oneself.
The outstanding political talent and rich experience in social governance made the honorable Jean Chretien as the most valuable political assets of Canada; as a rational distinguished politician, he has gained a unique quality in social influence, which is essential that is able to push social improvement; especially, his prestige has been respecting by successive government officials of China, which will help Canada in the gains of economic interest.
May 16, 2012, the article Chrétien urges closer China and Canada ties reported that: “Former prime minister Jean Chrétien cemented trade relations with China in the 1990s, bonds he continues to strengthen as president of the Inter Action Council — a group of former heads of state.” “Chrétien, who visits the country regularly, still enjoys privileged access to China's leaders. He said he is still trying to bring Ottawa and Beijing closer together.”
The honorable Jean Chretien was a rare rational politician in Canada with higher political prestige of free walking through in various federal functional departments, especially the Office of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which provides him a unique ability for promoting some improvement socially in the level of federal government.
Here, it is necessary to point out that, as a democratic government, a simple issue that is obvious good for everyone, if it raised by ruling party, it will be fiercely opposed by other parties and vehemently condemned by parties’ supporters in public media, which was the normal activities of that opposition parties in playing their sacred duty.
I do not deny the positive role of this kind of legislative model. However, in today's highly globalized economy and in ever-changing economic situation, this kind of legislative manner will result in the loss of many fleeting opportunities.
In order to avoid such loss, the operation of social improvements is best carried out in a non-political folk way. In this concern, Jan. 30, 2016, I once wrote article Authorize non-partisan Super leadership assists social governance with a subtitle --- A letter to Jean Chrétien the 20th Prime Minister of Canada.
Follow was the copy of some sections of Authorize non-partisan Super leadership assists social governance.
Canada needs powerful execution
“Faced with such reality, years ago, the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson were both expressed their deep disappointment for the incompetence of democratic government and showed strong appreciation for the economic achievement and the high efficiency of the government of China.”
“Recently, federal government authorized Federal Advisory Council,Chaired by Mr. Dominic Barton who is the global managing director of consulting giant McKinsey & Co., with the members of recognized outstanding social elite in manufacturing, investment, university, innovation hub, economic forum and so on under a broader coverage socially.”
“The establishment of the Federal Advisory Council showed the strong determination of the government in boosting economy, and the Chairman Mr. Dominic Barton who has also called for an 'Aggressive' Change to lead Canada out of its cycle of feeble economic growth and to act soon.”
“I believe that above efforts has sounded the horn for opening a new era of Canada.”
“However, the strong determination and good wish is not equal to the reality, an 'Aggressive' Change would be not easy to carry out. Due to that, as usual globally, the effort for social advancement will inevitably encounter social resistance, which is mainly due to human nature in regardless the race and the nationality; it will be similar in one party dictatorship, or multiparty democracy besides the malicious obstruction of the opposition parties in democratic government.”
“As my view, the problem in Canada is not at the solution unclear, but at powerful execution. For great many years, the Gov-sponsored studies, sober social elite have proposed a lot solutions, but helpless.”
“Under the populist kidnapping, the values kidnapping and the irrational fight of the partisan parties, the government of Canada has been in hemiplegia that cannot properly play governing role.”
“The problems that cannot be solved by the government - the government that powered by the power of the State Apparatus with the legislation, the courts, the police, the army and other powerful mandatory administrative measures, the same problems will never be solved by the help of the new Federal Advisory Council under the same governing way.”
“Then, Canada will really be helpless in no way out?”
The potential Candidates for Super Leadership
“In order to increase the authority and influence of Super Leadership, we should invite some people who have outstanding social influence with political prestige that can help them to play a role as that of Eagle flying near the forest; all birds in the forest are scared to stop chirping. The fate of all Canadians should not be controlled by useless arguments.”
“Also we need a large advisory board composed of the experts who are with sufficient academic authority in different professions, and industries even from other countries.”
“Those social elites united together to form a unique power as that of bulldozer, by collectively appeal and practice, to push away resistance on the way of forward. Thereby to solve some important issues that democratic government dared not touch.”
It was obvious, above idea was not easy to be practiced, we have to look for an alternative way.
Now, the perfect alternative way has been ready, which was with the advantage that the honorable Jean Chretien is working as counsel, we should develop law firm Dentons Canada as a platform that acts as non-partisan Super Leadership to assist federal government, under the leader of the honorable Jean Chretien to deal with some thorny social issues that democratic government cannot deal with quickly.
At the same time, we should also see that the main cause of the world’s increasingly chaotic and unlivable was that those social elites evade responsibility for social governance by evading in various organizations. We must reverse such sorrow of human society by starting from law firm Dentons Canada.
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Follow was some reports about the honorable Jean Chretien
Jean Chretien: Canada must get serious about its relationship with China
1. Canada must get serious about its relationship with China: Transition Document
2. Former prime minister Jean Chretien weighs in on the federal election campaign during business stop
3. What Canada's Leadership Change Means for Asia
4. 3 Ways Justin Trudeau Will Affect Canada's Asia-Pacific Policies
5. Justin Trudeau goes from 'smearing' small business, to giving it a full cabinet role.
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6. 加中关系回暖在即
Premier Li Keqiang meets former Canadian PM Jean Chretien www.kwcg.ca/bbs/home.php?mod=space&uid=61910&do=blog&id=4085
Jean Chretien: Canada must get serious about its relationship with ... www.kwcg.ca/bbs/home.php?mod=space&uid=61910&do=blog&id=6052 Former prime minister Jean Chretien was in Vancouver Thursday. Canada-China relations to enter 'golden' era, Chinese Premier says ... www.kwcg.ca/bbs/home.php?mod=space&uid=61910&do=blog... Chrétien says PM should visit China - Canada.com ... Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien met this week with Premier LI Keqiang, who ... Excerpt: Now we know Jean Chretien's secret plan had he lost the ... https://nationalpost.com/.../excerpt-now-we-know-jean-chretiens-secret-plan And we could blame Jean Chrétien for not anticipating and preparing for what turned out to be a razor-thin referendum vote. What had looked ... Jean Chretien - Canada History www.canadahistory.com/sections/politics/pm/jeanchretien.htm The little guy from Shawinigan, as Jean Chretien liked to style himself, has been perhaps the most successful politician on the federal scene in Canada in the ... Intruder Is Charged With Attempted Murder of Canada's Premier - The ... https://www.nytimes.com/.../intruder-is-charged-with-attempted-murder-of-c 1995-11-7 - A knife-wielding intruder was charged today with trying to murder Prime Minister Jean Chretien at his official Ottawa residence early Sunday, ... Exclusive interview with former Prime Minister Brian ... - 文学城博客 https://blog.wenxuecity.com/myblog/72696/201801/40208.html By the time the three-country agreement was officially enacted, Liberal leader Jean Chrétien had taken over the prime minister's office having sent Campbell and ... Canada-China relations to enter 'golden' era, Chinese Premier says May.16, 2012, Chrétien urges closer China and Canada ties - World - CBC Jan. 11, 2013, Chrétien says PM should visit China - Canada.com Sep. 30, 2015, Canada must get serious about its relationship with China: transition document Canada must get serious about its relationship with China: transition document High-level transition document criticizes government’s approach By Peter O'Neil, Vancouver Sun October 2, 2015 http://www.vancouversun.com/news/canada+must+serious+about+relationship+with+china+transition+document/11407131/story.html
Canada is stumbling behind its western allies in the race to develop a strong relationship with China, according to a high-level transition document leaked to The Vancouver Sun. Ottawa “cannot continue to approach China in an episodic and transactional way,” states the advice to the next foreign affairs minister in an implicit, but scathing, critique of the Harper government’s approach to China. “China presents vast economic opportunities,” says the report, prepared for whichever party or parties forms government after the Oct. 19 election. “It is in Canada’s primordial national interest to maximize the benefits to be gained by economically engaging a rising China.” The report was stamped SECRET-CEO. That means Canadian eyes only, so it can’t be shared with allies in the so-called “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance of Canada, the U.S. the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. It contradicts the Harper government’s insistence that, after some fits and starts since taking power in 2006, it has been dealing with China’s emergence with a sufficient sense of urgency. “As a global power, China’s effect on Canadian interests has reached the point where it needs to be addressed by cabinet in a purposeful and systematic way,” states the draft advice to the new minister. “Most like-minded and competitor countries have already done this and are moving ahead of Canada in addressing China’s rise.” Despite China’s role as a “game-changing” force in the world and its expanding influence on Canadian prosperity, “Canada’s approach to China lacks coordination and consistent messaging,” the report adds. “This is because Canada, unlike many of our peers, has not decided how to manage the significant and challenging policy contradictions posed by a rising China.” Ottawa must stop sending inconsistent messages to Canadians about China, it says, and instead launch a “national conversation” aimed at “informing public opinion about the critical importance of China to Canada’s future prosperity” and “addressing negative opinions hindering Canada’s interests.” Several China experts and former diplomats criticized Harper for being openly critical of China and especially its dismal human rights record, after he won power in 2006. He famously said he wouldn’t put the “almighty dollar” ahead of principles, and later snubbed China by not attending the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The Tories later reversed their approach, after criticism from the business community and many Chinese Canadians, cooling the criticism and expanding high-level bilateral meetings. But in 2013 relations cooled again after Ottawa allowed a $15.1 billion US purchase of Nexen Inc. by the China National Offshore Oil Corp. — but said any future takeover bids of Canadian assets by state-owned companies wouldn’t be allowed. The Conservatives’ ambivalent approach toward China appears to mirror the attitudes of many Canadians, as successive annual polls by the Vancouver-based Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada have illustrated. The leaked report acknowledges that any government following this advice would be taking risks and facing challenges. “The main costs are political capital and attention span, as greater engagement with China would require leading public opinion on a controversial relationship and devoting less bandwidth to other regions and relationships.” While The Sun could not reach International Trade Minister Ed Fast Thursday, a Conservative spokesman defended the Tory record. “Our government is opening up new markets in the Asia-Pacific and expanding trade with China to help protect our economy and create jobs,” said Steve Lecce. “Trade between our two countries reached a remarkable $73 billion, building off the prime minister’s most recent trip to China where our government announced deals that will create more than 2,000 jobs in Canada.” One of Harper’s strongest critics on Canada-China relations, former Liberal prime minister Jean Chretien, said Thursday the Conservatives have dropped the ball and B.C. is paying the price. Chretien mentioned his numerous meetings with China’s leadership and his Team Canada trade missions while prime minister from 1993 to 2003, and said Canada was once viewed in Beijing as China’s “best friend.” “Now we’re down the list and it’s terrible for British Columbia because British Columbia is the door to the Pacific for all of the country and, in fact, British Columbia is closer to China than Australia,” he told reporters in Vancouver. “We lost the good position we had.” The report doesn’t sidestep the challenges Canada faces in dealing with China. “China poses real economic and security risks to Canadian interests, and China’s authoritarian political system is inconsistent with Canadian democratic values,” the report states. The report calls on ministers to develop a “cabinet strategy” that would include an annual meeting between the Canadian prime minister and Chinese president, an annual cabinet meeting devoted to China, the launch of negotiations towards an “economic partnership agreement,” closer defence relations, and bilateral meetings among ministers on natural resources, agriculture and the environment. poneil@postmedia.comTwitter:@poneilinottawa Premier Li Keqiang meets former Canadian PM Source: Xinhua | 2016-04-19 21:24:59 | Editor: Tian Shaohui http://www.kwcg.ca/bbs/home.php?mod=space&uid=61910&do=blog&id=4085
BEIJING, April 19, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien in Beijing, capital of China, April 19, 2016. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said there is great scope for China and Canada to cooperate more as he met with former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien in Beijing on Tuesday. China and Canada are both important countries in the Asia-Pacific region, complementary in their economies and sharing a strong friendship, Li said. China attaches much importance to relations with Canada and appreciates current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's efforts to improve bilateral ties, according to the premier. He said China is willing to hold more high-level exchanges with Canada, and to cooperate more in trade and investment, synchronizing their development strategies. Chretien agreed that Canada and China are natural partners, enjoying particular potential for more cooperation in nuclear power and infrastructure construction. He also voiced his confidence in the development of the Canada-China relationship and his willingness to help.
BEIJING, April 19, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien in Beijing, capital of China, April 19, 2016. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Canada-China relations to enter 'golden' era, Chinese Premier says Canada-China relations to enter 'golden' era, Chinese Premier says已有 204 次阅读2016-5-8 13:04 |个人分类:加拿大 http://www.kwcg.ca/bbs/home.php?mod=space&uid=61910&do=blog&id=4131
May.16, 2012, Chrétien urges closer China and Canada ties - World - CBC NewJan. 11, 2013, Chrétien says PM should visit China - Canada.comSep. 30, 2015, Canada must get serious about its relationship with China: transition document
NATHAN VANDERKLIPPE AND ROBERT FIFEBEIJING and OTTAWA — The Globe and Mail Published Last updated Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien met this week with Premier LI Keqiang, who suggested the bilateral relationship is ready for a return to its “golden years.” CCBC's Chairman Peter Kruyt was a participant in the meeting, where Mr. Chretien noted CCBC's long history of engagement in the bilateral relationship. Executive Director of CCBC, Sarah Kutulakos, further confirmed Mr. Chrétien's significant influence noting that he is “still highly respected in China.” Canada and China are set to enter a new “golden” era under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, China’s second-most powerful man told Jean Chrétien in Beijing this week. “Mr. Chrétien, it will be like the golden years of your relationship with China will be back hopefully,” Premier Li Keqiang told the former Canadian prime minister in a half-hour meeting Tuesday.
Former PM Jean Chrétien visits China (The Globe and Mail)
Mr. Chrétien in turn offered the “best wishes of Prime Minister Trudeau,” he said in an interview with The Globe and Mail.
Mr. Chrétien, in China on behalf of the Denton’s law firm, said Chinese leaders are looking forward to Mr. Trudeau’s visit to China for G20 meetings in Hangzhou in September. He would not say if the two men discussed an official Canadian visit in advance of the fall meetings, or whether a Canada-China free trade deal would be on the agenda.
“We discussed all sorts of files and we discussed international files and we discussed Canada-China relations ... so I was in a position to make hopefully some very effective representations,” he said.
Mr. Chrétien has long-standing ties to China, a country he courted both in and out of office. He championed the “Team Canada” trade missions that elevated the profile of Canadian businesses in the 1990s, but has continued to return in later years as an “old friend” of China.
The Chinese premier told Mr. Chrétien “there is great scope” for further co-operation between the two countries, and “appreciates” efforts by Mr. Trudeau to warm relations, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported. Last year was the first since 1989, the year of the Tiananmen massacre, that Canada sent no cabinet ministers to China.
The Trudeau government, however, wants to press forward on several major new trade initiatives, including talks toward a free-trade agreement. International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland has suggested Canada will also seek membership in the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank, a major Chinese initiative seen as a counter to U.S. dominance in the global financial system.
Although a free-trade deal would likely take years to complete, Canada could attempt to sign an agreement to “achieve parity” with a China-Australia free-trade agreement that entered into force late last year, said Sarah Kutulakos, executive director at the Canada China Business Council.
Mr. Chrétien, she said, has helped provided “a bridge” between Canada and China over the years. “He’s still highly respected in China,” she said, and “there is a fair amount of continuity under him.”
The Chinese premier’s reference to “golden years” echoes recent language used between China and Britain, which have heralded a “golden era” in ties. London’s courting of Beijing has resulted in major new trade contracts, including a deal by a Chinese company to develop nuclear power in Britain, and praise from Beijing.
Last fall, the nationalist Global Times newspaper called Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne “the first Western official in recent years who has stressed more the region’s business potential instead of finding fault over the human-rights issue.”
But the British embrace of the “golden era” has been controversial, labelled a “national humiliation” by Prime Minister David Cameron’s own former strategy adviser. The country’s newspaper columnists have called it a “grand kowtow” to an authoritarian regime that imprisons critics and censors free speech.
Mr. Chrétien travels regularly to China on behalf of his own private interests, including the Denton’s law firm.
A spokeswoman for Global Affairs Canada said she “had no information” on the Chrétien visit.
“Although our ambassador accompanied Mr. Chrétien, this is out of courtesy to him as our former prime minister,” Tania Assaly said in an e-mail.
Premier Li hails China-Canada relations during Chretien visit
Updated: Apr 19,2016 9:05 PM english.gov.cn
Premier Li Keqiang hailed China-Canada relations during a meeting with Jean Chretien, the former Canadian prime minister, at Zhongnanhai in Beijing on April 19. Premier Li noted that China-Canada relations developed into a “golden decade” during Mr Chretien’s administration and that China appreciates Mr Chretien’s contributions to promote the development of China-Canada relations. As major countries in the Asia-Pacific region, China and Canada are highly complementary to each other in terms of their economies. People from the two countries enjoy a profound traditional friendship. And there remains huge potential to further develop bilateral relations, according to the Premier.
China pays great attention to developing relations with Canada and appreciates Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s efforts in developing relations with China since he took office. On the basis of mutual respect, treating each other equally, mutual benefit and win-win results, China is willing to cooperate with Canada to strengthen high-level visits, promote trade investment cooperation, coordinate development strategies in basic infrastructure construction and innovation sectors, cooperate in nuclear power sectors in the third-party market, and enhance friendly exchanges in all sectors at all levels. During the meeting, Mr Chretien recalled happy memories of his visits to China and noted that China-Canada relations are well-developed and that the two economies are natural partners as they are complementary to each other. There is huge potential in nuclear energy, infrastructure construction and other sectors for both sides, he said. Mr Chretien said he believes that a new “golden era” of China-Canada relations will come and Canada is willing to cooperate with China in this endeavor. Li Keqiang Meets with Former Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada
2016/04/19
On the afternoon of April 19, 2016, Premier Li Keqiang met at Ziguangge of Zhongnanhai with former Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada. Li Keqiang expressed that the development of China-Canada relations was regarded as "golden decade" during Mr. Jean Chretien's tenure as Prime Minister of Canada. China appreciates your long-time contributions to promoting the development of China-Canada relations. China and Canada, both as important countries in the Asia-Pacific region, are complementary in their economies and share a profound traditional friendship between both peoples. There is great potential for the further in-depth development of bilateral relations. China attaches great importance to developing relations with Canada and appreciates Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's efforts to actively develop relations with China since taking office. China stands ready to, in the principle of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and win-win results, continuously strengthen high-level visits with Canada, improve level of cooperation in trade and investment, mainly synchronize development strategies in infrastructure construction and innovation, actively expand the third-party market cooperation in nuclear power and other fields, and conduct closer friendly communication at all levels and in various fields, so as to make China-Canada strategic partnership better benefit the two peoples. Jean Chretien recalled with delight his several visits to China, and said that Canada-China relations enjoy a good development, and are highly complementary in their economies. Both countries are natural cooperative partners. There are still great potentials waiting to be tapped in bilateral cooperation in such areas as nuclear energy and infrastructure construction. It is believed that Canada-China relations will open a new "golden period", and the Canadian side is willing to continuously make unremitting efforts with China in this regard. MORE RELATED TO THIS STORY
Premier Li Keqiang hailed China-Canada relations during a meeting with Jean Chretien, the former Canadian prime minister, at Zhongnanhai in Beijing on April 19. Premier Li noted that China-Canada relations developed into a “golden decade” during Mr Chretien’s administration and that China appreciates Mr Chretien’s contributions to promote the development of China-Canada relations. As major countries in the Asia-Pacific region, China and Canada are highly complementary to each other in terms of their economies. People from the two countries enjoy a profound traditional friendship. And there remains huge potential to further develop bilateral relations, according to the Premier.
During the meeting, Mr Chretien recalled happy memories of his visits to China and noted that China-Canada relations are well-developed and that the two economies are natural partners as they are complementary to each other. There is huge potential in nuclear energy, infrastructure construction and other sectors for both sides, he said. Mr Chretien said he believes that a new “golden era” of China-Canada relations will come and Canada is willing to cooperate with China in this endeavor. Li Keqiang Meets with Former Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada 2016/04/19 On the afternoon of April 19, 2016, Premier Li Keqiang met at Ziguangge of Zhongnanhai with former Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada. Li Keqiang expressed that the development of China-Canada relations was regarded as "golden decade" during Mr. Jean Chretien's tenure as Prime Minister of Canada. China appreciates your long-time contributions to promoting the development of China-Canada relations. China and Canada, both as important countries in the Asia-Pacific region, are complementary in their economies and share a profound traditional friendship between both peoples. There is great potential for the further in-depth development of bilateral relations. China attaches great importance to developing relations with Canada and appreciates Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's efforts to actively develop relations with China since taking office. China stands ready to, in the principle of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and win-win results, continuously strengthen high-level visits with Canada, improve level of cooperation in trade and investment, mainly synchronize development strategies in infrastructure construction and innovation, actively expand the third-party market cooperation in nuclear power and other fields, and conduct closer friendly communication at all levels and in various fields, so as to make China-Canada strategic partnership better benefit the two peoples. Jean Chretien recalled with delight his several visits to China, and said that Canada-China relations enjoy a good development, and are highly complementary in their economies. Both countries are natural cooperative partners. There are still great potentials waiting to be tapped in bilateral cooperation in such areas as nuclear energy and infrastructure construction. It is believed that Canada-China relations will open a new "golden period", and the Canadian side is willing to continuously make unremitting efforts with China in this regard. MORE RELATED TO THIS STORY · A blueprint for rebuilding Canada’s profile on the world stage · China open to historic free-trade deal with Canada under certain provisos · Trudeau sets sights on free-trade deal with China
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China pays great attention to developing relations with Canada and appreciates Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s efforts in developing relations with China since he took office. On the basis of mutual respect, treating each other equally, mutual benefit and win-win results, China is willing to cooperate with Canada to strengthen high-level visits, promote trade investment cooperation, coordinate development strategies in basic infrastructure construction and innovation sectors, cooperate in nuclear power sectors in the third-party market, and enhance friendly exchanges in all sectors at all levels.
BEIJING, April 19, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien in Beijing, capital of China, April 19, 2016. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)
BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said there is great scope for China and Canada to cooperate more as he met with former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien in Beijing on Tuesday.
China and Canada are both important countries in the Asia-Pacific region, complementary in their economies and sharing a strong friendship, Li said.
China attaches much importance to relations with Canada and appreciates current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's efforts to improve bilateral ties, according to the premier.
He said China is willing to hold more high-level exchanges with Canada, and to cooperate more in trade and investment, synchronizing their development strategies.
Chretien agreed that Canada and China are natural partners, enjoying particular potential for more cooperation in nuclear power and infrastructure construction.
He also voiced his confidence in the development of the Canada-China relationship and his willingness to help.
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BEIJING, April 19, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien in Beijing, capital of China, April 19, 2016. (Xinhua/Liu |
Canada and China will go to closer 加中关系回暖在即
Reproduce some articles related to the relation of Canada and China
1. Canada must get serious about its relationship with China: Transition Document
2. Former prime minister Jean Chretien weighs in on the federal election campaign during business stop
3. What Canada's Leadership Change Means for Asia
4. 3 Ways Justin Trudeau Will Affect Canada's Asia-Pacific Policies
5. Justin Trudeau goes from 'smearing' small business, to giving it a full cabinet role.
6. 加中关系回暖在即
Canada must get serious about its relationship with China: transition documentHigh-level transition document criticizes government’s approach By Peter O'Neil , poneil(at)postmedia.com
Vancouver Sun October 2, 2015 http://www.vancouversun.com/news/canada+must+serious+about+relationship+with+china+transition+document/11407131/story.html
Former prime minister Jean Chretien was in Vancouver Thursday. He said the Harper government has allowed Canada’s once healthy ties with China to wither. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Photograph by: DARRYL DYCK , THEANADIAN PRESS
Canada is stumbling behind its western allies in the race to develop a strong relationship with China, according to a high-level transition document leaked to The Vancouver Sun.
Ottawa “cannot continue to approach China in an episodic and transactional way,” states the advice to the next foreign affairs minister in an implicit, but scathing, critique of the Harper government’s approach to China.
“China presents vast economic opportunities,” says the report, prepared for whichever party or parties forms government after the Oct. 19 election. “It is in Canada’s primordial national interest to maximize the benefits to be gained by economically engaging a rising China.”
The report was stamped SECRET-CEO. That means Canadian eyes only, so it can’t be shared with allies in the so-called “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance of Canada, the U.S. the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
It contradicts the Harper government’s insistence that, after some fits and starts since taking power in 2006, it has been dealing with China’s emergence with a sufficient sense of urgency.
“As a global power, China’s effect on Canadian interests has reached the point where it needs to be addressed by cabinet in a purposeful and systematic way,” states the draft advice to the new minister. “Most like-minded and competitor countries have already done this and are moving ahead of Canada in addressing China’s rise.”
Despite China’s role as a “game-changing” force in the world and its expanding influence on Canadian prosperity, “Canada’s approach to China lacks coordination and consistent messaging,” the report adds. “This is because Canada, unlike many of our peers, has not decided how to manage the significant and challenging policy contradictions posed by a rising China.”
Ottawa must stop sending inconsistent messages to Canadians about China, it says, and instead launch a “national conversation” aimed at “informing public opinion about the critical importance of China to Canada’s future prosperity” and “addressing negative opinions hindering Canada’s interests.”
Several China experts and former diplomats criticized Harper for being openly critical of China and especially its dismal human rights record, after he won power in 2006. He famously said he wouldn’t put the “almighty dollar” ahead of principles, and later snubbed China by not attending the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
The Tories later reversed their approach, after criticism from the business community and many Chinese Canadians, cooling the criticism and expanding high-level bilateral meetings.
But in 2013 relations cooled again after Ottawa allowed a $15.1 billion US purchase of Nexen Inc. by the China National Offshore Oil Corp. — but said any future takeover bids of Canadian assets by state-owned companies wouldn’t be allowed.
The Conservatives’ ambivalent approach toward China appears to mirror the attitudes of many Canadians, as successive annual polls by the Vancouver-based Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada have illustrated.
The leaked report acknowledges that any government following this advice would be taking risks and facing challenges.
“The main costs are political capital and attention span, as greater engagement with China would require leading public opinion on a controversial relationship and devoting less bandwidth to other regions and relationships.”
While The Sun could not reach International Trade Minister Ed Fast Thursday, a Conservative spokesman defended the Tory record.
“Our government is opening up new markets in the Asia-Pacific and expanding trade with China to help protect our economy and create jobs,” said Steve Lecce.
“Trade between our two countries reached a remarkable $73 billion, building off the prime minister’s most recent trip to China where our government announced deals that will create more than 2,000 jobs in Canada.”
One of Harper’s strongest critics on Canada-China relations, former Liberal prime minister Jean Chretien, said Thursday the Conservatives have dropped the ball and B.C. is paying the price.
Chretien mentioned his numerous meetings with China’s leadership and his Team Canada trade missions while prime minister from 1993 to 2003, and said Canada was once viewed in Beijing as China’s “best friend.”
“Now we’re down the list and it’s terrible for British Columbia because British Columbia is the door to the Pacific for all of the country and, in fact, British Columbia is closer to China than Australia,” he told reporters in Vancouver. “We lost the good position we had.”
The report doesn’t sidestep the challenges Canada faces in dealing with China.
“China poses real economic and security risks to Canadian interests, and China’s authoritarian political system is inconsistent with Canadian democratic values,” the report states.
The report calls on ministers to develop a “cabinet strategy” that would include an annual meeting between the Canadian prime minister and Chinese president, an annual cabinet meeting devoted to China, the launch of negotiations towards an “economic partnership agreement,” closer defence relations, and bilateral meetings among ministers on natural resources, agriculture and the environment.
poneil@postmedia.comTwitter:@poneilinottawa
Former prime minister Jean Chretien weighs in on the federal election campaign during business stop in Vancouver
Thursday, October 1, 2015
By Glen Schaefer, The Province
Former prime minister Jean Chretien says he doesn’t miss the ‘very tough job’ of running the country. Jason Payne/PNG
Photographed by:
Jason Payne, PRV
Former prime minister Jean Chretien is the antithesis of the modern politician — unfiltered, unpackaged, and unapologetic.
Chretien, 81, now general counsel for international law firm Denton’s, arrived in Vancouver on Wednesday for a client dinner and various meetings, and was scheduled to fly back to his Quebec home first thing Friday morning.
In between, he was enlisted to add a little star power to the federal Liberals’ fight for B.C. seats.
“I miss campaigning,” he said, “and I miss Question Period, but I don’t miss the running of the country, it’s a very tough job.”
Chretien praised Liberal leader Justin Trudeau: “He’s talking to the press, he’s not afraid. I was with him in Hamilton, and he took questions until the last.
“It was not two questions where the guy had been selected ahead of time,” he added, in an apparent allusion to the practice of Conservative leader Stephen Harper.
This election cycle, Chretien has written a widely circulated public letter bemoaning the changes to Canada’s foreign policy stance under Harper.
He has also made some trademark off-the-cuff remarks along the way, such as when Justin Trudeau’s Liberals voted to support the Conservatives’ anti-terrorism bill C-51, giving police more powers.
“Probably I would have voted against it,” said Chretien of that legislation, which some see as an attack on the Charter of Rights that Chretien shepherded through Parliament as justice minister under Trudeau’s father in 1982.
Chretien said the younger Trudeau “consults with me once in a while, but he has to do it his way. Sometimes he listens, sometimes he doesn’t. He’s the boss.”
Looking back on his own career in politics, Chretien said: “I always enjoyed talking, I made myself available. You take some risks.
“Sometimes you guys wrote that I made mistakes — I probably did make mistakes. But I was talking to you, so people knew what they were buying when they voted for me.”
What Canada's Leadership Change Means for Asia
What will Canada’s Asia policy look like under new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau?
By Bochen Han October 26, 2015
In a sweeping upset that brought down the decade-long Conservative regime, 43-year old Canadian Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau captured the golden snitch in parliamentary politics: a majority government. Armed with this mandate, Trudeau has a lot of room to make changes in Canadian foreign policy if he chooses to — and it’s likely he will.
Trudeau, the son of former Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau, carries not only his father’s legacy on his shoulders but also that of the Liberal Party of Canada, which governed Canada for almost seven decades in the 20th century and saw the likes of Nobel Peace Prize winner Lester B. Pearson and Trudeau senior making major headway abroad. This legacy, built upon notions of peacekeeping, pluralism and multilateralism — and one that the Canadian left claims has been diluted over recent years — featured prominently in the election campaign, and is set to inform the prime minister-elect’s decisions going forward.
A rough outline for Trudeau’s foreign policy looks something like this: in line with his Liberal predecessors, he wants Canada to take on a more proactive global role and become the peaceful multilateralist that he says went on hiatus under the previous government. Trudeau will be a pragmatist, but he will also seek to insert the ‘liberal’ back into foreign policy — which means doing more on climate change and refugees, and less on fighter jets and democratic capitalism on Huntington-esque terms.
Having won the election riding on voter fatigue with the incumbent party, Trudeau can be bold without alienating his public (at least for the initial months). Asia — China especially — is a particular policy area where he has been urged to take more action.
Some quick statistics: China consistently ranks as Canada’s second-largest trading partner (after the United States). According to 2014 estimates, Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong also figure within Canada’s top 10.
What’s puzzling — and disconcerting to Asia watchers in Canada — is that these numbers do not reflect how much China, or Asia as a whole, featured in an election campaign driven by economic concerns. During the foreign policy leaders’ debate, Asia was discussed fleetingly by the then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and China was mentioned only once in passing. The question now, and one that’s especially relevant as Canada debates ratification of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), is what the new Trudeau government means for Canada’s Asia policy.
First of all, despite rising concerns and the lack of public knowledge about the agreement, Canada will most likely follow through and ratify the TPP. While Trudeau wiggled on his position prior to the election — fearful of angering his voter base in the domestic auto industry — he knows that Canada simply cannot afford to leave the agreement. His public statement prior to the election, while not offering any commitments, avows his support for free trade and promises a full and open debate for Canadians to weigh in on the agreement upon his election to office.
But whether or not Canada joins will not be as much a deal-breaker for the trade partnership as the omission of either the U.S. or Japan. Canada currently accounts for only seven percent in total GDP contribution, and so while its absence will be regrettable, the threshold of 85 percent GDP contribution needed for the agreement to come into force can be reached with the participation of other countries as long as the U.S. and Japan are involved.
The lack of public engagement on the TPP in Canada is part of a broader truth: Asia simply isn’t a top priority in the public mind. That narrative plays out through numbers. A 2014 national poll conducted by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) reveals that less than 39 percent of Canadians aged 55+ believe that Asia should be a top foreign policy priority. The number, at 42 percent, is slightly higher for those 18-29. Along the same lines, only 44 percent of those older than 55 believe that Canada would benefit from more investment in Asia. For those 18-29, the percentage drops to 42 percent. What’s more, these percentages are all slight dips from 2013.
A similar survey conducted earlier this year reveals that while a majority of respondents expressed positive views of investment from Japan, South Korea, and India, only 42 percent viewed Chinese investment in a favorable light. Canadians are especially wary of China’s investments in the resources and urban real estate sectors, and are still bitter over the 2012 $11.4 billion USD purchase of the Canadian oil company Nexen by state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) — then the largest-ever single acquisition by a Chinese company.
Feeding into these reservations are Canadian concerns over China’s records on issues like the environment and human rights. APF Canada concludes in their report that Canadian views on foreign investment are intimately tied with their perceptions of the investing countries.
Prominent media commenters like former Canadian prime minister Jean Chretien have for years disparaged Harper’s foreign policy and his lack of attention on Asia — the roots of which could either lie in the public apathy or in Harper’s reluctance to move away from his “principled” foreign policy, or both. Experts who study the Asia-Pacific say that Canada is not taken seriously in the region, noting that outside of showing up to a few key conferences, the country is largely absent from several regional multilateral bodies. In his recent book Middle Power, Middle Kingdom, former Canadian ambassador to China David Mulroney calls out Harper on his “on-again, off-again relationship” with China.
Under Trudeau, China is where we’ll most likely see a shift in attitude, and a more invigorated approach in the warming of relations. Trudeau’s numerous statements over the years — including a gaffe praising China’s “basic dictatorship” for helping turn around its economy — highlight his eagerness to pursue a more consensual, pragmatic approach to China (similar to that of the British).
Along these lines, Canada will most likely support China’s entry into the TPP. Moreover, the Trudeau government will look very closely at China’s proposal to establish a free trade agreement (FTA) with Canada, and, according to Brock University professor Charles Burton, will realize the deal before the next election in 2019. Some experts also expect Canada to reconsider membership in the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Trudeau also has his legacy on hand to play. The fact that Pierre Trudeau was one of the first Western leaders to establish diplomatic relations with China has not been forgotten by a dynasty-conscious China, where President Xi Jinping is one of many second-generation leaders. Trudeau will receive a warm welcome when he makes it over to Beijing, a visit during which the Chinese will no doubt pump nostalgia over the important role his father played during the Cold War. (Photos of Trudeau senior during his trip to China in 1973 are already trending on Chinese social media forums.)
At the end of the day Trudeau’s foreign policy will be aggressive, but in a different manner than his predecessor. In other words, expect little Canadian action in the South China Sea and more on less controversial areas like the environment.
What Trudeau will need to wrestle with is that, regardless of any enthusiasm from Ottawa, Asia will only view Canada as a middle power. And with the mellowing of his appetite for change over time, Trudeau will soon realize the great constraints that come with being the leader of an avowed peace-loving democracy. But, as British Prime Minister David Cameron himself declared amid accusations last week of selling out to China, constructive economic relationships and engagement on controversy are not necessarily mutually exclusive. It is up to Trudeau to navigate a balance between the two to establish the Canada that he claims to stand for: a global leader and a vibrant economic force in Asia.
3 Ways Justin Trudeau Will Affect Canada's Asia-Pacific Policies
Canada’s new Liberal Party prime minister will steer his country in a familiar direction in Asia.
By Benjamin David Baker October 28, 2015;
Justin Trudeau’s recent election as Canada’s new prime minister has caused much speculation on the political future of the country. The 44-year-old politician, son of a former Liberal prime minister and political heavyweight Pierre Trudeau, has surprised many observers by having inherited his father’s flamboyance and charisma as well as his political staying power. (Not to forget his skill in the ring; Trudeau Jr. unexpectedly beat conservative Patrick Brazeau in a charity boxing match a short while ago.)
Much of the election campaign was driven by domestic issues, with Canada’s engagement the Middle East and the Arctic taking up what bandwidth existed for foreign policy. During the campaign period’s only foreign policy debate, arranged on September 26, the Asia-Pacific was barely discussed at all.
That doesn’t mean that Asia won’t be an important part of Trudeau’s foreign policy. Canada is a party to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a massive free-trade agreement with several East Asian states, including Japan, Vietnam and Malaysia. The Arctic, a region which Trudeau has pledged to prioritize, is rapidly gaining the attention of several Asian states. A large and increasing part of Canada’s electorate boasts some form of Asian heritage, which could influence policies toward the region. However, it is Ottawa’s relationship with Beijing which represents Canada’s most important interest in the region.
So what will Trudeau’s Asia policies look like? Here are three areas to watch.
1. Canada will probably ratify the TPP.
Unlike Bernie Sanders, his co-leftist south of the border, Trudeau has cautiously defended the deal in principle, but has previously reserved the right to withdraw from negotiations if the finalized clauses didn’t meet Canadian standards. There have been fears from particularly the automotive industry and agricultural lobby that Canadian jobs will be outsourced and products will be displaced by cheap Asian imports. Trudeau has also accused outgoing Prime Minister Stephen Harper of having conducted the negotiations in secret, without involving parliament. According to Trudeau, “The Harper Conservatives have failed to be transparent through the entirety of the negotiations – especially in regards to what Canada is conceding in order to be accepted into this partnership. We’re going to have to take a long hard look at the details of the deal.”
After the Liberal win, however, it seems like the new Liberal government will accept the TPP. During the congratulatory phone conversation between U.S. President Barack Obama and Trudeau, the deal was an important topic. According to the White House, “they noted the successful conclusion of Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations and the need to move forward with implementing the high standards of the agreement, which promises to boost economic growth and support good-paying jobs on both sides of the border.” This indicates that Trudeau will support the agreement. Furthermore, Trudeau has previously stated that Liberal MPs will be unable to exercise a free vote when it comes to the TPP, which will help ensure that the deal will pass Parliament.
2. Canada’s relationship with China will improve
China represents the single most important relationship for Ottawa in East Asia. The country is Canada’ssecond-largest trading partner. Canada is an important source of natural resources (particularly timber, rare earths, and oil), high-tech manufactured goods, and advanced technology for China. Chinese investments represent a significant part of foreign direct investment in Canada’s economy. This notably includes hydrocarbons and Canada’s advanced manufacturing sector.
Chinese-Canadians make up roughly 5 percent of Canada’s population, and are becoming an increasingly important part of the country’s political life. Many of these Canadians have families and economic ties to China (particularly in Hong Kong and Guangdong) and support greater freedom of movement and business with the country. However, they are also vocal critics of the country’s human rights record. Back in 2013, Trudeau statedthat he had “a level of admiration … for China because their basic dictatorship is allowing them to actually turn their economy around on a dime.” This caused a backlash from the Canadian-Asian community, who demanded that Trudeau apologize.
3. Trudeau will probably strengthen Canada’s military presence in the Pacific
Unlike several other U.S. Pacific allies such as Australia, the Philippines, and Japan, Canada has not figured heavily in the U.S. “Pivot to Asia.” Although it has participated in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercises, most recently in 2014, most of Canada’s international military efforts have been focused on NATO operations in Afghanistan and Iraq/Syria.
However, the Liberal Party has stated that it will scrap Canada’s participation in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighterproject. Much of the F-35’s funding will instead go into expanding and refurbishing the Canadian Navy. According to the Liberal Party, “These investments will ensure that the Royal Canadian Navy is able to operate as a true blue-water maritime force.” The Libary Party has further stated that it will withdraw its fighters from Syria (although not its training missions and humanitarian aid)
Furthermore, Trudeau stated that he will significantly increase Canada’s participation in peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief missions. Put together, this could mean a larger Canadian military engagement in the Pacific, although mostly in a UN and humanitarian capacity. Canadian troops were involved in the humanitarian mission in the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan and have traditionally been a large source of UN peacekeepers as well. For these reasons, Canada will continue to remain an important player in the Pacific.
Despite not having played a central part in the election itself, Asia is sure to be an important part of Trudeau’s tenure. Asia is important to Canada, whether its politicians acknowledge it or not.
Abe, Canada’s Trudeau agree on TPP, China maritime issues in telephone talks
JIJI OCT 31, 2015 SEARCH
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Canada Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau agreed Friday that the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact will bring benefits to the region.
In their telephone talks, Abe and Trudeau also agreed to reject any attempt to change the status quo by force — an apparent reference to China’s maritime assertiveness in the East and South China seas.
While congratulating Trudeau on his Liberal Party’s election win, Abe said that he hopes the new leader will make use of his youth to exercise strong leadership.
Jean Chretien: Canada must get serious about its relationship with China
已有 17 次阅读2017-10-8 21:49 |个人分类:加拿大
High-level transition document criticizes government’s approach
By Peter O'Neil, Vancouver Sun October 2, 2015
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/canada+must+serious+about+relationship+with+china+transition+document/11407131/story.html
Former prime minister Jean Chretien was in Vancouver Thursday. He said the Harper government has allowed Canada’s once healthy ties with China to wither. Former prime minister Jean Chretien was in Vancouver Thursday. He said the Harper government has allowed Canada's once healthy ties with China to wither. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckPhotograph by: DARRYL DYCK , THEANADIAN PRESS
Canada is stumbling behind its western allies in the race to develop a strong relationship with China, according to a high-level transition document leaked to The Vancouver Sun.
Ottawa “cannot continue to approach China in an episodic and transactional way,” states the advice to the next foreign affairs minister in an implicit, but scathing, critique of the Harper government’s approach to China.
“China presents vast economic opportunities,” says the report, prepared for whichever party or parties forms government after the Oct. 19 election. “It is in Canada’s primordial national interest to maximize the benefits to be gained by economically engaging a rising China.”
The report was stamped SECRET-CEO. That means Canadian eyes only, so it can’t be shared with allies in the so-called “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance of Canada, the U.S. the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
It contradicts the Harper government’s insistence that, after some fits and starts since taking power in 2006, it has been dealing with China’s emergence with a sufficient sense of urgency.
“As a global power, China’s effect on Canadian interests has reached the point where it needs to be addressed by cabinet in a purposeful and systematic way,” states the draft advice to the new minister. “Most like-minded and competitor countries have already done this and are moving ahead of Canada in addressing China’s rise.”
Despite China’s role as a “game-changing” force in the world and its expanding influence on Canadian prosperity, “Canada’s approach to China lacks coordination and consistent messaging,” the report adds. “This is because Canada, unlike many of our peers, has not decided how to manage the significant and challenging policy contradictions posed by a rising China.”
Ottawa must stop sending inconsistent messages to Canadians about China, it says, and instead launch a “national conversation” aimed at “informing public opinion about the critical importance of China to Canada’s future prosperity” and “addressing negative opinions hindering Canada’s interests.”
Several China experts and former diplomats criticized Harper for being openly critical of China and especially its dismal human rights record, after he won power in 2006. He famously said he wouldn’t put the “almighty dollar” ahead of principles, and later snubbed China by not attending the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
The Tories later reversed their approach, after criticism from the business community and many Chinese Canadians, cooling the criticism and expanding high-level bilateral meetings.
But in 2013 relations cooled again after Ottawa allowed a $15.1 billion US purchase of Nexen Inc. by the China National Offshore Oil Corp. — but said any future takeover bids of Canadian assets by state-owned companies wouldn’t be allowed.
The Conservatives’ ambivalent approach toward China appears to mirror the attitudes of many Canadians, as successive annual polls by the Vancouver-based Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada have illustrated.
The leaked report acknowledges that any government following this advice would be taking risks and facing challenges.
“The main costs are political capital and attention span, as greater engagement with China would require leading public opinion on a controversial relationship and devoting less bandwidth to other regions and relationships.”
While The Sun could not reach International Trade Minister Ed Fast Thursday, a Conservative spokesman defended the Tory record.
“Our government is opening up new markets in the Asia-Pacific and expanding trade with China to help protect our economy and create jobs,” said Steve Lecce.
“Trade between our two countries reached a remarkable $73 billion, building off the prime minister’s most recent trip to China where our government announced deals that will create more than 2,000 jobs in Canada.”
One of Harper’s strongest critics on Canada-China relations, former Liberal prime minister Jean Chretien, said Thursday the Conservatives have dropped the ball and B.C. is paying the price.
Chretien mentioned his numerous meetings with China’s leadership and his Team Canada trade missions while prime minister from 1993 to 2003, and said Canada was once viewed in Beijing as China’s “best friend.”
“Now we’re down the list and it’s terrible for British Columbia because British Columbia is the door to the Pacific for all of the country and, in fact, British Columbia is closer to China than Australia,” he told reporters in Vancouver. “We lost the good position we had.”
The report doesn’t sidestep the challenges Canada faces in dealing with China.
“China poses real economic and security risks to Canadian interests, and China’s authoritarian political system is inconsistent with Canadian democratic values,” the report states.
The report calls on ministers to develop a “cabinet strategy” that would include an annual meeting between the Canadian prime minister and Chinese president, an annual cabinet meeting devoted to China, the launch of negotiations towards an “economic partnership agreement,” closer defence relations, and bilateral meetings among ministers on natural resources, agriculture and the environment.
poneil@postmedia.comTwitter:@poneilinottawa
Justin Trudeau goes from ‘smearing’ small business, to giving it a full cabinet role
Claire Brownell | November 4, 2015 5:41 PM ET
(Wayne Cuddington/ Ottawa Citizen)Minister of Small Business and Tourism Bardish Chagger as the Liberal government is sworn in at Rideau Hall.
Eight weeks ago Justin Trudeau was scolded by the Tories for “smearing” small business, after making it sound like owners were tax cheats. This, after telling an interviewer that he had reservations about small-business tax cuts because “a large percentage of small businesses are actually just ways for wealthier Canadians to save on their taxes.”
But on Wednesday, the Trudeau government gave the small business file a promotion, elevating it from a junior minister of state position to a full cabinet role.
Waterloo’s Bardish Chagger, a 35-year-old rookie MP who previously worked at the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre, became minister for small business and tourism Wednesday. (Conservative MP Maxime Bernier, who was responsible for small business in the previous government, was a minister of state, or junior minister.)
CHRIS WATTIE/AFP/Getty ImagesCanada's new Small Business and Tourism Minister Bardish Chagger is sworn-in during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa November 4, 2015.
Liberal spokesman Olivier Duchesneau said the party decided to eliminate all junior minister positions, with the exception of Calgary MP Kent Hehr, whom Trudeau named associate minister of national defence, as well as minister of veterans’ affairs. Duchesneau said he was not able to comment on the party’s reasons for doing this.
But Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said he’s taking the new cabinet position as a sign that the Liberals want to play nice with small businesses.
“The fact small business would be there as a full minister is obviously a positive sign that this remains a priority for the federal Liberals,” he said. “That’s a good thing.”
(Peter Power for PostMedia News)Dan Kelly is the President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
Kelly said he likes many elements of the platform the Liberals campaigned on, including considering reducing the small-business tax rate from 11 per cent to nine per cent and waiving EI premiums for new jobs for people aged 18 to 24 for the next three years. He said he’s generally optimistic about working with the new government, but has some concerns about a proposed expansion of the Canada Pension Plan — and, of course, Trudeau’s suggestion that cuts to small business taxes frequently only help tax-avoidance schemes of the wealthy.
“If it’s reducing access to the small-business (tax) rate for professionals like doctors and lawyers or for businesses with three or fewer employees… we’d obviously take big issue with this,” Kelly said. “But I’m going to go into this optimistically, with the view that what he’s talking about is going after tax cheats. If that’s the case, then we’d certainly be behind him.”
Donna Dooher, president and chief executive of Restaurants Canada, said she expects Chagger’s experience working with new Canadians will be an asset, given the labour shortages the food service industry is experiencing as the population ages.
“We’re very pleased,” Dooher said. “We think her experience will come in really handy when we look towards the immigration challenges and the labour challenges that we have specifically in the hospitality industry.”
Economist Jack Mintz, who has studied the effects of reducing the small-business tax rate, said Trudeau wasn’t necessarily wrong about wealthy people incorporating small businesses to avoid taxes, although he said it’s not fair to single them out since we all try to avoid paying more tax than we have to. Instead of reducing the tax rate for small businesses, Mintz suggested getting rid of boutique tax credits and preferential rates for different sizes of businesses altogether and lowering taxes across the board.
“There’s been a serious issue about whether these incentives really have worked at getting growth going,” Mintz said. “Businesses end up facing higher effective rates as they try to grow in size. That actually discourages growth.”
Kelly said he disagrees with that point of view, calling it “an academic argument that doesn’t work in the real world.” When it comes to working with the new government, Kelly said he’s certain there will points of disagreement as well.
“No doubt we’ll have some points of friction,” Kelly said, “But there are lots of files we feel we’ll be able to work with.”
加中关系回暖在即 蒙特利尔特约记者 潘卫
播放日期 03-11-2015 更改时间 03-11-2015 发表时间 15:50
尽管贾斯汀·杜鲁多要到11月4日才正式就任加拿大总理，中国总理李克强却早在10天前就向他伸出了橄榄枝，除发出访华邀请外，还称习近平会在11月30日召开的巴黎气候大会和稍后的亚太经合组织峰会及20国首脑峰会上与他会晤。加拿大原驻华大使马大维称中国正寻找改善两国关系的机会，这种机会似乎无处不在。但对卸任总理哈珀来说情况则不同，他等了两年才有习哈会，自2011年以来他多次邀请习近平到访，至今也不见人影。
种种迹象显示，加中关系回暖在即。日本《外交官网站》10月26日撰文《加拿大新政府带给亚洲的变化》，称杜鲁多在加拿大外交政策特别是中国政策上有很大的改善空间，这将使两国关系升温。过去杜鲁多没有掩饰对中国的好感，两年前他曾表示“在一定程度上欣赏中国的基本独裁”，这表明他追求像英国那样更务实的中国政策。文章预测加拿大极有可能支持中国加入跨太平洋伙伴协定，与中国谈判自由贸易协定并考虑加入以中国为首的亚洲基础设施投资银行。尽管贾斯汀·杜鲁多要到11月4日才正式就任加拿大总理，中国总理李克强却早在10天前就向他伸出了橄榄枝，除发出访华邀请外，还称习近平会在11月30日召开的巴黎气候大会和稍后的亚太经合组织峰会及20国首脑峰会上与他会晤。加拿大原驻华大使马大维称中国正寻找改善两国关系的机会，这种机会似乎无处不在。但对卸任总理哈珀来说情况则不同，他等了两年才有习哈会，自2011年以来他多次邀请习近平到访，至今也不见人影。
杜鲁多改善对华关系的前景得到多位自由党要员的背书，前总理克里田在大选前指责哈珀政府令原本健康的加中关系萎靡不振，在他任内加拿大被视为中国最好的朋友，而现在冷却到了第三线国家。前总理保罗·马丁10月29日在上海强调杜鲁多家族对中国有着很深的感情，老杜鲁多年轻时就向往中国，1970年率加拿大与中国建交，是深受北京尊重的加中关系奠基人。预计自由党内部不会对升温对华关系有太多分歧，《温哥华太阳报》称“在加拿大历史上，自由党的对华政策更加开放，它以传教士的方式帮助中国走向现代化”。
《温哥华太阳报》在大选前获取的一份秘密文件也为加中关系新走向背书， 这份加盖了CEO秘密字眼的报告（SECRET-CEO）警告“加拿大必须认真对待与中国的关系”，该文件仅提供给加拿大决策者，不予五只眼情报网络里的美国、英国、澳大利亚和新西兰等盟国分享。文件称“在与中国发展牢固关系的比赛中，加拿大已落后于西方盟国，并指”通过与崛起的中国合作来获取最大经济实惠，是加拿大首要的国家利益“。
文件批评哈珀自2006年执政后对华关系忽冷忽热，以仓促方式应对中国崛起，提醒新政府“作为全球大国的中国对加拿大利益的影响已经大到需要内阁制定目标明确和系统性的政策“，建言”新政府制定内阁战略，内容包括加拿大总理与中国国家主席的年度会晤，内阁每年召开一次中国主题会议，与中国签订经济伙伴协定，建立更紧密的防务关系，并就自然资源、农业和环境等问题展开部长级双边会谈“。
这份秘密报告称“尽管中国在全球扮演的是‘游戏规则改变者’的角色，其对加拿大繁荣的影响力不断增强，加拿大对华政策显得缺乏协调和一致性，这是因为加拿大还没有和其西方盟国那样制定出一个政策，以应对崛起的中国带来的越来越多的挑战“。
报告建议渥太华停止传递关于中国的混乱信息，推出旨在“告知公众舆论关于中国对加拿大未来繁荣至关重要”的“全国对话”，“以应对阻碍加拿大利益的负面意见“。
加拿大亚太基金会多年的民调显示，保守党矛盾的对华政策反映了许多加拿大人的心态，秘密文件承认改变对华政策需要面对风险和经受挑战，因为加强与中国的关系会把民意导向争议，中国对加拿大利益带来的风险表现在经济和安全方面，中国的威权政治体制与加拿大的民主价值观格格不入。
本期《北美来鸿》是由法国国际广播电台特约记者潘卫制作，感谢收听。
