Canada Day message 2023

July 1, 2023

Stronger together in the Indo-Pacific

As we celebrate Canada's 156th birthday, the relationship between Canada and Japan is rapidly expanding with more opportunities to work together than ever before. Since my message a year ago, two important new frameworks have been introduced to guide Canada's relations with Japan and the rest of the Indo-Pacific.

First is the Canada-Japan Action Plan for contributing to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, jointly announced by our Foreign Ministers. The Action Plan commits both countries to implement bilateral initiatives aimed at promoting the rules-based international order, economic growth, energy security, biodiversity, and climate change action.

Second is Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, a government-wide policy that represents a significant deepening of Canada's foreign policy, trade, and development focus on the region, with an initial investment of almost C$2.3 billion in new funds over the next five years. The Action Plan and the Strategy are closely aligned, ensuring that Japan stands at the core of Canada's approach to the Indo-Pacific. This centrality is illustrated by my appointment in April 2023 as Canada’s Special Envoy for the Indo-Pacific, in addition to my primary role as Ambassador.

Japan has become a key entry point for Canada's growing presence in this part of the world. Canadian military aircraft and vessels are now regularly operating in and around Japan to counter North Korea’s evasion of UN sanctions, while Canadian government aircraft are deployed to Hokkaido to detect and deter illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the North Pacific. Numerous Canadian delegations visit Japan to discuss security, trade, science, environment, and culture, expand people-to-people ties, and celebrate diversity and inclusion.

Strengthened Canada-Japan cooperation is taking place in an increasingly difficult geo-political, economic, and environmental context. At their meetings in January and May 2023, Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Kishida reaffirmed their determination to address these challenges together, notably by cooperating in the context of Japan’s G7 presidency. The Leaders’ Communiqué from the Hiroshima Summit sent a strong message regarding the need to build an inclusive and resilient world, while the location of the meeting provided an eloquent reminder of the suffering caused by war. Prime Minister Trudeau was deeply moved by his visit to the Peace Memorial Museum. Canada and Japan's shared resolve not to repeat the horrors suffered in Hiroshima further motivates us to uphold the rules-based international order, protect our democracies, and promote human rights.

Our commercial relationship is thriving due to our complementary economies. As founding members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, Canada and Japan worked together to negotiate successfully the United Kingdom’s entry into this important grouping. We will strengthen our efforts with Japan to establish resilient, secure, and sustainable supply chains, including in critical technologies and minerals, supported by a well-functioning rules-based multilateral trading system. As Canada establishes new clean industries to fight climate change, we encourage Japanese corporations to explore innovation and research partnerships, to invest in Canada, and to contribute their world-class technologies to this remarkable transition and opportunity.

Canada and Japan are natural partners. The new structures we have put in place this past year underscore our common values and priorities, and our shared vision for the future. I am excited by the enormous potential of the relationship and am honoured to serve as Canada’s Ambassador to Japan. Happy Canada Day! 

Ian G. McKay
Ambassador of Canada to Japan