PAST EVENT
Partners in a Shifting World: Canada and the Philippines
A conversation with the Philippine Ambassador to Canada
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Platform Calgary, East Annex
Calgary, AB
VENUE SPONSOR
With appreciation to Platform Calgary, our venue sponsor, for generously providing the space for this event.
The Indo-Pacific region is changing fast. As Canada’s strategy for the region enters its third year, attention is shifting from high-level policy to practical action.
The Philippines sits at the centre of this shift. Its economy is four times larger than it was 20 years ago and is projected to become the 14th largest in the world by 2075. Canada is already a $3.2-billion trade partner and home to nearly one million people with Filipino roots. Yet many Canadian businesses may overlook the specific opportunities this growth creates, particularly in infrastructure and energy.
To discuss the realities of this relationship, Canada West Foundation hosted His Excellency Jose Victor V. Chan-Gonzaga, Philippine Ambassador to Canada, in discussion with Gary Mar, CWF President and CEO.
Together, they unpacked the state of the bilateral relationship and discussed areas where cooperation is growing.
Video
Three key takeaways
A Relationship in “Renaissance”
The Ambassador described the current state of relations between our two countries as a “renaissance,” driven by shared values and a mutual commitment to a rules-based international order. He emphasized that the Philippines (with its approximate five per cent annual growth and young, English-speaking workforce) should be viewed as a gateway to the broader Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) market.
Lessons on security and engagement
Canada and the Philippines are ahead of the curve on the Indo-Pacific Strategy, particularly regarding defense. The ambassador pointed to the “Dark Vessel Detection program” as a model for Canadian engagement. In this initiative, Canada provides satellite technology to help the Philippines monitor illegal fishing and maritime crime. This practical support builds the trust necessary for broader economic relations.
Opportunities for Western Canada
The Ambassador outlined areas where Canadian expertise is needed, including the $150 billion “Build Better More” infrastructure program. He also noted strong interest in collaboration on Canadian LNG and low-carbon hydrogen as transition fuels, as well as on small modular reactors (nuclear) to meet future energy needs.
As the Ambassador noted in his closing thoughts, the goal is to move from this current “renaissance” into a long-term period of enlightenment and industrial cooperation between our countries.
SPEAKER
His Excellency Jose Victor V. Chan-Gonzaga
Philippine Ambassador to Canada
Ambassador Jose Victor V. Chan-Gonzaga is a career diplomat and lawyer with over 25 years of service in the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador Chan-Gonzaga has held key positions in both bilateral and multilateral postings, including as Consul General and Minister for Economic Affairs at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. and as Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., and First Secretary at the Philippine Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization in Geneva.
At the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, he served as Assistant Secretary of the Office of American Affairs; Executive Director and Director for Treaties (Economic, Socio-Cultural) of the DFA’s Office of Legal Affairs; and Director for Social Development Issues and Human Rights and Economic, Finance, Agriculture, TCDC and IP Matters of the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations. In these various capacities, he played a pivotal role in strengthening key bilateral ties in the Americas, advancing Philippine interests in international treaty negotiations and developing legal policy in diplomacy.
MODERATOR
Hon. Gary G. Mar, KC
President & CEO, Canada West Foundation
Since 2020, Gary Mar has served as President & CEO of the Canada West Foundation, an independent, non-partisan, evidence-based public policy think tank focused on Western Canada. The Foundation ensures that Western Canada’s priorities backed by its economic strength shape national policy through bold solutions and strategic engagement. Under Gary’s leadership, the Foundation’s team of public policy and communications experts advances the interests of Western Canadians by working with governments, industry and partners to build a stronger, more united and prosperous Western region, one that powers Canada’s future.