Departure Statement by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for His Official Visit to Canada

Thank you, Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto, for your introduction

Please sit down.

Members of the Cabinet; Pasay City Lone Rep. Antonino Calixtro, Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano. Long time no see. We were together at the Philippine Air Force commemoration, AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr., and the Major Service Commanders; PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. Is he here? No, he is busy. PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan; First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos; Fellow workers in government; Ladies and gentlemen; Good evening.

I depart for Canada today, with the First Lady and Members of Cabinet, for an Official Visit upon the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada, the first visit undertaken by a Philippine President in a decade.

Established in 1949, our diplomatic ties with Canada span 77 years and continue to grow from strength to strength.

We have deepened engagement across a broad range of priority areas, including economic cooperation, defense and security, agriculture, and people-to-people ties.

At the onset of my administration, we intensified our campaign for diversification

of partnerships—strengthening existing ones and building new strategic ones.

With Canada, we have seen an unprecedented momentum in the deepening of bilateral relations.

It may not be known to many, but Canada has been consistent and steadfast in its statements of support for the Philippines’ assertion of its sovereignty and sovereign rights, especially in the midst of the ongoing issues we are facing in the West Philippine Sea.

Canada’s consistent support, both bilaterally and multilaterally, reflects our shared interest in upholding a rules-based international order, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

It is thus imperative that we further strengthen this connection with our longstanding friend and partner, as we navigate the shared challenges we face as Pacific nations.

We have launched the negotiations for the Philippines-Canada Free Trade Agreement, alongside our negotiations for the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement. And the Free Trade Agreement between the Philippines and Canada is very much in the works right now.

Our mangoes have very recently entered the Canadian market.

In 2024, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation, followed by the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement in 2025.

Early this year, we held our inaugural Maritime Dialogue.

Our people-to-people ties were further strengthened by the launch of the non-stop Air Canada route between Vancouver and Manila last year.

This development complements Philippine Airlines’ flights connecting Manila with Toronto and Vancouver, as well as the more than 200 agreements between the educational institutions and government agencies of our two countries.

My visit will build on this very positive trajectory as we pursue new collaborations in niche areas, such as in mining, critical minerals, and renewable energy.

We are also undertaking arrangements that would harness the strength of our diaspora

as the anchor of our bilateral relations, such as in culture and the arts, and tourism.

I will have a one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Carney, followed by an expanded meeting with our respective delegations, to specifically pursue these collaborations as both sides look to elevate Philippines-Canada relations.

I expect the discussions to lay the broad strokes of a Plan of Action, which I will task the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to craft with her counterpart.

This Plan of Action will shape the next phase of our bilateral relations and ensure the sustained and dynamic growth of our partnership in the years to come.

While we have renewed our focus towards the bilateral partnership, Philippines-Canada relations cannot grow in a vacuum.

Recent developments have shown that despite the more than ten thousand kilometers of distance that separate us, our regions are interconnected.

I intend to work with Prime Minister Carney in adapting to shifting global realities,

addressing shared challenges, and building capacities for a future-ready partnership.

I will speak with Prime Minister Carney about our shared view of the importance of the Indo-Pacific, of ASEAN, and of multilateral cooperation.

I view Canada’s increasing role in the Indo-Pacific as a positive force for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.

I will also invite Canada to play a more proactive role while the region addresses the impact of the situation in the Middle East.

I will talk about the Philippines’ goals as this year’s ASEAN Chair, on ensuring energy and food security, strengthening maritime cooperation, and promoting the safety of ASEAN nationals.

I will convey the Philippines’ keen interest in continuing its regional work with Canada through the ASEAN-Canada Dialogue and other ASEAN mechanisms.

A key focus is the deepening of trade and investment relations, with the goal of increasing our two-way trade and bringing the Philippines within the investment radar of Canada’s economic players—the mining sector, IT-BPM, nuclear energy, telecommunications, cyber technology, and financial services, among others.

I intend to hold one-on-one business meetings and participate in roundtable discussions with private sector leaders for this purpose.

While in British Columbia, I will meet with the Filipino community in Canada who have become our country’s best ambassadors.

Mayroon pong humigit-kumulang na isang milyong Pilipino sa Canada ngayon. They are well-respected and sought after for their skills, professionalism, and dedication.

Dito sa Pilipinas, patuloy silang nakikilahok sa pagpapaunlad ng ating ekonomiya at pagpapatatag ng ating demokrasya, sa kabila ng ilang taong pagkakawalay sa bayan.

I most certainly look forward to reconnecting with them.

Malayo ang biyahe at ang oras ay laging kulang. Ang mahalaga ay ating maipaabot ang mga prayoridad ng ating pamahalaan at na hindi masayang ang pagkakataong palawigin ang pagkakaibigan para sa mas masiglang komersyo, kooperasyon, at pagtutulungan.

Maraming salamat sa inyo. Magandang gabi sa inyong lahat.

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