| Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1984 |
| Location | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| President | Yuen Pau Woo |
| Website | Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada |
The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, created by an Act of Parliament in 1984, is an independent, not-for-profit think-tank on Canada's relations with Asia.[1]
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Based in Vancouver, the Foundation functions as a knowledge broker, bringing together people and knowledge to provide current and comprehensive research, analysis and information on Canada's transpacific relations. It promotes dialogue on economic, security, political and social issues, fostering informed decision-making in the Canadian public, private and non-governmental sectors. The Foundation also provides grants to support policy research and informed discussion on Canada’s relations with Asia.
The Foundation was created as part of the Canadian government’s growing interest in relations with Asia under the administrations of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Its inception in 1984 was led by the Department of External Affairs, and was specifically proposed by the director general of the Department’s Asian and Pacific bureau, Tom Delworth. At the time the Department was headed by Secretary of State for External Affairs Joe Clark. Soon after, Vancouver businessman John Bruk was commissioned by the Department to undertake a study of the proposal. His report was accepted and became the basis for the founding Act. Bruk became the founding Chairman. The founders aimed to create an independent source of thought on Canada’s trade, investment and political relations with Asia. This came amidst the growing perception of Canada as a Pacific country, compared with its relations being conducted primarily by the Eastern provinces across the Atlantic.[2] As a result it was mandated that the Foundation’s primary office should always be in Vancouver, British Columbia as to promote relations with Asia across the Pacific.[3] This idea was the premise for the creation of the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative, whose mission is to establish Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor as the best transportation network facilitating global supply chains between North America and Asia.
The Foundation was initially funded on short-term plans or for specific projects with contributions from both the Federal and Provincial governments, as well as by corporate and private donors. In 2005 a founding supporter of the Foundation, Senator Jack Austin, led an initiative to award the Foundation a C$ 50 million endowment from the Government of Canada, from where it now draws the majority of its funding.[4]
The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada undertakes strategic research on Canada's economic, political and social relations with Asia-Pacific. The goal is to provide guidance on Asia Pacific topics for business and governments, and to enhance the links among the policy, business and research communities in areas relating to Canada's ties with Asia.
The affairs of the Foundation are managed by a Board of Directors. The Board consists of a Chairperson and up to six other directors appointed by the Governor in Council; up to 18 additional directors appointed by the Board after consultation with provincial governments and other interested outside parties; and the President of the Foundation. The Chairperson and each of the Board members is appointed for a term of three years, and may serve a maximum of three terms. The Board, which has ultimate responsibility for the Foundation’s activities, meets at least twice a year. It is responsible for setting the strategic directions of the Foundation, management of the endowment fund, and appointment of the President.
Yuen Pau Woo is the current President and CEO. He is Coordinator for the PECC State of the Region Report, Director of the APEC Study Centre in Canada, and Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Asian Research at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
The Foundation undertakes research and analysis on Canada-Asia relationships and publishes the results on its website. Electronic publications are available free of charge and include: a daily Canada-Asia News Service (a summary of stories involving Canada-Asia business and government relations and links to the main headlines from Asia); Canada Asia Commentary (an in-depth analysis of a topic of importance to Canada's relations with Asia); Canada Asia Agenda (a concise analysis of issues in Canada's involvement with a major Asia Pacific partner or major regional industry); Research Reports (research on areas of Canada’s involvement with Asia undertaken by Canadian scholars); Asian Business Cases (studies offering executives and researchers insights into the way major companies solve problems and overcome obstacles in their Asian operations, taken from the portfolio of case studies in the archive of the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario); and Investment Monitor(a summary of new Canadian investments in Asia and Asian investments in Canada). All of the publications are available through the Foundation's subscription service.
The Foundation focuses on my aspects of the Canada-Asia relationship including trade, human rights, two-way investment and more. The Foundation's work covers all of Asia-Pacific with an especially strong focus on Canada-China relations and Canada-India relations.
The Foundation also operates a video channel, Asia Pacific Video [2]. The channel regularly features Foundation staff and outside experts discussing relevant topics in Canada-Asia relations. Past videos have featured Joe Clark, Joseph Caron, Jim O'Neill, Richard Woolcott and Louise Fréchette.
The Foundation’s Research Grants Program is funded through the proceeds of an endowment established by the Government of Canada and is designed to support research and informed discussion on Canada’s relations with Asia.
The current Senior Fellows for the Foundation are Amitav Acharya, Wendy Dobson, Brian Job, Pitman Potter, George Stalk, Henry Wang and Hank Bull.
The current Distinguished Fellows for the Foundation are Stockwell Day, Len Edwards, Joseph Caron and Donald W. Campbell.
In April 2011 the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada launched a new project entitled the National Conversation on Asia (NCA). The NCA is an initiative to get Canadians thinking, talking and acting on Canada-Asia issues. The project features an Emerging Voices on Asia blog, online conversations, an interactive map project, community events, speaker series, and other outreach and engagement activities.
Through a program of stakeholder consultations, research and public communications, the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is seeking to advance dialogue on Canada's Asia Pacific Gateway, identifying policy priorities for governments and measures to strengthen the competitiveness of Canadian businesses and contribute to sustainable gateway communities.
The Canadians Abroad Project consists of a policy research consortium initiated by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada with the support of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Western Economic Diversification Canada, the Government of British Columbia and the Walter & Duncan Gordon Foundation. The three-year (2008–2010) joint research project analyzes the causes and consequences of the Canadian citizens by birth or naturalization living abroad. The project profiles Canadians that live in other countries. Some of its work includes qualitative research that estimates there are bout 2.8 million Canadians (about 8% of Canada's population) living abroad.[8] The Foundation recently released an interactive map of the distribution of Canadians abroad [3].
Surveys and opinion polls are important tools in gaining information and insight into the views or intentions of various groups. APF Canada undertakes several such surveys each year. Among these are the Asian Investment Intentions Survey and, every second year, a nationwide opinion poll, testing attitudes toward a number of issues involving Asia.
APFC compiles an extensive daily digest of top stories of Asia headlines, as well as current news on Canada-Asia business and government relations. Available via email subscription or on the website.