Welcome to Filipino Trade Delegates

Hon. David Kilgour, P.C., M.P.

Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) and M.P. for Edmonton Southeast

Tom Brown Arena, Ottawa, November 12, 2003-11-13

Magandang gabi sa inyong lahat- good evening to all!

Thank you, Alicia Natividad, for allowing me to say a few words. I won’t be very long.

It’s a great pleasure to welcome, on behalf of the Canadian government, our guests from the Philippines Canada Business Council and to everyone here this evening. Tonight is one more event  that testifies to the fact that the Filipino community in Canada, over 400,000 strong and growing (including about 5,000 in Ottawa), is one of the most dynamic in our country. 

Canadians of Filipino origin are well-represented everywhere in society: in politics, in medicine, in the arts. There’s a very vibrant community in Southeast Edmonton; I can’t count how many times I’ve been fortunate enough to experience the warmth of Filipino hospitality.

I’ve travelled twice to the Philippines as a Secretary of State, having visited Manila and the growing trade centre of Cebu. Although certain challenges still present themselves, Filipinos and Canadians are doing good work together in trade and in development to help advance all our interests and I’m more than interested in your ideas about how we can do that better.

Enjoy your evening, and welcome. Thank you, ma bu hay.