Overview: 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. 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 is funded primarily by the proceeds of an endowment from the Government of Canada and by corporate and individual donors. Project funding is provided by Western Economic Diversification Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Government of British Columbia. It produces an annual report which is provided to the Minister of Foreign Affairs within four months of the end of the Foundation’s fiscal year (March 31). The Minister may then table a copy of the report before each House of Parliament. The report is also made available to the public, in both official languages, within six months of the end of each fiscal year. Its head office is in Vancouver, B.C., as required by the founding Act.

The affairs of the Foundation are managed by a Board of Directors.

The structure and activities of the Foundation are governed by the Asia-Pacific Foundation Act (1985 as amended). See Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada Act (R.S., 1985, c.A-13).

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada became subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act on April 1, 2007. Information in the following section and in the Proactive Disclosure section provides a detailed description of the Foundation, its activities and its directors, senior staff and advisors.