Canadian diaspora

Tapping into Canada's Human Resource Potential

Author(s): Kenny Zhang

Published: July 06, 2011  

Op-Ed

Canada is known as one of the richest natural‐resource countries in the world, with an economy that has seen relatively strong growth in recent years thanks to high commodity prices.

Yet what remains relatively unknown is Canada’s rich abundance of human resources – and the country’s economy could grow much stronger if it can harness the potential of the 2.8 million Canadians living abroad.

Nearly 57 per cent of those Canadian expats live in the US, Greater China, the UK and Australia—the economies that represented a total of 84 per cent of Canada’s export market and 66 per cent of its import market in 2010.

As a trading nation, Canada’s economy relies heavily on extensive and effective international engagement and interaction. On average, one‐fifth of Canada’s economic growth has been attributed to export growth over the last five years. Total international trade in goods and services represented 70 per cent of the Canadian GDP in the same period.

In today’s globalized world, goods, capital, information and people move across borders more extensively than ever before. In order to maintain a winning edge, countries need to maintain and improve their international competitiveness. If Canada is to be a more competitive nation, it is crucial for this country to keep up its international presence.

However, Canadians are divided on how this country should participate in globalization.

On the one hand, Prime Minister Harper and his government are determined to lift Canada into a bigger role on the world stage with a global commercial strategy. The government has even identified 13 priority markets around the world where Canadian opportunities and interests have the greatest potential for growth.

Canada’s international commercial network is being strengthened with over 900 Canadian Trade Commissioners active in over 150 cities worldwide. The Canadian global strategy is also backed by provincial and regional governments and private initiatives to ensure the country can compete globally.

Ironically, Canadians sometimes forget that for such strategies and initiatives to play a bigger role internationally, they need to be implemented and delivered by people—both Canadians and friends of Canada—who have the necessary international skills and experience.

When our trade commissioners, executives, engineers, professors and ESL teachers participate in the global businesses, they converge into a global Canadian talent pool and become an international extension of Canada’s human resources.

Instead of being cultivated, however, they are facing mounting penalties at home for being away from this country.

They will not be allowed to vote in Canada’s elections after five years away from Canada. Some professional practice licenses will be suspended depending on the rules applicable in their last province of residence and to the sector in which they practiced. Even their grandchildren will not be allowed to inherit Canadian citizenship if they continue living and working abroad.

To some extremes, their Canadian identity and loyalty are questioned or suspected. The globalization of Canada’s human resources is often overlooked and undervalued by some of our fellow citizens at home.

The reasons are deeply rooted in a mindset that has been shaped by a national psyche that idealizes Canada as a destination of receiving immigrants. We tend to believe that migration is a static one‐way street rather than a dynamic two‐way movement.

Confusion arises between the notion of being a Canadian and being in Canada, leading at times to an undervaluation of international experience that could contribute to greater human resource richness to Canada at home and on the global stage.

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s research argues strongly that the Canadian population abroad should be seen not just as a potential liability, but also as an asset for the country. Three steps will help Canada turn the challenges into opportunities.

First, we need to change our mindset to embrace all global Canadian citizens at home and abroad.

Second, we need to stop policies and practices that discourage attachments and connections between Canadian citizens abroad with home Canada.

Finally, we need to institutionalize our policy mechanisms turning a narrow, piecemeal and reactive policy into a broader, more co‐ordinated and proactive approach.

This important Canadian global asset should not be overlooked, and Canada is richer than we think if the country is ready to harness the potential of its 2.8 million Canadians abroad.

Kenny Zhang is a senior research analyst at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada specializing in China and immigration topics. This article was based on a new APFC report released last week entitled Canadians Abroad: Canada’s Global Asset and available on the foundation’s website.

This op‐ed was first published in the Embassy Magazine on July 6, 2011.

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