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It is commonly said that Canada has a large untapped asset in its large Asian-Canadian population and that this untapped asset should be mobilized or utilized in building its relations with Asia. This belief is founded on the assumption that Asian-Canadians, because of their heritage, have a natural interest as well as cultural and linguistic skills to serve as Canada’s bridge to Asia. Yet, some second generation Asian-Canadians - and greater numbers of third and fourth generation Asian-Canadians – neither speak an Asian language nor have they set foot in Asia, two elements generally considered necessary for Asia competence. If you agree that Asian-Canadians are an asset, how do they make a unique contribution to Canada-Asia relations? And if not, why so?
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