Flows of People and the Canada-China Relationship in the 21st Century

Abstract

The twenty first century movement of people between China and Canada has a variety of implications for bilateral relations and Canada’s foreign policies. The flow of people between the two countries is increasingly characterized by two-way movements and by transnational citizens with business, personal, and emotional attachments on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. This paper starts with an overview of the multi-stream flows of people between China and Canada and illustrates how Chinese communities in Canada have been reshaped as a result. It also discusses the growing Canadian diaspora in China. It argues that the Chinese communities in Canada and Canadians in China can form the human platform for building stronger relations between the countries.

Looking through the lens of the human capital exchange, this paper illustrates that China constitutes an important source of international skills flow to meet Canada’s human resource needs. Diversified Chinese communities play a crucial role in the accumulation of human capital for Canada and will continue to do so for many future generations. In addition to various skills that Chinese immigrants, students and temporary workers contribute to Canadian economy, there are many other contributions that Chinese communities in Canada and Canadian diaspora in China can make, such as, entrepreneurship and international business skills, transnational networks and linkages, knowledge sharing and innovation connections, that all have significant economic benefits for Canadian and Chinese economies.

The turn of the twenty first century witnessed game-changing dynamics of people moving between China and Canada that have broader foreign policy implications. Nowadays, China is both a source and a destination for people seeking new opportunities. Canada needs to position itself as a preferred destination for Chinese immigrants, students and visitors. Canada should also prepare for more Canadians “going east” to study and work. It should also note that the image of Chinese Canadians today is vastly different than it was in the last two centuries when Chinese immigrants were stereotyped as railway coolies, laundrymen and waiters. What the Chinese Canadian community looks like today is as diversified as Canadian society is as a whole. It is hoped for the day when Chinese Canadians would “not be distinguished from other Canadians.” Furthermore, how should Canada better leverage its expatriate communities in China to enhance opportunities for trade, investment and business between the two countries? This is a new game for Canada.

Canada needs a smarter, more proactive and collaborative approach in addressing this exchange of human capital in the twenty first century. A smarter policy will ensure that Canada brings in international skills for the benefit of all Canadians. A more proactive approach would help Canada be prepared for broader human capital issues, including embracing the returning Canadians from overseas. The most challenging area is collaborating with Chinese counterparts. There is notable friction in a wide range of issues related to human capital exchange between the two countries, such as on citizenship, taxation, social security and health care, foreign skills recognition, etc. A broader China policy could ensure that China’s economic rise benefits Canada by increasing two-way trade and investment in goods and services, as well as by increasing two-way flows of people between the two countries.

An early version was presented to “Migration in China and Asia: Experience and Policy”—a seminar of the International Metropolis Project in China, May 20–21, 2010 Beijing. It was revised in April 2012 with the help of grants from the International Development Research Centre in Ottawa, and the Province of British Columbia, Victoria, under the auspices of the Canada-China Human Capital Dialogue. Critical comments from participants at the Metropolis seminar and research assistants by Mikhail Iturralde are gratefully acknowledged.