The Honourable David Tkachuk, Senator, Co-Chair of the Canada-Japan
Inter-Parliamentary Group (CJIG) and Mr. Mike Wallace, M.P., Co-Chair of the
Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group (CJIG) conducted the CJIG annual
Co-Chair’s visit to Tokyo (Japan) from April 7 to 12, 2013. The primary purpose
of the visit was to discuss the parameters for the upcoming Bilateral Meeting
between Canadian and Japanese parliamentarians, to be held in Canada. The visit
also allowed the Co-Chairs to meet the new Co-Chair and Executive Committee
Members of the Japan-Canada Interparliamentary Group, and reaffirm to their
Japanese counterparts the importance of the Canada-Japan partnership. The Co-Chairs were accompanied by Mr. Roger Préfontaine,
Executive Secretary for the CJIG.
Objectives
-To discuss the objectives and parameters for the Bilateral Meeting;
-To raise Canada's profile in Tokyo through strategic engagement of
Diet members, local officials and Japanese and Canadian businesses; and
-To reinforce links between parliamentarians from Canada and Japan.
The Japan-Canada Diet Friendship League
The visit coincided with the re-establishment of
the Japan-Canada Diet Friendship League following the
2012 lower House elections. The Co-Chair’s visit allowed for the renewal of
ties with the recently elected members of the Lower House and the newly
appointed League President, Minister of Justice, Sadakazu Tanigaki.
The visit was successful in renewing the
relationship between the two parliamentary organizations and opening the door to an early autumn visit to Canada by the
Japan-Canada Diet Friendship League.
Minister Tanigaki (Liberal Democratic Party of
Japan (LDP))
As the new President of the Japan-Canada Diet
Friendship League, Minister of Justice, Sadakazu Tanigaki spent a significant
amount of time with the visiting Co-Chairs. Minister
Tanigaki reiterated his pleasure in accepting the role of President of the
League. He expressed his desire to see an active relationship develop leading
to concrete results. Recent consultations, in his view, demonstrated that
parliamentarians can strengthen bilateral relationships. He pledged to work
closely with the members of the League to ensure that there is a visit to
Canada this calendar year.
Mr. Wallace took the opportunity of the meeting to
thank Japan for tabling legislation to ratify and implement the Hague Convention. He invited Japan to contact Canadian
officials if they would like to discuss the implementation of the Convention.
The Canada-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement
(CJEPA) was an important subject of discussion and both sides agreed to support
efforts to seek a rapid conclusion to the negotiations.
As Minister of Justice, Tanigaki discussed some of
the challenges related to the Japanese justice and penitentiary system. In
particular, he seemed eager to discuss means to combat recidivism through
programs such as training opportunities for inmates.
Ms. Shinako Tsuchiya (LDP)
Following her return to the Diet, Ms. Tsuchiya has
retaken her role as Secretary General of the Japan Canada Diet friendship
League. Given the energy she previously devoted to the work of the League, her
appointment is seen as a positive sign for the League. The Co-Chairs and Ms. Tsuchiya discussed the next steps for the
relations between the Canadian and Japanese parliamentary groups and the
prospects for the next annual consultations in Canada, and in particular, a
visit including the province of Saskatchewan, possibly during the autumn.
Themes for the Bilateral would include agriculture, mining, trade, energy and
security issues.
The Co-Chairs used the opportunity of their
meetings with key decision makers to promote the CJEPA
negotiations and Canada as a secure source for energy. Japanese Diet members
were very interested in the Co-Chairs views of the Trans Pacific Partnership
(TPP) negotiations.
Automotive sector
In addition to Tokyo, the Co-Chairs visited Nagoya
to meet with companies that have invested in Canada and to obtain a better
sense of the situation facing the Japan-Canada automotive sector.
The Co-Chairs visited the Toyota Takaoda Plant and
assembly line, the JTEKT Corporation, an automotive
part manufacturer (bearings and driveline products) and the Toyota Boshoku
Corporation (automotive interior products, systems and powertrain components).
Japanese automotive stakeholders assured the Co-Chairs of their support for the
CJEPA.
Japan-Canada Bilateral Relations
Japan remains a key factor in Canada’s strategic
and economic interests. Both countries have maintained a vibrant relationship,
and continue to cooperate on issues both at the
bilateral and multilateral levels, including those related to the environment
and development and security matters. Japan is one of the world’s largest
economies and one of Canada’s most important economic and commercial partners.
Moreover, it is important as a high-technology economy that offers significant
potential for further partnership in their respective priority sectors.
Conclusion
The Canadian Parliament and the Diet of Japan
share a most privileged relationship, enhanced through visits such as the
annual Co-Chairs visits. These visits allow both legislatures to acknowledge
the importance of the Canada-Japan partnership and to work towards a better
understanding of the more immediate issues. The visit to Tokyo was an excellent opportunity for the Co-Chairs of the CJIG not only to fortify but
also to create new contacts in Japan. Moreover, it allowed the Co-Chairs to
undertake necessary discussions with their counterparts related to the planning
and organization of the 19th bilateral meeting in Canada.
A summary of the travel
costs is appended to this report.