Carney signs a strategic agreement with the Philippines during Marcos’ visit to Canada
Leaders from Canada and the Philippines signed agreements Thursday on energy, natural resources, labor and tourism, as the countries cemented shared priorities and hopes for a trade deal.
“We have the same aspirations, in terms of what we want to achieve in the world,” said Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. he told reporters in Vancouver, during his first visit to Canada by a Philippine head of government in more than a decade.
Prime Minister Mark Carney invited Marcos to visit Canada as the two countries aim for a bilateral trade agreement when Carney heads to Manila for a summit in November.
Marcos will be chairing the conference of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a bloc Canada is negotiating with on trade.
On Thursday, Marcos and Carney presided over the signing of agreements aimed at improving economic activity between the two countries, including a memorandum seeking greater protection for Filipino workers in Canada and greater labor mobility.
“Filipino workers make incredible contributions to communities,” Carney said, giving the example of care workers and nurses. “We will make sure that they are treated fairly, that they can work safely and that their rights are respected.”
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Marcos said there is already a strong people-to-people relationship, and the two countries can create a “mutually beneficial talent pipeline for the future” involving many sectors of the economy.
“To express this full potential, it is important for Filipino professionals to be able to do their jobs in Canada. In this case, we will convey our hope that the governments of Canada and the provinces will continue to cooperate,” said Marcos.
Carney says Filipino Canadians are “at the heart” of Canada, and both countries can benefit from energy security and valuable minerals through strategic cooperation.
About one million people in Canada identified as Filipino in the 2021 census.
He said that the countries have different values and a “motive to strengthen” the relationship, both have signed a series of agreements involving defense.
Asia Pacific Foundation vice president Vina Nadjibulla wrote in an analysis that Marcos’ visit shows that Canada’s four-year Indo-Pacific strategy is starting to show results.
“Since the launch of the 2022 strategy, the relationship that once focused mainly on people-to-people contacts has expanded into a broader relationship that includes trade, investment, energy, maritime security, cybersecurity and defense,” Nadjibulla wrote this week in Policy Magazine.
Canada’s work in detecting black vessels is helping the Philippines identify vessels engaged in illegal or unreported activity, he said, and Manila appreciated Canada’s repeated approval of a UN court that ruled against Beijing’s territorial claims in waters widely understood as Philippine jurisdiction.
The Philippines is now looking to Canada for oil, gas and nuclear technology to develop mineral processing, data centers and advanced manufacturing, he wrote, especially as the Iran war hits Asian countries hard.
Nadjibulla wrote that Carney and his predecessor Justin Trudeau visited Asian leaders abroad, but that they came to Canada shows a real interest in those countries. He noted Canada’s recent invitations to Japan and Indian leaders.
“The strategic relevance of Canada also depends on whether other leaders are ready to invest political capital by coming here,” Nadjibulla wrote.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
