Opinion Piece-Embassy Magazine

The Conservative government's decision to close Canadian consulates in Milan, Italy; St. Petersburg, Russia; and Fukuoka and Osaka, Japan, will have significant economic and political impact with our relations with these countries.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter MacKay and his parliamentary secretary have stated that the closing of these consulates will not affect Canadian services in those countries. Well I can tell you from personal contact, the Japanese representation in Canada is not convinced.

In January the Japanese ambassador voiced strong disappointment over the closing of two Canadian consulates in his country in this magazine. As the Chamber of Commerce in Japan indicated to me, they are strongly urging the Government of Canada to immediately review its decision. The Japanese have indicated that the closures send the wrong message.

Japan is Canada's second largest trading partner. The Kansai Region centered in Osaka has a GDP greater then all of Canada. The Conservative government's plan to replace this consulate with a handbook on how to do business is shocking. In diplomatic circles this is simply a slap in the face to a trusted ally and significant trading partner. In a relation-based culture such as Japan, the cost of this loss is beyond calculation and will be felt for many years to come.

Recently, I challenged the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the consulate closures at his appearance before the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. The Minister simply replied that governments have to make "tough decisions" about "budgetary limitations" and that "the Japanese understand fully the type of constraints that countries are under with respect to consular services and with respect to trade relations."

As I stated before the Committee, I have heard from several sources including, the Japanese Ambassador to Canada and the Japanese foreign affairs Minister, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan, the Canada-Japan Society of British Columbia who all note the decision of this government is perplexing given that Japan is Canada's largest offshore export market, second only to the United States as a destination for goods and services.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan has indicated to me that the consulates also serve as a focal point for the collection and dissemination of information to Japanese and Canadian companies, organizations, and individuals. The information, contacts, and goodwill developed over years will be lost in these closures. In a relation-based culture such as Japan, the cost of this loss is beyond calculation and will be felt for many years to come.

I have asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs to examine the rational, the cost and the implications of the decision to close the Canadian consulates particularly in Japan.
The government suggests that the decision for the closures is purely financial. Given the fact that Japan is the world's second-largest economy and is bigger than all of the economies in Asia combined, including China, I question the rational of a decision that will diminish ties with Canada's second largest trading partner.

When asked about any further closures the Minister replied, "I can only say that there has been no final decision made in that regard." Ominous sounding given what the Conservative government has already managed to "accomplish" on the international file.