BC’s cultural identity continues to evolve, whether we like it or not.
That’s perhaps most notable the further back in history you look. For any Canadian with an Asian cultural background, B.C. has come a long way from the rigid and implicitly racist views underlying the “British Columbia for the British” slogan that permeated the province’s social and political fabric a century ago.
From an economic and business perspective, stubbornly thinking of B.C. as it once was risks the long-term viability of virtually every industry in the province. While much has been said about going abroad to diversify B.C.’s export market, Kevin Rudd, former prime minister of Australia, suggested local businesses would benefit from openly accepting the influx of Asian immigrants, consumers and business leaders that will be coming to our side of the Pacific.
The opportunities alone from the 100 million Chinese tourists expected over the next decade could provide significant boosts to B.C.’s challenged tourism sector. “Where are they going to go? Countries where they are met and greeted in the language they are familiar with,” said Rudd at a recent conference organized by the Business Council of BC and the BC Chamber of Commerce.
An important part of that acceptance, however, is fundamentally respect.
“Frankly, an attitude of some cultural respect for these high civilizations and cultures, despite the things that may cause us to feel uncomfortable, is important to doing business effectively,” he said.
Admittedly, this growing acceptance has not come quickly down under. Rudd noted it’s taken Australia nearly 40 years to shift its views on Asia from being a strategic threat to “where we have our home.”
But Canada has a long way to go. An Asia Pacific Foundation survey released last year found that less than 30% of Canadians consider Canada as part of the Asia Pacific region. Canadians also had cool feelings toward China, India, Southeast Asia and Korea – regions that also happen to be key targets for export growth.
In times when the most developed countries have the slowest levels of growth, it might be time to open up here at home and turn the foreign into the familiar for new and old Canadians alike. •
