Middle East Business Magazine and News interview with the Honourable Jim Carr, Canada’s Minister of International Trade Diversification
The Middle East Business Magazine and News had the chance to meet with the Honourable Jim Carr in his first visit as Minister of International Trade Diversification to Palestine. We share here with you our interesting encounter with Minister Carr, in which we had a conversation about Canada, trade, Palestine, the Arab world, Saudi Arabia—and even music.
How do you combine all of your various experiences as minister of natural resources, as a musician and as a businessman to bridge Canada with the Arab world since you are now the Minister of International Trade Diversification?
Well, we are all an accumulation of our experiences, and my experience happens to include music and politics and journalism. But something that is common about that is communicating, whether you communicate through the universal language of music or as a writer with the English language, as in my case. To be able to communicate is a value when talking to friends around the world, to try to come up with what we share. And it’s not difficult for me on this trip to come up with values that we share and aspirations for our children. I was very happy to learn on this trip about the birth of my first grandchild, which happened only a few days ago. Well, why are we all doing all of this? We are doing all of this for our children and grandchildren. So, your question is how do I use my past experiences to further this relationship? It’s by finding common ground and by looking for ways where we can move together.
It’s been only few months since you became the Minister of International Trade Diversification, and this is your fifth trip outside Canada in this position. You chose Palestine as part of your trip. Why so? What’s your aspiration for this visit?
My aspiration is to grow the trading relationship between Canada and the people who live here. The reason this is a value is because with trade comes growth, and with growth comes jobs. When I go back to Winnipeg South Centre—these are the people who elected me—I want to say that I have been around the world, and I think there is every possibility that we will create jobs. And the way you create jobs is by creating wealth, and the way you create wealth is by expanding the trading relationship.
What’s your impression about Palestine?
That people want more trade with Canada, and that people want to fully realize their potential and their aspirations. And they see that Canada is a place where they want to make business because, in part, of personal relationships. My grocer, where I buy groceries in Winnipeg three times a week when I’m home, is a Palestinian who comes here often. That matters more than a little bit because when you develop trust with people in your own neighborhood and your own community, you can see potential that you wouldn’t otherwise see.
Canada has announced $50 million for the support of Palestinians coping with the effects of humanitarian crises and for the economic prosperity for women and youth. Can you provide more details on these contributions?
It’s very important to encourage women and entrepreneurship because for too long women have not been given the opportunity to realize their full potential. And that’s true in Canada as well as around the world. So trade diversification means more than just expanding export markets, it also means diversifying those who are involved in trade, and we think that the potential for women to be more involved is very considerable. That’s why we were so pleased today to work with the Business Women Forum to give them a bit of a head start, to get to know the president a little bit and to work together so we can achieve a common objective, and that is to take full advantage of the entrepreneurial spirit of women.
You’ve just announced the Canadian-Palestinian business council. How would that help encourage business between Canada and Palestine, which doesn’t exceed $5 million in trade exchange between the two countries? How would you see this business council working?
I think that the business council will spend a lot of time and energy putting together a group of people who want to strengthen ties with Canada, who have an understanding of the Canadian economy, and that the two-way trade can grow. It grows when you have people who have made concentrated effort to achieve these goals, and we know that it’s long past the time for a council to be created. We are very glad to announce it today, and we, of course, want to work closely with the members of the council to make sure they maximize their potential.
Do you think two-way trade will exceed $5 million in the coming years?
We have hopes [smiling]!
I read in the blog of Thomas Woodley, President of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, that Canada should do more than giving money to Palestinians. He said this after Canada had contributed $25 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. What do you think should be done beyond money?
I guess I would want to know what he means! But I can tell you that Canada looks for a just and lasting peace, and we will be a constructive partner in the peace process as we were before and want to be again. But the leadership will not come from Canada or other countries, the leadership has to come from people who are here, who are most affected. Canada will be a constructive partner, and we will add value when we are asked to do something.
What is Canada’s policy towards the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement? Because when we talk about business and economy in Palestine, we talk about occupation and we talk about the impediments that Palestinians suffer from. BDS calls for a peaceful economic resistance, and Canada is having an issue with this. What is your vision?
Our vision is free trade and to support entrepreneurship around the world. We don’t want to look at ways to suppress any economic growth, we want to look for ways of encouraging it. That has been the position of the Canadian government, as always.
What do you think about illegalizing the BDS? They are trying to make an awareness movement on this specific issue!
They are perfectly entitled to try to raise awareness. It’s the position of the Government of Canada to see if it’s helpful and if there is a resolution. So that’s the position of the government. Of course, we believe in freedom of expression, and we believe that people have the right to express their point of view as the Canadian government has the right to express its own.
You tweeted that 2.9% of the economic growth in Canada, partially due to the energy and pharmaceutical industries. How do you think those two sectors—energy and pharmaceuticals— can be used to create business relations with Canada?
Those aren’t the only sectors where there is potential. We think there’s potential in agriculture and information technology, right up and down the economies of the West Bank and Gaza. And in Canada, there is potential, and that’s why we have a representative office in Ramallah, to share the interests of Canada in the region. We will encourage sectoral information wherever we think it’s appropriate, wherever we think there is something to be gained for all involved. So, I wouldn’t want to isolate one or two sectors of the economy. We heard from people over lunch today, and there was a long list of what they believed to be avenues to growth. We will take our cues from the entrepreneurs and from the business leaders as to where they see an opportunity, and it’s the role of government to facilitate that opportunity and to remove impediments where impediments might be.
How would you extend more economic ties with the Arab world?
That’s why I’m here in Ramallah. I want to extend capabilities in the Arab world and all over this very huge planet. Just in the last 12 days, I spent some time in Thailand, Singapore, Israel and now today in Ramallah, and I understand that there is potential everywhere. Canada has an interest in diversifying its trade and diversifying those who lead in trade businesses. That’s why I’m here, and I’m encouraged from what I have heard and looking forward to next time to have this conversation.
How is the Saudi relationship with Canada going?
We have every interest in de-escalating the conversation between Canada and Saudi Arabia. We are very encouraged by the decision to allow students to stay longer in Canada and by the expressions of the minister of energy that there will be no impact on the flow of resources to Canada. We continue to have these conversations, but we also continue to make the point that Canada will always assert its values. Where we see human rights abuses, we’ll call them out.
What are your thoughts on music and politics?
I was asked about being a musician and a politician yesterday. If you want to be an effective orchestral player, you have to play in tune and in harmony with those with whom you play. If you don’t, then it’s dissonant: it’s not pleasing to the ear, and the audience won’t come back to the next concert. So, it’s a lesson of collaboration, and it’s a very good metaphor for what we hope to accomplish: to collaborate and to make sure the result is harmonious for everybody involved.
