16 June 2018, Edmonton – Ambassador Petronila Garcia and Consul General
Gilberto Asuque made a courtesy called on Deputy Premier and Minister of Health
Sarah Hoffman at her office in the Alberta Legislature building where they
discussed programs for the welfare of Filipinos in Alberta Province.
The Ambassador discussed with Deputy Premier Hoffman the Filipino
diaspora in Alberta and Canada. Citing
2016 data from Statistics Canada, the Ambassador noted that the Filipino
migrants comprise one of the largest and fastest growing ethnocultural groups
in Canada. There are approximately
837,135 individuals who have identified as having Filipino ethnic
originals. Of the total Canadian
population, approximately 2.4% identify as Filipino. The Ambassador further noted that based on
the 2016 census, immigrants from the Philippines represented the highest
percentage of total immigrants to Canada between 2011 and 2016.
In the light of these data, the Ambassador stressed the importance of
enhancing people-to-people relations through various activities that will
foster closer interaction among the professional, educational and cultural
sectors of the Philippines and Alberta Province through visits, student and
faculty exchange and exhibits in arts and dances.
Deputy Premier Hoffman appreciated the contribution of the Filipino
diaspora in the social, economic, cultural and historical richness of the
Province of Alberta, which was cited in the Proclamation declaring June of each
year as Philippine Heritage Month in Alberta.
During the meeting, the Deputy Premier presented a copy of the
Proclamation of the Philippine Heritage Month with the translation in Pilipino
(photo right).
The Deputy Premier noted that
after English and French, Tagalog is the third dialect spoken in Alberta. Deputy Premier Hoffman expressed her appreciation
for the professionalism and work ethics
of Filipinos and Filipino-Canadians employed in the various administrative,
health, social welfare and engineering departments of the Alberta
Government.
The Ambassador and the Consul General also sought the assistance of the
Deputy Premier in establishing close coordination with the Provincial
Government for the safety and security of the Filipinos especially during
emergency situations.
Later in the day, the Ambassador and the Consul General met Mr. Kelly J.
McCauley MP at his constituency office in Edmonton. Mr. McCauley was elected MP in October 2015
for his electoral district in Edmonton West where many Filipinos and
Filipino-Canadian reside.
Ambassador Garcia and Consul General Asuque discussed with MP McCauley (photo
left) the concerns of Filipino community leaders regarding the recognition of
academic qualifications obtained in the Philippines for certain professions in
Canada. MP McCauley took note of the
concerns and other issues discussed during the meeting and offered to bring the
matter to the attention of the relevant Federal Government agencies.