Canada, the US, and an Ascendant China

For its second annual Slater Family Canada US Policy Series, the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University, in partnership with the Washington-based Wilson Center, is hosting a conference in Old Montreal titled Canada, the US, and an Ascendant China. This one-day conference will examine ways in which Canada and the United States can work together in responding to the challenges and opportunities associated with China’s rise on the world stage. During a period of heightened international complexity and instability, including renewed geostrategic rivalry, Canada-US cooperation in managing their respective relationships with China will be more important than ever.

Conference Agenda:

8:30     Registration/Breakfast

9:00     Words of Welcome

• Vincent Rigby, Professor of Practice, Max Bell School of Public Policy; Former National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister
• Christopher Ragan, Director, Max Bell School of Public Policy, McGill University
• Christopher Sands, Director, Canada Institute, Wilson Center

9:15     Plenary I: Regional Security
This session will focus on China as a security threat in the Indo-Pacific region, and how Canada, the US and other western partners can cooperate in response. It will cover a wide range of security-related topics, including military capabilities and operations, intelligence, cyber, technology, training and capacity-building, and regional partnerships (eg, AUKUS).

• Shihoko Goto (moderator), Director, Indo-Pacific Program, Wilson Center.
• David M. Finkelstein, Vice President and Director, China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division, The Center for Naval Analyses
• Janice Gross Stein, Belzberg Professor of Conflict Management, Department of Political Science, University of Toronto
• Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy
• Travis Whitworth, Senior Director of Global Intelligence, Strider Technologies
  

10:45   Plenary II: Security at Home
This session will focus on Chinese security threats closer to North America. It will examine Chinese hostile activities against Canada and the United States, including foreign interference, espionage, economic-based threats, disinformation, and cyber attacks. Panelists will explore how Canada and the United States can establish a common front against these activities.

• Wesley Wark (moderator), Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation
• Robert Daly, Director, Kissinger Institute on China and United States, Wilson Center
• Thomas Juneau, Associate Professor, School of Public and International Affairs,
• University of Ottawa
• Nicole Giles, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister and Deputy Director, Policy and Strategic Partnerships, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
• Craig Singleton, Senior Director, China Program, Foundation for Defense of Democracies

12:00   Lunch
            Special Address –  David Ownby, Associate, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology

13:00   Plenary III: Human Rights, Democracy, and International Institutions

This session will look at ways in which Canada and the United States can together address China’s human rights record. It will focus on the Five Poisons (the Uyghurs, Tibet, Taiwan, Falun Gong, and democracy) but also touch on China’s role in international institutions and aggressive tactics such as hostage diplomacy. 

• Jennifer Welsh (moderator), Canada 150 Research Chair in the Global Governance and Security; Director, Centre for International Peace and Security Studies, McGill University
• Jennie Chen, Executive Director, Greater China Policy and Coordination Division, Global Affairs Canada
• Emile Dirks, Research Associate & Lecturer, Citizen Lab, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto
• James A. Millward, Professor of Inter-societal History, Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
• Dawn Murphy, Associate Professor of National Security Strategy, National War College, National Defense University

14:30   Plenary IV: Trade and Commerce
This session will look at the role of trade and commerce in the ongoing rivalry between the United States and China, including such issues as trade protectionist measures, sanctions, and structures and agreements. The extent to which Canada and the US can establish common economic strategies against China will be the focus.

• Graham Shantz (moderator), President, Canada China Business Council
• Anna Ashton, Founder, Ashton Analytics
• Carlo Dade, Director, Trade and Trade Infrastructure, Canada West Foundation
• Dinny McMahon, Head of China Markets Research, Trivium China
• Guy Saint-Jacques, Former Canadian Ambassador to China

16:00   Plenary V: Opportunities for Cooperation with China
This session will explore strategic areas in which Canada and the United States may be able to cooperate with China, including climate change, pandemic response, people-to-people contacts and opioids.

• Jeff Nankivell (moderator), President and CEO, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
• Paul Evans, Professor Emeritus, School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, University of British Columbia
• Yanzhong Huang, Senior Fellow for Global Health, Council on Foreign Relations; Professor, Professor, School of Diplomacy and International Relations, Seton Hall University
• Kate Logan, Associate Director of Climate, Asia Society Policy Institute
• Sandra McCardell, Assistant Deputy Minister, International Affairs Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada

17:15    Closing Remarks

• Vincent Rigby, Professor of Practice, Max Bell School of Public Policy; Former National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister
• Christopher Sands, Director, Canada Institute, Wilson Center

17:30    Closing Reception

The Max Bell School of Public Policy and Wilson Center in Washington D.C. have engaged in a strategic partnership to enrich the study of the Canada - U.S. relationship. Through conferences, expert exchanges, joint scholarship, and other initiatives, the Slater Family Canada-US Policy Series seeks to deepen understanding of key issues in the relationship.

For questions about this event, or other events in connection with the Slater Family Policy Series, contact us at 2024conference.mbspp@mcgill.ca.