It’s Sunday March 8th as I write, the morning after Prime Minister Carney flew home from Tokyo after a whirlwind 24-hour visit. During meetings with Prime Minister Takaichi, Carney signed a new ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ with Japan that aims to deepen ties in defense, technology, critical minerals and energy projects, including LNG, hydrogen and nuclear technologies. In trade and investment, it aims to continue emphasis on identifying new investment opportunities, particularly involving pension funds. The pact also acknowledges the import­ance of Japanese automakers in Canada.

In effect, this agreement spotlights the CCCJ’s critical role in bilateral economic relations. Last month, as you will read in this issue, the CCCJ’s Energy Committee, led by Christian Orton, hosted an important seminar at the Canadian Embassy that focused on progress in making Canada’s Indigenous communities partners in resource development. This is an important step forward that stands to increase Japanese investors’ confidence in Canadian energy and mining projects. Thanks to our sponsors, McMillan LLP, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, the Government of Saskatchewan and Natural Resources Canada for supporting this event.

This month, our focus will shift to developments in AI and how Canada and Japan can work together. Our March 23rd event will feature a keynote address by Kazuhiko Toyama, a member of our Honourary Board of Advisors, who has recently published a book: “Corporate Strategy in the Age of AX (AI Transformation).” Other presenters will include Frederic Laurin (Mila Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute) and Rosa Ellithorpe (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute). A networking reception after, sponsored by the governments Quebec and Alberta, will be held at the offices of Nishimura & Asahi in Marunouchi.

Finally, some social notes. The CCCJ will host a Canadian University Alumni Mixer on March 17th and our annual Golf Scramble Event on May 29th. Both events offer great opportunities to build new personal connections. With Spring in the air these are fun opportunities for all of us to get involved and to build ties between our two great nations.