Inside: Highlights of visit of President Ferdinand Marcos to Canada
Canada has been a favorite destination for Filipinos to go abroad. They come as tourists, temporary workers, international students, or permanent residents.
On July 2, 2026, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. visited Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the first visit to Canada by the Philippine head of state in more than a decade. He and his wife, Lisa Araneta-Marcos were welcomed by the Prime Minister.
The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada said, “More than one million Filipino Canadians call Canada home. Today, Canada and the Philippines are strengthening these ties. We are deepening cooperation to unlock new markets and drive more investment between our growing economies, while reinforcing our collective security. In a more dangerous and volatile world, Canada’s new government is strengthening our partnerships to create greater prosperity, security, and career opportunities for Canadian workers.”
“We share the same aspirations, in terms of what we would want to achieve in the world,” Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told reporters in Vancouver.
During the visit, the two heads signed agreements aimed to boost economic activity between the two countries, which includes a memorandum that seeks more protection for Filipino workers in Canada and more labour movement.
Futhermore, Carney said, ” “Filipino workers make extraordinary contributions to communities,” emphasizing care-workers and nurses. “We will make sure they are treated fairly, can work safely and have their rights respected.”
For more updates on the visit with other members of the Marcos administration, read here and here.
The two heads of state hope to meet again in November at the 2026 Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ) summit in Manila, Philippines, where President Marcos is the chair.
Marita, this is a timely write‑up, and I like how you zoom straight in on what this visit means for actual people, especially Filipino workers and students who see Canada as a real pathway, not just a postcard. The way you pulled out the worker protections and labor mobility pieces makes the diplomacy feel very concrete, not just like another photo op.
I’m curious how you see this playing out on the ground for your audience: do you think these new agreements will meaningfully change timelines or pathways for caregivers and nurses, or will they be more about improving conditions for those already here? And are you planning a follow‑up post that breaks down, step by step, what this could mean for someone in the Philippines who’s just starting to look at Canada as an option?
Hi Aly
Yes, I just see here a sincere partnership on how the Canadian government really takes care of its workers from outside..
Healthcare workers from the Philippines are so many in Canada and it’s so nice that the Prime Minister acknowledges that they are important and should be given safer workplaces and great benefits. Not to mention fair wages.
I have other posts like this one ” Come Immigrate to Canada; 5 Big reasons Why You Need to Apply, ” that emphasizes the benefits of coming to Canada.
And yes, more posts in the future on how to apply and the best pathway that they can choose.
Thanks for reading.
Marita