According to the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s 2015 National Opinion Poll: Canadian Views on Asian Investment, 49% of Canadians are opposed to Chinese foreign investment into Canada. Favourable views towards Chinese investment were held by only 42% of Canadians, as opposed to 78% for Japanese investment, 77% for American, 67% for South Korean, and 59% for Indian.
Knowledge of the investment environment is mixed, with the fact that the federal government plays a role in approving large foreign investments being recognised by 69% of Canadians at the same time that Canadians estimated that 25% of inflows come from companies in China, as opposed to Statistics Canada’s tracked figure of 3%*; this compares to Canadians underestimating American investment as 43% of the total, as opposed to Statistics Canada’s stated 49%.
Concerns over a “loss of control over our resources” stemming from Chinese investment were reflected by 48% of Canadians and 31% of Albertans, whereas investment from the United States raised concerns in 42% of Canadians. Concerns regarding environmental damage stemming from Chinese investment were reflected by 40% of Canadians and 47% of British Columbians, while corruption concerns associated with Chinese investment were reflected by 30% of Canadians. 6% of respondents suggested that there was “too little” investment from China, while 56% suggested there was “too much.” 20% of Canadians — including 25% of British Columbians — believe that foreign investors pay their Canadian workers less than Canadian-owned companies, while 12% of Canadians — including 17% of British Columbians — believe that Canadian laws do not apply to foreign companies in Canada.
*According to Statistics Canada, the value of Chinese investment in Canada was CAD$20.424 billion at the end of 2013. However, the China Institute’s China-Canada Investment Tracker has tracked Chinese investments valued at CAD$49.999 billion at the end of 2013. According to our figures, total stock of Chinese inflows could have accounted for up to 7% of the total value of foreign investments at the end of 2013.