ROTARY CLUB OF SASKATOON

 

October 20,2025

 

This was a unique and exciting meeting as our guest speaker was very knowledgeable and engaging. As a result, we had numerous guests, who were also very knowledgeable, and this doubled, at least, our normal numbers for a regular meeting.

 

Wendy Cooper chaired the meeting. Avis Hardy gave the Blessing.

 

Greeter was Will Arscott. Will also introduced several guests who attended the meeting.

 

Technology was handled by Paul Gauthier.

 

Our Guest Speaker was Henry Chan, who was introduced by Maureen Torr.     

 

What I gleaned from the introduction, including that Henry is a political science graduate, that he has contributed to international publications, been part of a lobbying group connected with Hong Kong, and that he advises the federal government on Canada/China relations and issues.

 

 

Mark announced about the upcoming Grant Webinar, taking place on November 25. Please let him know if you would like to attend.

 

Donna Gauthier has grocery card for Safeway and Sobeys

 

 

Henry is very involved with Geopolitics between U.S. and Canada.

 

He pointed out that China plays politics with Canada. China tries to set our provinces against our federal government. They have put tariffs on the import of canola and canola seed to answer for our own tariffs on electric vehicles coming from China. There is economic blackmail pitting U.S. against Canada and against China. They use a divide and conquer tactic.

 

Henry says we need to set our compass straight. We need to go to farms, go to town hall meetings to hear about the reaction to tariffs. We need to sell to other countries, even it means absorbing a loss for some time.

 

Bullies like China respond to strength and not weakness. We need to stand strong and say we are not going to be pushed around, that we will pursue our alternatives.

 

One of the problems with China’s electric vehicles is they are designed to, simply put, spy on us. This is an attack on our national security.

 

The tariffs with the U. S. weaken us and makes us more vulnerable to China.

 

We may need to use the tactic of canceling student visas for Chinese citizens.

 

Generally, we don’t know our adversaries well enough.

 

NEXT MEETING:

 

November 3. Presenter is Randy Weekes on “Empowering Futures Through Education: A Partnership for Hope and Opportunity."

 

Reported by Steve Wilson