Ontario Legislature Holds Mackay Commemoration, Affirming Deep Taiwan-Canada Ties

Ernie Hardeman, a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Oxford County, Ontario, issued a statement in the provincial legislature yesterday commemorating the profound contributions of George Leslie Mackay, Canada's first missionary to Taiwan, to the island's medical, educational, and social development. He also affirmed the deep and friendly partnership between Taiwan and Canada. During the statement, Liang Yi-peng, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Toronto, and representatives from the Taiwanese community were invited to attend, receiving a standing ovation from cross-party members of the legislature. Hardeman stated that Mackay, who traveled to Taiwan 154 years ago, dedicated his life to missionary work, medicine, and education, leaving a lasting impact on Taiwanese society and serving as a symbol of enduring friendship. He noted that Taiwan's achievements in medical technology, innovation, and economic development make it a key global economy, highly complementary to Ontario and Canada in industrial cooperation and supply chain resilience. Following the statement, a commemorative tea reception was held, attended by provincial ministers and members of the legislature. Director-General Liang emphasized that Taiwan continues to demonstrate the "Taiwan Can Help" spirit and is a reliable partner sharing core values of democracy and freedom. He highlighted the bright prospects for economic cooperation given Taiwan's strong market performance.