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H.E. Dr. Sarah Taylor, Canadian Ambassador to Thailand

by Kathleen Pokrud

 

 

Expat Life in Thailand was grateful for the opportunity to connect with Dr. Sarah Taylor, Canadian Ambassador to Thailand, to ask her about her posting to Thailand in what has to be one of the most difficult periods in recent years – the COVID-19 virus.

 

How long have you been the Ambassador to Thailand?

 

I was named as Ambassador-designate to Thailand, Laos and Cambodia in November 2019, and arrived in Thailand with my husband and son on 9 January 2020. 

 

Did you arrive to Thailand from home, or were you posted somewhere else before?

 

We came from Ottawa, Canada’s capital, where we had been for four years; before that, we were posted in Beijing from 2011-2015. I have also previously been posted in Beijing on one other occasion, as well as in Hong Kong and in Jakarta. 

 

May we ask where are you born and brought up?

 

I was born in Ottawa and spent about half my childhood there. My father was also a diplomat, so we travelled abroad a lot when I was young. As a child, I lived with my parents in Paris twice and in Moscow. 

 

At which age did you decide you wanted to become a diplomat? 

 

Despite my family background, I didn’t initially want to become a diplomat. I studied archaeology at university, and was also quite involved in university politics. It was only as I was completing my graduate studies that I started to think about going in a different direction. So I decided to take a chance and sit the Canadian foreign service exam. It was open to university graduates in all fields, and luckily for me, I passed it.  

 

Do you have more diplomats in your family?

 

Both my father and my mother were diplomats, my father in the Canadian foreign service and my mother in the British Commonwealth office. They met when they were posted to India, and were married in New Delhi. One of my sisters is also a diplomat at our foreign ministry, Global Affairs Canada, specialising in the Middle East. So you could say that we are a real diplomatic family. 

 

How do you look at Thailand today? Have you had many obstacles in your way since you arrived?

 

Actually, I have found my arrival here easy. Everyone has been kind and helpful, and we have settled in well. It did take a bit of adapting going from January in Ottawa, with temperatures of -10 to -20 degrees, to +30-degree weather in Bangkok. I am also a little frustrated in my efforts to learn Thai. It’s a tough language, and so many people in Bangkok speak excellent English. 

 

But of course the biggest obstacle is one we all face together, that of grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic. One of the most important tasks for a diplomat newly arrived at post is to meet people and build networks – something that has become much more difficult in this time of social distancing. It has also meant that I have to connect with many of my staff virtually, and to delay our travel plans. 

 

I have learned how much can be done reasonably well at a distance and I am really proud of the Embassy staff for the way they have risen to the challenge. But, like many others, I do miss the human contact, and appreciate well that some of the most valuable parts of diplomacy aren’t meant to be done from a desktop. When meeting with Thai officials, sitting face-to-face with Canadian companies, visiting community projects supported by Canada – the understanding, appreciation, and the impact that comes with direct human contact cannot be reproduced virtually. So I am looking forward to a time when I can do all of those things. 

 

With the current COVID-19 pandemic, how has Canada been affected?

 

Because of our open borders and extensive links with Asia and Europe, Canada began to record COVID-19 infections relatively early. Like Thailand, we had experience and systems that were strengthened through dealing with the 2002 SARS outbreak, but I think we were all taken aback by the severity and speed of this new virus. 

 

In some ways, our experience has been similar to that of Thailand. Our less populated, less connected provinces were able to limit infections relatively quickly. Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver – our biggest cities with the most international connections — have been hardest hit, just like Bangkok and Phuket. Many Canadians are suffering economically. 

 

Our response is also similar to that of Thailand. Our provincial governments have a lot of space to determine how best to respond to local outbreaks, with our federal government helping to frame national objectives and coordinate efforts. I am happy to say that, for the most part, this has been successful, with different parts of the country responding to their local conditions, and with a sense of unity across the country in facing the crisis together. Outbreaks in elder care facilities have been a particularly devastating challenge – one area where Canada and many other countries need to do much better.  

 

We have started to turn the corner in Canada, but we still have a long way to go. Our economy was hit hard. Much as in Thailand, the sheer amount of fiscal stimulus has been unprecedented. We also need to remain vigilant to avoid – or at least minimise – a second wave. That’s a challenge for Canada, for Thailand and for all countries, that we will have to face together, on a global scale. 

 

As both Canada and Thailand gradually reopen the economies, how will this affect the relations between the two countries?

 

Canada and Thailand have close and good bilateral relations – the pandemic did not change that. As we reopen on both sides, I am hoping that it will present further opportunities to bring our people and countries closer together.

 

Canada and Thailand have both temporarily halted the arrival of foreigners unless they fall within clearly defined categories. This has disrupted the plans of many people from both our countries – for example, Thai students who were eager to start their studies in Canada. The progressive reopening means that many people will be able to continue with previous plans – with adaptations, of course – including business travel and reunions with loved ones. 

 

Besides people-to-people ties, our countries are strong trading partners. In ASEAN, Thailand is Canada’s second largest trading partner and has been for quite some time. Before the pandemic, 2020 was shaping up to be a great year for Canada-Thailand trade. For 2019, two-way trade between Canada and Thailand increased to $4.6 billion, up 7% from 2018. 2020 will be a difficult year for global trade, but I am determined not only to get bilateral trade back on track but to see it grow even more. 

 

Despite the pandemic, Canadian companies based in Thailand have told me and my trade team that they are maintaining operations at close to normal levels. This is positive, and means that fewer workers are losing jobs. I see the post-pandemic recovery phase bringing new opportunities to enhance our relations. For instance, we are both agricultural producers for specific commodities; exports could help to strengthen food security amidst disrupted supply chains. Canada has many advanced e-learning institutions. As the world shifts to allow for remote work and learning, this is another area that holds great potential.

 

Do you see any similarities between your country and Thailand?

 

At first glance, I think it’s easy to overlook the similarities between our countries, but Thais and Canadians actually have a lot in common. Canada and Thailand are both multi-ethnic, pluralist countries and constitutional monarchies. We are both proud of our high-quality universal health care systems and our tradition of harbouring refugees fleeing conflict. Both are leaders in recognising LGBTQI rights. While our climates are very different, Canada and Thailand are both blessed with great bio-diversity, but also both quite vulnerable to climate change.

 

Full Story: https://expatlifeinthailand.com/uncategorised/h-e-dr-sarah-taylor-canadian-ambassador-to-thailand/

 

-- © Copyright Expat Life in Thailand 2020-09-23

 

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[grobec]

Welcome to Thailand Dr. Taylor

 

i enjoyed reading this interview and as a fellow Canadian presently volunteering with TTP IN Udon Thani, I am both impressed and happy that we are so fortunate to have an Ambassador with  such vast experience in the Asian communities.

please feel free to count on support from your fellow Canadian expats.

????

[unblocktheplanet]

What I want to hear is how the new ambassador will embrace Canadians living here.

 

The Embassy has become particularly arms-length by outsourcing its services, forcing even citizens to make appointments, failing to offer phone support for pertinent questions. It sends a certain message when Embassy staff are protected from us behind bulletproof glass! (We hope the message is, "We're not Americans!"

 

And how will the new ambassador expand support, both legal and social, to Canadian prisoners?

 

Will Canadian visa policies become more humanitarian or will Canada continue to leave our Thai loved ones behind?

 

Your Excellency, these are urgent issues of concern to Canadians here. You'll need to prove whether you really are "excellent" or just another bureaucrat.

Edited September 25, 2020 by unblocktheplanet
correction