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Eastern values in western trade alliance and how the way we do business does irreparable harm to our trade relations.

By Takuma Valcourt
June 1, 2025

As a proud person of Asian descent—of mixed heritage and deeply rooted in Shinto spirituality, which is practiced by the majority in Japan and shares common values with over 60% of spiritual traditions across Asia—I am absolutely appalled by the bad-faith trajectory of Bills 14 and 15.

Shintoism teaches deep reverence for nature, ancestral spirits (kami), and the importance of maintaining harmony—wa—in all relationships, including political and spiritual ones. While Shinto does not have a codified doctrine of karma in the Hindu-Buddhist sense, it is closely aligned with the principle of musubi (cosmic connection) and makoto (sincerity and truthfulness), where bad actions naturally lead to spiritual imbalance and negative consequences—personally, communally, and nationally.

Across Asia, the concept of karmic retribution is not just personal—it is civilizational. Nations that dishonor their spiritual obligations, violate sacred relationships, or act in bad faith are believed to invite generational misfortune, societal instability, and natural disasters. History reflects this: from dynasties collapsing under moral decay to national shame shaping the course of modern geopolitics.

Bills 14 and 15—targeting treaty rights, eroding trust with Indigenous nations, and trampling spiritual and environmental stewardship—represent an act of karmic self-sabotage. If enacted, these policies will not only undermine Canada’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples, but also broadcast a message to the East: that Canada disregards sacred commitments and harmony in favor of short-term gain.

My ancestors started wars over this kind of spiritual violation. And make no mistake: while some in the West may see this as just “domestic policy,” many in Asia will see it as a breach of moral contract. That has real implications for trade, diplomacy, and cultural respect. Japan, Korea, India, and Southeast Asian nations—where karma, duty, and ancestral honor are woven into governance—will not overlook this.

If Canada wants meaningful, long-term partnerships with Asia, it must act with integrity. These bills do the opposite. They create spiritual debt—bad karma—that no economy or policy spin can repay.