Photo: Protest outside the Embassy of the Philippines in Ottawa. The banner in white says: “Marcos Jr #1 Lackey, Corrupt, Fascist, Seller of the People’s Wealth!”
On Friday June 26, Canadian prime minister Mark Carney announced that the president of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., would be visiting Vancouver, British Columbia from Wednesday July 1 to Saturday July 4, 2026.
The Globe and Mail has reported: “Mr. Marcos is leading a delegation of as many as five cabinet ministers as well as a business delegation of 15 to 20 people, according to Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga, the Philippines’ ambassador to Canada. …Mr. Chan-Gonzaga said he anticipates liquefied natural gas and oil will be part of the discussion with Canada as his country tries to secure new sources of energy.”
Agreements to be signed
The Globe and Mail article further notes: “The Business Council of Canada and the Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry are also expected to sign an MOU to deepen commercial ties during Mr. Marcos’ visit.”
The Manila Times has also reported: “Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos would witness the signing of agreements on energy, natural resources, trade and investment, labor and immigration, tourism, culture and arts during his visit.”
And the Philippines-based GMA News has noted: “The President said he expects the discussions to produce a broad framework for a bilateral Plan of Action, which will guide future cooperation and further elevate Philippines-Canada relations.”
Protests against Marcos Jr.
Anakbayan Canada has posted on social media that there would be protests in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary and Ottawa.
They further note: “As Filipino youth, we will put Marcos Jr.’s on notice, and that every step of his visit will be met with protest to hold him accountable with his corruption that has plagued our country and to amplify the voices of overseas Filipinos.”
And in their outreach for the protest in Ottawa, the Ottawa Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines stated: “Who is this visit for? The defence contractors and militarists who profit from the Filipino people’s lack of sovereignty. The mining corporations that extract the Philippines’ wealth at gunpoint, using paramilitaries and bribes and leaving behind ruined land. The undemocratic Marcos Regime, which steals public money shamelessly, arresting and killing activists who call attention to his crimes.”
Radyo Migrante now reports via Instagram: “Progressive groups, human rights organizations, allies and community members gather in Ottawa to denounce Philippine President Marcos Jr’s visit to Canada and to hold him accountable for his crimes against humanity, including records of violations of International Humanitarian Law in the Philippines. Labeled as ‘King of Corruption,’ they emphasize Marcos Jr.s’ role in the government’s massive corruption scandal, the ghost flood control projects. Concerned Canadians also joined the protest to express their concern regarding the newly signed military agreements between Philippines and Canada.”
Human rights violations
Less than two weeks ago, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders released a report that found “repressive counter-terrorism laws and counter-insurgency policies have been used to attack and criminalize land and environmental rights defenders, human rights lawyers, journalists, trade unionists, and women human rights defenders, including those from Indigenous Peoples’ communities.”
In the media release for that report, Shahindha Ismail, the Secretary-General of the Paris, France-based International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) commented: “President Marcos Jr.’s failure to dismantle his predecessor’s apparatus of repression and to foster accountability for human rights violations means that human rights defenders are still not safe in the Philippines.”
We continue to follow this.
Additional reading: Filipino president to visit Canada, plans to deepen military cooperation as attacks against human rights defenders continue.
Photos from protest in Ottawa; July 1, 2026
The protest began on the steps just south of the US Embassy in downtown Ottawa, then made its way a short distance along Sussex Drive to the Embassy of the Philippines at 30 Murray Street. The protest took place in the afternoon that saw +44°Celsius heat then up to 100 millimetres of rain.
