You have been in Mongolia for almost a year. How well have you adapted to the conditions in Mongolia?
Well, it was very easy from the beginning to adapt to Mongolia because there are a lot of similarities between Mongolia and Canada in terms of weather and nature. Also, Mongolians are very friendly, which makes it easy for anyone to adjust and feel welcome. So, it was quite easy right from the beginning when I first arrived to settle in and enjoy this beautiful country.  

By the way, how did you celebrate the Mongolian Lunar New Year last year?  
Last year was my first Lunar New Year. So, of course, as is the tradition, I greeted the Mongolian people while wearing traditional Mongolian clothing. I also attended official events, including the opening ceremony of Tsagaan Sar at the wrestling palace. Additionally, I participated in other official events I was invited to and celebrated with my embassy team.  

How do you spend your free time here?  
When I'm not working, and ideally when it's not too cold, I like to go hiking with my dogs whenever I get the chance—whether in the mountains or on the hills around Ulaanbaatar. In the summer, I went camping a couple of times.  

I love being outdoors—it's really nice. I haven't had a chance yet, but I plan to go skiing because I do ski. I want to try Sky Resort before the winter ends, so I'd love to do that.  

It has been nearly half a century since our two countries established diplomatic relations. What have been our achievements during this time?  
Historically, Canada has been a key partner in the mining sector. We were involved in the discovery of the Oyu Tolgoi mine, which is probably Canada's biggest legacy in Mongolia.  

The investments we made in developing this project have made it the largest in Mongolia, employing many people and generating significant revenue for the country. It has contributed greatly to Mongolia's development, making it our most impactful contribution.  

However, our collaboration has expanded beyond mining. We have worked together in areas such as democracy, human rights, and gender equality. We are also trying to diversify our trade and explore sectors beyond mining, including agriculture.  

Over the years, we have had several high-level visits. For instance, our Speaker, George J. Furey, visited a few years ago, and the Governor General also visited nearly ten years ago. More recently, Minister Batsetseg traveled to Canada to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. In 2024, our special envoy for the Indo-Pacific also visited Mongolia. So, we have had multiple exchanges over the years.  

What is the current state of trade and economic relations between our two countries?
Due to the distance between our countries, trade relations have not been particularly large. We export approximately $30.7 million worth of goods to Mongolia, mainly consisting of mining machinery, precious stones and metals, as well as specialized instruments, electricity, and electronics.  

Meanwhile, we import around $3.1 million worth of goods from Mongolia, primarily cashmere and clothing. This represents the current extent of our bilateral trade relations.  

However, we are always looking for new opportunities and ways to expand trade. For example, we are exploring the possibility of selling Bell helicopters to Mongolia, as well as BlackBerry's cybersecurity technology. Additionally, we hope to find more business opportunities in the future.  

We have a strong relationship and a deep friendship, sharing common values such as gender equality and the promotion of human rights. There is great potential for collaboration, and I am optimistic about the future of our partnership. Our main focus is on further expanding this relationship.  

As the ambassador, what are your plans for 2025?
For 2025, my plan is to continue strengthening our relationship with Mongolia. We have already had a very active start to the year. Just last week, we organized the Women, Peace, and Security Workshop, which is helping Mongolia develop a roadmap for drafting its National Action Plan for Women, Peace, and Security.  

This week, we are hosting a workshop on nuclear energy, assisting Mongolia in evaluating whether nuclear power could be a viable option for the country. We are also in the process of concluding several Canada Fund for Local Initiatives projects while preparing to launch a new round of funding for upcoming projects.  

Recently, we received approval to begin implementing a series of development projects with Mongolia, which will start in 2025. Additionally, we are working on arranging a follow-up visit from our Canadian international trade representative and exploring opportunities for further collaboration in the mining sector.  

In October, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the Towards Sustainable Mining initiative, which we aim to implement this year. Furthermore, experts from Natural Resources Canada will provide technical support to the Mongolian National Geological Survey to enhance their capacity in analyzing geological survey data. Overall, 2025 will be a busy and productive year for our partnership.  

Could you provide more details about the "Technical Assistance Partnership" program?  
The Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) Program is designed to facilitate the transfer of Canadian expertise to partner countries. Over the past two years, we have focused on providing technical assistance in the judicial sector, aiming to strengthen the impartiality and independence of Mongolia's judiciary.  

Through this initiative, we have facilitated partnerships between Canadian judges and Mongolian judges, particularly with the Judges Association of Mongolia. As part of this collaboration, we also organized a study visit to Canada, where Mongolian judges had the opportunity to gain insights into Canada's independent judiciary system.  

In addition, we explored the idea of providing technical support for English language education. Unfortunately, this initiative has not yet materialized, but we remain open to the possibility of supporting English teaching in the future. Currently, there are no active projects in this area, but we continue to seek potential opportunities for collaboration.  

You mentioned the judicial system, and I believe this is a very important issue for us. Many of our people either don’t trust or have little faith in the system, as it is not always applied equally. Is there any report on this, or what are the results of that program?  

The judicial sector is the second least trusted institution in Mongolia, with parliament ranking first. As you mentioned, ensuring judicial independence and restoring public confidence are absolutely essential. At present, the system is highly corrupt and does not always serve the interests of the people. We fully understand this concern, and so does the judiciary itself. The sector is committed to improving public trust and addressing these issues.  

The technical assistance project, which initially lasted for two years, is now transitioning into a full-scale development project. This initiative will continue for almost four years, running from 2025 to 2029. The Canadian Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs will provide support to Mongolian judges and judicial institutions, focusing on enhancing their independence and impartiality. The project will take a multi-faceted approach by modernizing the judicial system, making it more transparent and efficient, enhancing communication between the judiciary and the public, increasing accessibility to legal services, and publishing court decisions to promote transparency and accountability.  

By making court rulings publicly accessible, the judiciary invites scrutiny, which in turn fosters greater accountability. This project is a significant step toward strengthening the rule of law in Mongolia, and we believe that Canadian expertise will contribute meaningfully to achieving this goal.  

The Canada-Mongolia Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) entered into force in 2017. Have Canadian companies increased their investments since the agreement was implemented?
Despite the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) between Canada and Mongolia, Canadian investment in Mongolia has not increased. However, this is not due to the FIPA itself but rather to two key factors. The first is Mongolia’s small market size. Attracting foreign investment requires a competitive and welcoming economic environment. The second is the country’s investment policies and regulatory challenges. Mongolia’s current foreign investment policies, regulations, and overall business climate have not been sufficiently attractive to foreign investors.  

What is interesting for them?  
For foreign investors, an attractive investment environment means certainty, profitability, and protection. They need to be assured that their investment is secure and will not be arbitrarily taken away, that there are clear and transparent legal frameworks ensuring fair dispute resolution, and that the judicial system is reliable and independent, capable of protecting investors’ interests. Payments and agreements must be honored, and government decisions must be consistent. Additionally, tax incentives and other financial benefits play a crucial role in making investment worthwhile.  

Unfortunately, Mongolia has faced challenges in these areas. There have been cases of unpaid contracts and unilateral revocation of permits by the government. There are no significant tax incentives or other financial advantages to attract foreign investors. As a result, investors prefer countries that have established a more stable and investment-friendly environment. Mongolia must address these concerns if it wishes to attract greater foreign investment.  

We have repeatedly conveyed these concerns to the Mongolian government, and they recognize the need for reform. However, real progress will require concrete policy changes.  

As I regularly mention in my discussions with stakeholders, there are more than 748 Canadian mining companies investing abroad, but only five operate in Mongolia—a country with vast mining potential. This discrepancy highlights the need for Mongolia to create a more attractive and secure environment for investors. If Mongolia implements investment-friendly policies, it has the potential to become a more appealing destination for Canadian and other international businesses.

Where are they more interested in?
Investors are more interested in South America. Mongolia is competing against South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, all of which have strong mining industries. Some of these countries have successfully attracted foreign investment by adopting the right policies and creating a more favorable investment climate. Mongolia is competing with these regions and needs to take similar steps to remain competitive.

Could you share some insights about Canada’s "Feminist International Assistance Policy"?
Canada's Feminist International Assistance Policy was introduced in 2017. Its core objective is to integrate feminist principles and gender equality initiatives into all aspects of international assistance. This means that any funding Canada provides to developing countries must incorporate a feminist perspective.

Regardless of the sector—whether it’s education, healthcare, poverty reduction, human rights, or governance—every initiative must consider its impact on gender equality. The policy was based on the recognition that development goals cannot be fully achieved unless women are placed at the center of these efforts. Since 2017, Canada has been implementing this policy in all of its international assistance programs, including in Mongolia. All funding and projects here must align with feminist principles and contribute to gender equality.

Canada and Mongolia share similar weather conditions. What Canadian experiences or practices could we learn from and adapt to our local context?
There are many areas where Canada and Mongolia can share experiences on adapting to cold climates. This includes economic strategies, technological advancements, and winter management practices. However, in terms of snowfall, Mongolia receives significantly less than Canada. For example, in the last three days, eastern Canada has experienced over 50–60 cm of snow, which Mongolia rarely sees.

The most important lesson Mongolia can take from Canada is how to build a strong and resilient economy despite harsh weather conditions. In Canada, the economy is not dictated by the weather; instead, we find ways to develop and prosper regardless of climate challenges. One of the best examples of this is Canada’s agricultural sector. Despite being a cold country, Canada is one of the world’s top exporters of agricultural products. The country has successfully developed its agricultural industry by implementing strategies and technologies that allow production to continue despite extreme weather conditions. These are practices Mongolia could study and potentially apply to strengthen its own economy.

My next question is about the Trump decision. Trump made a statement about doubling the tax. But I hope he froze that decision, right? Please share your opinion about this.
At the moment, the only tariff that has been imposed affects steel and aluminum. The United States has introduced a 10% tariff on these products. Canada believes that imposing tariffs on trade between the US and Canada is not the right approach to economic growth. Such measures negatively impact both economies.

Canada strongly opposed the introduction of tariffs and urged the US government not to impose them. However, if necessary, the Canadian government is prepared to respond. Various strategies are being considered in case additional tariffs are introduced.

Canada and the United States have a long-standing trade relationship that spans decades, as well as historical ties that extend beyond recent developments. We strongly believe that these deep-rooted connections will prevail and that both countries will find ways to resolve any trade disputes without escalating tensions. However, if additional tariffs are imposed, the Canadian government has made it clear that it will take retaliatory measures to protect its economy. For now, we are closely monitoring the situation to see if any further decisions will be made.

I think you are an animal lover. Although Mongolia has enacted animal rights protection laws, they have not been effectively implemented. How are animal rights protected and enforced in Canada?  

In our criminal code, there are provisions against violating the rights of animals. It states that animal torture is prohibited and that individuals have an obligation to care for their animals. This applies not only to pets but also to livestock. If you have cattle, sheep, or horses, you are legally required to provide proper care for them. The definition of care, however, differs between Mongolia and Canada.  

For example, in Canada, ensuring that livestock is adequately fed is a legal requirement. If a dzud (severe winter disaster) occurs and a farmer loses cattle due to neglect, they are held criminally responsible. This is not the case in Mongolia. In Canada, farmers must ensure that their animals receive sufficient food, proper transportation, and humane treatment. There are strict regulations on how livestock must be transported, including limits on the number of animals per vehicle and the maximum time they can go without food and water. These regulations provide significant protection for livestock, which do not currently exist in Mongolia.  

Last year, Mongolia lost nearly seven million livestock, yet there were no legal consequences for farmers—only the loss of their livelihood. In contrast, Canada criminalizes the neglect of livestock, holding farmers accountable for their animals' well-being.  

Mongolia has vast natural grazing lands, so cattle rely on available pasture year-round, even in winter. In Canada, however, all livestock are kept on farms and must be fed directly by farmers. This difference in agricultural practice is reflected in the legislation that protects animals in Canada.  

Last year, I met someone who works at a shelter, and he mentioned you. He told me that you visited their shelter and provided significant help, showing genuine care and concern. Do you often spend your free time volunteering for communities?  
I have two dogs, and whenever I have the chance, I try to visit shelters. Unfortunately, my schedule doesn’t allow me to go as often as I’d like. These shelters need help because they are not well funded and do not always receive government support. They rely primarily on private donations, including mine.  

There are still many stray dogs in Ulaanbaatar and beyond that need care, but the shelters are over capacity. Any help they receive is valuable—whether in the form of donations, financial support, or supplies like food. Since I have two dogs, I often donate items I no longer need, such as beds, collars, and other pet supplies.  

Whenever possible, I visit in person, but even when I can’t, I try to contribute in some way. I believe that any small help can make a difference for the animals on the streets of Ulaanbaatar.  

Thank you for your time.