In 1891 a professor at the University of Toronto，Goldwin Smith，wrote a famous and highly controversial book call Canada and the Canadian Question. He argued that Canada was an unnatural and artificial entity. He maintained that the Canadian system of government was inferior to the American model and that Canada was an absurdity for geographic，ethnic，economic and political reasons. Its ultimate destiny，he thought，would be absorption by the United States. Generations of Canadian political leaders have proven Goldwin Smith wrong. In the 21st century the country faces another important and equally controversial question. Is Canada prepared to move out of the American orbit and align itself with the new world order envisaged by China？The future of Canada-China relations to say nothing of Canada’s economic prosperity depend on the answer to that question. This paper places the discussion in the context of Canadian history and surveys the Canada-China relationship since establishment of diplomatic relations in 1970. It outlines arguments in favour of a free trade agreement and lessons of the recently concluded China-Australia Free Trade Agreement. The article points out obstacles and impediments to closer Canada-China relations and concludes with an answer to the China question.