Canada and the world Pt 1

Canada & the World CREC 6436 A brief overview of the functions and operations of Canada’s Department of Global Affairs Bob Hillier

Canada & the World CREC 6436 The course consists of four parts Part One. Diplomatic Representation , Organisation and Functions of GLOBAL AFFAIRS CANADA, Political infighting Part Two. Security Issues and Cryptographic Issues Part Three. International Relationships Part Four. The evolving situation regarding NAFTA

Introduction • I was employed by the then DFAIT (Dept of International Affairs & International Trade), now called GLOBAL AFFAIRS CANADA from 2000 to 2010. I was involved in the technical support of our embassies and high commissions around the world. I was based as a diplomat (Technical Attaché) in the following countries for various periods of time. Poland, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, United States, New Zealand and Australia

A Bit of History Originally formed as the “Department of External Affairs” in 1909 and our first legation Was in Washington. (under the watchful eye of the Brits). Greatly expanded during WW2 -Stephenson -Camp X -Signatory to the Treaty of Paris 1947 --Formation of the UN 1945 (one of the original 29 countries) - Now called “Global Affairs Canada” with representation in approximately 180 countries and 270 Missions (The Aussies help us out with 21 posts) This is the East Wing Of Parliament home to The Dept until 1973

Lester E. Pearson Building “Fort Pearson” On Sussex Drive Ottawa Opened 1973 by the Queen, consists of 4 interconnected towers and houses approx 3000 People. Other locations are its own University, Polytech, Passport office in Gatineau and Offices across Canada and the Diefenbaker building (old Ottawa city hall) It has a very impressive Entrance, an atria with all the national flags of the countries in which we have mission. There is also a plinth with a bust of Lester Pearson and the Nobel Peace prize.



https://www.google.ca/search?q=diefenbaker+ building&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved= 0ahUKEwiBlNDIlsnYAhVr74MKHR0tC6sQ_AUIC ygC&biw=1366&bih=637

Other Countries United States – called “Foggy Bottom” - State Department United Kingdom – “Whitehall” -Foreign & Commonwealth Office France – “The Quai d’Orsay”

Russia – not the Kremlin but locally referred to as the “Wedding Cake Building” Australia – R.G.Casey House more commonly referred to as B* S* Castle. DFAT

American Embassy in Ottawa on Sussex Drive Canadian Embassy in Washington Note both buildings were voted “most ugly” by the residents of each city.

Canada House - London Australia - Note the totem pole Iran – Teheran

China – Beijing This is the secure Gate to the Compound Embassy is one Of our largest

Staff High Commissions are our representatives in Commonwealth countries. The “Head of Mission” is a High Commissioner Embassies are located in non commonwealth countries and the head of mission Is an Ambassador These are always in the Capital of the respective country Other representatives in the country outside of the capital are referred to as Consul Generals and the head of mission is referred to as a Consul General. Other posts are Trade Commissions (Trade Commissioners are members of Global Affairs) And representatives of other government departments (OGDs) including Immigration Canada. The OGDs are “hosted” by Global Affairs

Status Only members in the respective embassies have full diplomatic status Consul generals etc only have diplomatic status whilst working. ( Florida - Dube) Vienna convention - rules for the appointment of foreign representatives; - the inviolability of mission premises; - protection for the diplomat and his or her family from any form of arrest or detention; - protection of all forms of diplomatic communication; - the basic principle of exemption from taxation; - immunity from civil and administrative jurisdiction, with limited exceptions; and - that diplomats must respect the laws of the host state. Dean of Diplomatic corps the current dean in Ottawa is H.E. Florence Zara Chideya of Zimbabwe in country since Dec 13 2005 Privileges Airports, traffic tickets , criminal & civil charges Examples in Ottawa and New York Show Diplomatic Passport and ID Card.

What can the Legation do for you 1.Travel - you should always register with the legation in person or on line when in country They can replace lost passports, get you emergency transport back to Canada etc. (expand) http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration If you are arrested – they will ensure you have adequate counsel and are not “abused” In Jail – somebody from the mission will always be at your trial. 2, Trade – If you are an organisation doing business in the country the Trade Commissioner Service will do research for you and facilitate contacts etc. (expand) http://www.international.gc.ca/international/i ndex.aspx?lang=eng https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diplomatic_mi ssions_of_Canada

Some people in a Diplomatic mission There are two groups 1. Diplomats posted in country from Ottawa with full diplomatic privileges referred to as CBS they comprise usually about a quarter of the staff (cost of one CBS in country for one year approx 1 Million dollars.) The rest are Locally engaged staff and are citizens of the host country, they have no diplomatic status. 1. Head of Mission – the ambassador or High Commissioner 2. First Secretary – second in command responsible for reporting etc. 3. MCO – Management Consular Officer – General Day to day operation of the mission and overseas all consular functions – Issuing of passports, visas etc 4. Trade commisoner 5. FSITP – responsible for IT issues, top secret communications , mission security systems, among other things title “Attache” 6. Some missions have representatives of OGDs (Other Government Departments)that usually liase with their equivalents in the host country. Some examples are Immigration Canada, CBSA, RCMP, CSIS., Transport Canada these people usually carry the title of “Second Secretary” 7. .Some provinces maintain representatives in some missions BC., Alb, Ont and Quebec (expand)

In some missions Canada maintains an Education Liaison Officer (and staff). Their function is to encourage potential university students to register with Canadian Universities And Technical Institutes. These students paid tuition is far and above what Canadian students pay And contributes greatly to the Universities bottom line. For instance BC is host to some 94,000 Overseas students generating some 1.8 billion in tuition, accommodation etc. UBC 13,000 of the 61,000 students are international (Undergraduates & Graduates) Note – Australia’s second biggest export earning (after Minerals) is education. https://www.ubc.ca/_assets/pdf/UBC_Overview_ Facts_2015-16.pdf http://www.vancouversun.com/news/huge+t uition+increase+approved+international+stud ents/11563985/story.html

There is usually a Military Attaché. An Officer (usual rank Colonel) of the Canadian Armed forces. He has is own staff and secure comms etc. To Defense HQ. Usually Spends his time hob knobbing with equivalents from other missions. (expand) Mission physical security in high risk countries (Egypt, Israel, Jordan , Palestine etc. Is handled by a resident senior NCO from the Canadian Military Police, he/she does NOT Report to the Military attaché but to the head of mission directly. There are locally engaged staff engaged to support the CBS and can be deputy trade Commissioners, passport officers, consular personnel (expand) support staff such as carpenters and drivers. The mission has its own fleet of vehicles, limo with driver for the head of mission, who also has a maid and a cook at the official residence (the mission is often referred to As the Chancery. Other vehicles include armoured vans etc (expand)



The Department is regarded differently by the two main political parties. The Conservative party regards it as a hot bed of effete liberal beliefs and tries to exert Control through the PMOs office even to the extent of posting PMO staff to missions. The Heads of mission greatly resent this. In the caucus the Minister is usually over ridden By the PM. The is indicated by the string of ineffective ministers during the last Conservative Administration such as Peter MacKay, Maxine Bernier (expand), David Emerson (local lad), And of course John Baird. In the liberal party the Minister is higher up the pecking order and has included Louis St Laurent, Lester B. Pearson, Jean Chretien and Joe Clark before they were PMs. The current appointee is Chrystia Freeland. Regarded as the best Minister in recent times is Lloyd Axworthy

Canada’s posture in the world. Since the Second World war up until recently Canada pursued a policy of supporting The United Nations in world conflicts (Lester Pearson getting the Nobel Peace prize For the ending of the Suez Canal crisis in 57). Our involvement in the Korean war was through the UN. Canadian armed forces were usually in the forefront in UN missions In The Congo, Kosovo, Cyprus, Haiti, etc https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Canadian_peacekeeping_missions Canada had a seat on the Security Council pretty well continuously since 1947. We lost the seat in 2010 due to our relinquishing our position as being an even and respected broker and becoming more partisan, in particularly by becoming a lickspittle to the United States and Israel (these two countries being very rarely regarded as unbiased In international affairs). This came about under the auspices of the Harper government. It is refreshing to see that the new administration is returning to the earlier policies of Support for UN missions. Lloyd Axworthy led a plethora of International treaties in the best of Canadian traditions Including ICC, Ottawa convention to ban land mines, the small arms trade treaty etc

John Baird started his tenure as foreign minister faithful to the anti-Pearsonian instructions of the PMO. He disparaged the term ‘diplomacy’ as if it were a foul word and announced with his megaphone new ways in which Canada was doing business. He emphasized a ‘principled’ foreign policy (as if principles had never been part of the Canadian tradition), and focused on trade issues with no recognition that earlier governments had pioneered this theme. On Baird’s watch, and under PMO direction, a lot of damage was done. He continued the fire-sale of important, historic diplomatic properties and the closure or downsizing of embassies in key states. The procedures for appointing new heads of mission broke down, largely due to a level of politicized PMO vetting unprecedented in Canadian history. Baird marginalized embassies and ambassadors on his travels, and tried (without much success) to establish direct lines with other foreign ministers. The hundreds of unprocessed memoranda in his office attest to inattention to detail and disdain for public service accountability. His entourage of ‘boys in short pants’, the small group of young ideologues assigned by the PMO to his ministerial office, tried micro- managing the department instead of encouraging an open, appropriate interchange with career professionals. Policy development stagnated at a time when speeches on challenging issues should have been written by people who knew the issues.

The current incumbent Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Christina Alexandra \"Chrystia\" Freeland PC MP is a Canadian writer, journalist, and politician. She was appointed Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs in January 2017, succeeding Stéphane Dion. Born: February 8, 1968 (age 49), Peace River Spouse: Graham Bowley Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada since 2017 Education: St Antony's College, Oxford (1993), Harvard University, United World College of the Adriatic, University of Oxford Previous Office: Minister of International Trade of Canada (2015–2017) Freeland is married to Graham Bowley, a British writer and New York Times reporter. They have three children,Natalka, Halya, and Ivan. She has lived in Toronto since the summer of 2013 when she returned from abroad to run for election.She speaks Ukrainian at home with her children, English, and is [ conversant in French. She also speaks Russian, Spanish, Polish, and Italian, and is the co-owner, with her sister, of an apartment which overlooks the Maidan square in Kyiv. http://www.international.gc.ca/gac-amc/freeland.aspx?lang=eng