Residential Address of Foreign Representatives Based in Canada

Circular Note No. XDC-0005 of January 9, 2006

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Office of Protocol) presents its compliments to Their Excellencies the Heads of Diplomatic Missions and Chargés d'affaires, a.i. accredited to Canada and has the honour to refer its circular note XDC-0141 of January 31, 2003, regarding the residential addresses for accredited foreign representatives based in Canada and members of their family.

The Department, in order to adequately discharge its obligations to ensure the protection and security of the diplomatic community, continues to largely depend on the support of Heads of Diplomatic Missions and notified Chargés d'affaires, a.i. in notifying the residential addresses and phone numbers of accredited persons, as well as updating this data when required. The Government of Canada's effectiveness in meeting its twofold commitment of responding to emergencies and reducing the risk that an accredited person's immunity will be violated is due in part to the collection of personal information of this nature which has been supplied voluntarily by the Diplomatic Missions.

It is therefore hoped that the Heads of Diplomatic Missions and notified Chargés d'affaires, a.i. will recognize a renewed interest in, or be pursuaded of the benefit of, disclosing and updating the personal addresses, which can now be forwarded by way of e-mail at xdc@international.gc.ca or by Note Verbale.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Office of Protocol) takes this opportunity to renew to Their Excellencies the Heads of Diplomatic Missions and Chargés d'affaires, a.i. accredited to Canada the assurances of its highest consideration.

Ottawa, January 9, 2006