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Minister of Foreign Affairs appearance before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE) – Supplementary estimates (B) – Briefing material

2020-03-12

Table of contents

• House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development Appearance of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Scenario note
• Opening statement
• Standing committee on foreign affairs and international development – Membership
• Standing committee on foreign affairs and international development – Biographies
• Question period monitoring
• Summary documents
  • Page Proofs Supplementary Estimate B
  • Overview of 2019-20 Supplementary Estimates B
  • 2019-20 Supplementary Estimates B – by Vote
  • Statutory Funding
• Funding requests
  • Funding QS Increased costs related to salaries and benefits
  • Funding for a strong sanctions regime
• Adjustments
  • 1$ Item - Adjustment to increase Vote 20 spending authority for the International Financial Institutions (Direct payments)
• Transfersthe Protecting Canada’s Democracy Treasury Board Submission
  • Transfer from SSC for core info technologie
  • Transfers from OGDs to support staff located abroad
  • Transfer from CIC for UNHCR
  • Transfers from OGDs to support the North American Platform Program Partnership
  • Transfer from OGDs for SCBD
  • Transfer from TBS for Innovative approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Increase to grant ceiling
  • Internal reallocation of resources CanExport
  • Internal reallocation of resources Biological Diversity
• Budget implementation vote
  • Overview of Budget Implementation Vote
  • Renewing Canada’s Middle East Strategy
  • Protecting Canada’s National Security
  • Protecting Democracy
• Treasury board central vote 10 (Government-wide Initiatives)
  • Export Diversification Strategy
  • Program and Administrative Services (PA) Modernization Initiative
• Treasury board central vote 15 (Collective Bargaining)
  • Compensation for Collective Bargaining Agreements
• Public accounts 2018-2019
  • Public Accounts – Overview
  • Public Accounts – Losses
  • Public Accounts – Travel and Conferences
  • Public Accounts – Lapses
• Spending and assets
  • Quasi-stat Note
• DRR 2018-19 - Funding by Programs
  • Briefing note on Departmental Result Report 2018-19
  • Overview – Funding by Core Responsibility
  • Development, Peace and Security Programming
  • Support for Canada's Presence Abroad
  • International Advocacy and Diplomacy
  • Trade and Investment
  • Help for Canadians Abroad
  • Internal Services

Scenario note

Meeting context

• Your two-hour appearance begins at 3:30 p.m.
• This appearance is on the Supplementary Estimates (B) for 2019-2020 and your mandate. As such, questions on a broad range of topics related to your portfolio may be anticipated.
• Deputy Minister Marta Morgan and Chief Financial Officer Arun Thangaraj will support you at the witness table.
• Minister Gould may be invited to appear before the Committee at a later date.

Meeting scenario

• The Committee meeting will open with your remarks of 10 minutes. You will then take questions from committee members for the remainder of the two hour-long appearance in the following order:
  • 1st round (6 minutes): CPC, LIB, BQ, NDP
  • 2nd round and subsequent rounds (5 minutes unless otherwise indicated): CPC, LIB, CPC, LIB, BQ (2.5 minutes), and NDP (2.5 minutes)
• Further information on FAAE membership, individual Committee members’ interests and their recent activity in Parliament on foreign affairs issues may be found under Tabs 3 to 5.

Committee context

• The last appearance by your predecessor before the Committee was on May 28, 2019 for the 2019-2020 Main Estimates. The following topics were covered during the hour-long appearance: China consular cases, Meng Wanzhou and Canada’s relations with China (MP O’Toole), relations with Saudi Arabia (MP O’Toole), arms export to Saudi Arabia (MP Caron), NAFTA negotiations and 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum and autos (MPs Baylis, Sidhu), importance of Columbia River Treaty (MP Sidhu), Venezuela and the Lima Group (MP Saini), update on Canada’s action for the Rohingyas (MP Saini). The summary report may be found within this tab.
• During the current Parliament, departmental officials have appeared before the Special Committee on Canada-China Relations (CACN); the Standing Committee on Health (HESA) on the Coronavirus; and the Standing Committees on International Trade (CIIT), Agriculture and Agri-food (AGRI), Natural Resources (RNNR), and Industry, Science and Technology (INDU) on CUSMA.
• The Committee membership changed significantly since the last election, retaining only MPs Levitt and Alleslev. The Committee has met once this session to elect the Chair and Vice-Chairs (MPs Bergeron and Harris were competing for the 2nd Vice-Chair position). MP Alleslev put forward the motion to have you appear, mentioning UNSC, Iran and China as potential topics of interest. The Committee also passed a motion to create the Sub-Committee on International Human Rights.
• Question period and parliamentary committee activities highlight the following preoccupations for committee members and opposition leaders:
  • MP Alleslev – international security, Canada’s policy on security, democracy and human rights, relations with China, Huawei, Coronavirus, CUSMA and aluminum, international priorities, military/defence issues and export permits
• MP Bergeron – relations with China and human rights (Badawi)
• MP Diotte – Ukraine, Russian aggression, Crimean Tartars, returning ISIS fighters
• MP Epp – CUSMA, temporary foreign workers program and agriculture
• MP Fonseca – international trade and temporary foreign workers program
• MP Fry – human rights, trade agreements and gender equality
• MP Harris – human rights, relations with China (vice-Chair of CACN)
• MP Levitt - human rights writ large with focus on Rohingya, Venezuela and international humanitarian law.
• MP Oliphant – consular cases, Africa writ large, rules-based international order
• MP Sahota – public safety and immigration
• MP Saroya – immigration and border security
• MP Spengemann – diplomacy, peacekeeping, UN, Rohingya, Yemen and defence policy
• MP Genuis (Associate Member) - Venezuela, China, Taiwan, human rights in Sudan, Israel (BDS & antisemitism), the persecutions of religious minorities, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC).
• Leaders:
  • BQ Leader Blanchet – UNDRIP, CUSMA and aluminum
  • CPC Leader Sheer – Taiwan/WHO observer status, AIIB, canola exports to China, Israel
  • NDP Leader Singh – CUSMA and environmental protection and protection for workers
• Reports of note tabled by FAAE during the 42nd Parliament include the following:
  • Raising her Voice: Confronting the Unique Challenge Facing Women Human Rights Defenders
  • Democratic Strain and Popular Discontent in Europe: Responding to the Challenges Facing Liberal Democracies
  • Renewing Canada’s Role in International Support for Democratic Development
  • Peacebuilding and Development in Somalia, South Sudan and the DRC: Recommendations for Canadian Action
  • Canada’s Sovereignty in the Arctic

In addition, the Committee tabled three quick one-page reports before the summer adjournment on the Crimean Tatar deportation, the situation in Sri Lanka and the human rights situation in Iran.

Opening statement

Speech by the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development

From: 

Speech

March 12, 2020 – Ottawa, Ontario

Check against delivery. This speech has been translated in accordance with the Government of Canada’s official languages policy and edited for posting and distribution in accordance with its communications policy.

Mr. Chair, Honourable Members, thank you for the invitation to appear before the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development to speak about our government’s foreign policy mandate and current priorities.

Monsieur le Président, honorables membres, je vous remercie de m’avoir invitée à prendre la parole devant le Comité permanent des affaires étrangères et du développement international, afin de parler de la façon dont notre gouvernement donne suite à ses priorités en matière de politique étrangère.

I would like to begin by emphasizing that Canadian interests, values ​​and principles are at the heart of everything we do on the international stage.

From our commitment within multilateral institutions, to our trade agreements, through our defence and promotion of human rights.

This approach is critical in an increasingly unpredictable world where the rules-based international system is under severe strain.

On le voit avec une montée du populisme, une montée du protectionnisme, et une croissance des inégalités économiques et technologiques.

Avec une montée du pouvoir économique, politique et diplomatique de l’Occident envers l’Asie.

Avec une profonde remise en question des institutions multilatérales et de « l’ordre international fondé sur des règles ».

Et finalement, avec un recul des droits de la personne et une recrudescence de l’application sélective du droit international.

Increasingly, human rights are under threat.

From the plight of the Rohingya, to the rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia, to attacks on human rights defenders.

To add to all this, there is an immense demographic transformation. By 2050, the world’s population could increase by 2.2 billion.

2.2 billion who will also be dealing with the existential threat of our time: the climate crisis.

Mais il y a aussi des signes encourageants qui donnent espoir.

Des gens inspirants font avancer nos sociétés et améliorent la vie des personnes marginalisées.

Un consensus prend aussi de l’ampleur concernant les droits de la personne, notamment les droits des femmes, les droits des personnes LGBTQ2 et les droits démocratiques.

Mr. Chair, major international challenges require global solutions, like a rules-based international order that every country can count on to defend their interests while ensuring the collective interests of all.

But the rules-based international order is under threat.

We must support and modernize the multilateral system to ensure its sustainability.

This is where Canada must play a leading role.

Le Canada a une voix dans presque tous les forums : le G7, le G20, la Francophonie, le Commonwealth, l’OTAN, l’OCDE et j’en passe.

Les principes mêmes sur lesquels se fonde la confédération de notre pays – paix, ordre et bon gouvernement – résonnent dans plusieurs coins de la planète.

Mais notre réputation et notre crédibilité reposent sur notre capacité à démontrer à nos partenaires et à nos alliés COMMENT – concrètement – nos principes et nos valeurs guident notre diplomatie.

Let me now present to you the priorities that guide my mandate.

First, Iran and the tragedy of Flight PS752 illustrate the importance of diplomacy and multilateralism.

We chose dialogue while remaining firm so that justice could be done for the families of the victims.

Canada led the creation of the International Coordination and Response Group for Victims of Flight PS752 to ensure that the international community speaks with one voice.

Despite the pitfalls, despite the lack of diplomatic relations, we were able to quickly dispatch investigators to the field and repatriate the bodies of the victims.

Much work remains for Iran to assume full responsibility, including a complete and transparent investigation, the downloading and analysis of the black boxes, and swift compensation for the families.

We will continue to hold the Iranian regime accountable.

Permettez-moi maintenant de parler de la Chine.

Tout d’abord, sur l’épidémie de coronavirus

Comme pour l’épidémie du virus Zika en 2016, le virus Ebola en 2014, la pandémie de grippe H1N1 en 2009 ou même le SRAS en 2003, il a toujours été vital que les pays travaillent ensemble pour empêcher les maladies de se propager.

Tout au long de cette crise, nous avons été en contact permanent avec des partenaires internationaux pour ensemble effectuer un travail aussi efficace que nécessaire.

Unfortunately, Canada’s relationship with China has not returned to normal.

Although 2020 marks 50 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries, we are going through a turbulent period.

Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor have been arbitrarily detained for over a year now.

Our top priority remains to secure their release.

We are also working to obtain clemency for Robert Schellenberg, sentenced to death by China.

International partners share our opinion: the actions of a state within the framework of an international treaty must not generate reprisals against its citizens abroad.

Ceci étant dit, notre relation avec la Chine demeure importante à bien des égards.

Et, OUI, il est possible de travailler avec la Chine sur la réforme de l’OMC, tout en ne s’alignant pas avec la Chine sur les droits de la personne.

Nous allons toujours continuer de souligner l’importance des règles, des protections et des principes mondiaux approuvés par la communauté mondiale, y compris la Déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme ou la Convention de Vienne.

Nos relations avec la Chine seront TOUJOURS guidées par l’intérêt des Canadiens, ainsi que par notre engagement envers les règles et les principes entérinés par le droit international.

Another priority is our campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council as a vehicle for promoting the principles and values ​​that shape our vision of international relations.

We are witnessing a major questioning of the capacity of international institutions to respond to the crises of our time, particularly in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

There is an urgent need to develop new approaches and create a new consensus to face these challenges.

Our campaign for a seat on the Security Council is an opportunity for Canada to demonstrate leadership, to assert our interests, principles and values, and ​​to strengthen and adapt multilateralism to the realities of today.

Certains diront que la lutte pour un siège au Conseil de sécurité n’en vaut pas la peine ou qu’il est trop tard.

Mais il n’est JAMAIS trop tard pour lutter pour les droits des femmes, les droits de la personne, l’environnement et la démocratie.

Certains critiquent aussi le Conseil de sécurité comme dépassé et inefficace.

Mais en effet, le Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU est toujours parmi les tribunes les plus importantes au monde où se tiennent les principales décisions et discussions sur la paix et la sécurité.

Nous convenons qu'une réforme est nécessaire, mais c’est un endroit où le Canada PEUT avoir à la fois de la pertinence et de l’influence.

Finally, Mr. Chair, I would like to talk about our relationship with the United States.

We are allies, inseparable from our geographic, personal and economic ties.

The new NAFTA opens another chapter in our relationship, one of prosperity, opportunity and stability.

As evidenced by the sometimes difficult negotiations of the past two years, our government will not compromise the interests of Canadians.

To conclude, some may say that, in a minority government, we have to act quickly to achieve our objectives.

But as an African proverb I’ve quoted before says, “If you want to go fast, walk alone. But if you want to go far, let’s walk together.”

De là l’importance d’une approche inclusive, où les provinces, le monde des affaires, les entreprises, les artistes, la société civile, en collaboration avec nos partenaires internationaux, mettent tous l’épaule à la roue, AVEC NOUS, pour un monde plus vert, plus sécuritaire, plus inclusif et plus prospère.

Je vous remercie. Thank you.

Standing committee on foreign affairs and international development – Membership

House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development

Chair

Michael Levitt
Party: Liberal
Constituency: York Centre, Ontario

Vice-Chairs

Leona Alleslev
Party: Conservative
Constituency: Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill
Role: Deputy Leader and Critic for Foreign Affairs

Stéphane Bergeron
Party: Bloc Québécois
Constituency: Montarville, Québec
Role: Critic for Foreign Affairs

Members

Robert Oliphant
Party: Liberal
Constituency: Don Valley West, Ontario
Role: Parliamentary Secretary (Foreign Affairs)

Hedy Fry
Party: Liberal
Constituency: Vancouver Centre

Peter Fonseca
Party: Liberal
Constituency: Mississauga East—Cooksville

Ruby Sahota
Party: Liberal
Constituency: Brampton North

Sven Spengemann
Party: Liberal
Constituency: Mississauga—Lakeshore

Bob Saroya
Party: Conservative
Constituency: Markham—Unionville

Kerry Diotte
Party: Conservative
Constituency: Edmonton Griesbach

Dave Epp
Party: Conservative
Constituency: Chatham-Kent—Leamington

Jack Harris
Party: NDP
Constituency: St. John’s East, Newfoundland and Labrador
Role: Critic for Foreign Affairs

Standing committee on foreign affairs and international development – Biographies

Michael Levitt - (LPC—York Centre, ON)

GAC-Related Key Interests

• Human rights writ large with focus on Rohingya, Venezuela
• International humanitarian law
• Gender equality
• Increasing Canada’s role in the world
• Anti-Semitism
• Israel (travelled to Israel with the Minister of Foreign Affairs in fall 2018)

Parliamentary roles

Levitt has been a member of numerous Parliamentary Associations and Interparliamentary Groups since becoming an MP in 2015. Some of these include the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association (CANA), the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group (CEUS), and the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM). Levitt chaired the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group (CAIL) from March 2016 to May 2019.

Notable committee memberships

• Chair, Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE), February 2020-Present; 2018-2019
• Chair, Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (SFAA), February 2020-Present; 2018-2019; 2016-2018

Background

Levitt was first elected in 2015, and re-elected in 2019. A first-generation Canadian, Levitt immigrated to Canada from Scotland with his mother at age thirteen. He received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from McGill University, and earned a master’s degree in Science and Technology Studies from the University of Edinburgh. Before his election, Levitt worked as a partner and Vice President of Business Development for the Benjamin Group.

He is a founding member of the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee, a multi-partisan organization dedicated to activating the grassroots Jewish community in the political process, and has been an active volunteer with numerous non-profits and charities. Levitt has served as a board member of the Koffler Centre for the Arts, Mount Sinai Hospital and other organizations.

Issue specific background

Levitt often rises in the House of Commons to speak about issues relating to foreign affairs. During the 43rd Parliament to date, he has spoken about international human rights, the relationship between Canada and China, and the arbitrary detention of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. On February 6, 2020 he asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs to reiterate Canada’s position on the BDS movement during Question Period.

Leona Alleslev - (CPC—Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill, ON)

Deputy leader of the official opposition

Key interests  

• Arbitrary detention
• Military/defence issues
• Export permits

Parliamentary Roles

Alleslev, first elected as a Liberal in the 2015 federal election and appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, crossed the floor and joined the CPC in September 2018.  While she was a Liberal MP, she was also Chair of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association (CANA) beginning in March 2017. She was a member of the Canada-China Legislative Association (CACN) from December 2015 to March 2016 and November 2016 to March 2017.  

Notable committee membership 

• Vice-Chair, Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE), February 2020-present
• Member, Special Committee on Canada-China Relations (CACN), January 2020-present 
• Member, Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE), 2018-2019 
• Member, Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM), 2018
• Member, National Defence (NDDN), 2017-2018 

Background

Alleslev is a former Canadian Air Force Officer, Senior Manager, and entrepreneur. Prior to serving as an MP, Alleslev held leadership positions in the Department of National Defence, as well as senior managerial roles with IBM Canada and Bombardier Aerospace. She served on the Aerospace Industry Association of Canada, the Ontario Aerospace Council and the Women in Aerospace Association joint government/industry change initiatives. Alleslev has also owned and operated two small businesses; an eco-tourism business in Temagami, and a custom closet and ‎home organization company in Aurora.

Alleslev earned a B.A. (Honours) in History and Political Science from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston and received her Queen’s Commission to serve as an Air Force Logistic Officer.

Following the 2019 federal election she was appointed as the Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party.

Issue specific statements

Alleslev cited differences in opinion between the Liberal government and herself on foreign affairs and defence issues as to the reason she crossed the floor to the CPC in 2018.

Alleslev stated on her website, “foreign policy is about diplomatic relationships—and Canada has never been more alone.” Citing a “pattern of undiplomatic behaviour” such as “our Prime Minister’s India trip and inability to alleviate tensions with China and our Foreign Affairs Minister’s flippant diplomacy by tweet.” Alleslev then called for “a comprehensive and informed foreign policy that balances our values with sovereignty, economic security and international alliances.”

On February 3, 2020, Alleslev posted an article entitled “Reviewing Canada’s position on the world stage, calling again for a comprehensive foreign policy “that addresses all aspects of the modern world and updates our approach to our relationships both with our allied and our adversaries.”

Alleslev has a keen interest in export permits, and has often questioned the time it takes for permit applications to be approved.

Stephane Bergeron - (BQ—Montarville, QC)

Critic for Foreign Affairs

Key interests   

• Canada-China relations writ large
• Human rights

Parliamentary roles

Bergeron is currently the Bloc Québécois’ (BQ) Critic for Foreign Affairs. He is a member of numerous parliamentary associations and interparliamentary groups, particularly the Canada-China Legislative Association (CACN) and the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association (CANA). He also served as the Whip for the BQ from 1997 to 2001.  

Notable committee membership

• Vice-Chair, Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE), February 2020-present
• Vice-Chair, Special Committee on Canada-China Relations (CACN), January 2020-present 
• Member, Subcommittee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (SINT), 2004 
• Vice-Chair, Subcommittee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (SINT),  2002-2003 
• Member, Foreign Affairs and International Trade (FAIT),  2004; 2002-2003 

Background

Bergeron served as a BQ member of the House of Commons from 1993 to 2005 and a member of Quebec’s National Assembly from 2005 to 2018. In 2019, he returned to the House of Commons as a BQ member.

Bergeron has bachelors and master’s degrees in Political Science. After first leaving the House of Commons and serving in Quebec’s National Assembly for 13 years, Bergeron was Registrar of Rimouski’s CEGEP. He was previously a political advisor and a teaching assistant at the Universite Laval within the Political Science department. From 1984 to 1993 he served in the Canadian Forces as a naval Cadet Instructor Cadre officer.

Issue specific statements

The majority of Bergeron’s statements have been regarding China, including the eight-month vacancy of the Ambassador position and the effect on the bilateral relationship.

Bergeron has raised human rights in Question Period, asking “What will it take for the government to take action and finally get Riaf Badawi released?” Then following up his question by stating, “it is scandalous that Riaf Badawi is languishing in prison after seven years without having committed any crime. If the government can sit down with Saudi Arabia at the G20 , if it can sit down with Saudi Arabia to do business and sell the country weapons, then it can certainly sit down with Saudi Arabia to demand the release of Raif Badawi.”

Jack Harris - (NDP—St. John’s East, NL)

Critic for Foreign Affairs

Key interests  

• Human rights

Parliamentary roles

Harris is currently the NDP’s Critic for Foreign Affairs, Public Safety, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Harris is also the Deputy Critic for Defence. 

Notable committee memberships 

• Vice-Chair, Special Committee on Canada-China Relations (CACN), January 2020-present 
• Member, Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE), February 2020-present
• Vice-Chair, National Defence (NDDN), 2011-2015
• Member, National Defence (NDDN), 2009-2015 
• Vice Chair, Justice and Human Rights (JUST), 2011-2012  
• Vice-Chair, Public Safety and National Security (SECU), 2009 

Background

Jack Harris is a lawyer and politician from Newfoundland and Labrador. He has represented St John’s East several times: from 1987-1988, from 2008 to 2015, and winning his seat again in 2019. He was the leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party from 1992 to 2006.

Issues specific statements

On December 10, 2019, Harris rose in the House of Commons to voice his support for the creation of a special committee on Canada and China relations. He stated, “Madam Speaker, clearly, the relationship would deteriorate. We have seen in the past year or so how quick and easy it is for China, in this case, to take actions that hurt people. We have to move on this and we should move quickly”. On the same day, Harris also spoke about the importance of Canada engaging in multilateralism as a solution to ongoing tensions between Canada and China.

Robert Oliphant - (LPC—Don Valley West, ON)

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister if Foreign Affairs 

Key interests  

• Consular cases
• Africa writ large 
• Rules-based international order

Parliamentary roles

Oliphant was made the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in May 2019 and retained this role in the 43rd Parliament.

Oliphant is actively involved in parliamentary associations. In particular, he has been a member of the Canada-China Legislative Association since December 2015.

Notable committee memberships 

• Member, Special Committee on Canada-China Relations (CACN), January 2020-present 
• Member, Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE), February 2020-present
• Chair, Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM), 2017-2019 
• Chair, Subcommittee on the Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SSEC), 2016-2017 
• Member, Public Safety and National Security (SECU), 2016-2017; 2009

Background

Oliphant was first elected to the House of Commons in October 2008. He was defeated in the 2011 federal election but was re-elected in 2015 and 2019.

Oliphant graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto in 1978. During his time at U of T, Oliphant was active in the University of Toronto Liberal Club, as well as the Ontario (New) Young Liberals.  After obtaining a Master of Divinity from the Vancouver School of Theology, Oliphant was ordained as a United Church Minister in 1984.  His official title is The Reverend Doctor Robert Oliphant, MP.

Oliphant worked in Premier David Peterson’s office in 1989. He later worked for two provincial ministers, Christine Hart, Minister of Culture and Communications, and Mavis Wilson, Minister Responsible for Women’s issues.

Issue specific statements

Oliphant frequently defends Canada’s foreign policy model, stating it “is based on renewing a rules-based international order that Canadians have built together, protecting universal human rights, supporting democracies,” and noting, “We are a leader in the world on critical issues, whether it is in Venezuela, or in the Middle East or in China, all around the world. We will continue to stand with our allies, with NATO partners, as we continue to ensure Canada's leadership is strong and heard in our world with allies and like-minded who work with us.”

Oliphant is a proponent of Canadian engagement in Africa, though the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association, as well as his work as Parliamentary Secretary.

Oliphant raises Canadian consular services abroad in a number of contexts, including committee, social media, and House debate. He has stated a number of times that the return of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are the top priority of the Government.

Peter Fonseca - (LPC—Mississauga East – Cooksville, ON)

GAC-Related Key Interests

• Domestic & International Trade
• Trade Agreements: CUSMA, CPTPP
• Temporary Foreign Workers Program

Parliamentary roles

Fonseca was a member of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CCOM) from December 2018 to March 2019. He was also a member of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association (CANA) from September 2018 to March 2019, and the Canada-China Legislative Association (CACN) from December 2016 to March 2017.

Notable committee memberships  

• Member, Subcommittee on International Human Rights on the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (SDIR), February 2020-Present 
• Member, Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE), February 2020-Present 
• Chair, Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada of the Standing Committee on Health (SCSC), 2018-2019

Background

Fonseca was first elected to the House of Commons in 2015. Prior to entering federal politics, Fonseca was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and served in Premier McGuinty’s cabinet. Fonseca was born in Lisbon, Portugal and immigrated to Toronto with his family in 1968. He graduated from St. Michael's College School and attended the University of Oregon, gaining a Bachelor of Arts on an athletic scholarship. He also holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Windsor. He worked as a senior performance management consultant for the Coach Corporation, and has run an importing and distributing company in Portugal.

Issue specific background

As a previous member of CIIT, Fonseca focused his commentary on GAC-related files on international trade during House debate and committee. Most recently, he rose in the House to speak on the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation Act.

Hon. Hedy Fry - (LPC—Vancouver Centre, BC)

GAC-Related Key Interests

• Human Rights
• Trade Agreements: CUSMA, CPTPP
• Gender Equality

Parliamentary roles

Fry served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and the Minister of Human Resources and Skill Development (Internationally Trained Workers Initiative) from July 2004 to November 2005. She also served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration from December 2003 to June 2004. Fry has been a member of many Parliamentary Committees, Associations, and Interparliamentary Groups since 2002.

Notable committee memberships  

• Member, Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE), February 2020-Present
• Member, Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM), 2004-2005
• Member, Justice and Human Rights (JUST), 2002-2003

Background

Fry is a Trinidadian-Canadian politician and physician. She completed her medical training at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. She is currently the longest-serving female Member of Parliament, winning nine consecutive elections in the constituency of Vancouver Centre. Fry worked at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver for 23 years. She served as president of the British Columbia Federation of Medical Women in 1977. She was president of the Vancouver Medical Association in 1988 to 1989, the BC Medical Association in 1990 to 1991, and chaired the Canadian Medical Association's Multiculturalism Committee in 1992-1999.

Issue specific background

Most recently Fry rose in the House to speak on female genital mutilation (FGM), noting, “In 1997 the Liberal government criminalized FGM in Canada. Now we are engaging with other nations, donors, UN organizations and civil society to take action to eliminate FGM globally… More needs to be done. Ending FGM requires governments to act with legislation to protect the human rights of women and girls, with policies that empower them and, most importantly, in this year of Beijing+25, to remember that women's rights are human rights.”

In 2017, Fry rose in the House to speak on refugee and migrant women and girls worldwide, “Of the 65 million people displaced by conflict, 55% are women and children. Displaced women and girls often experience rape, forced marriages, and sexual slavery… As we laud our own progress, let us remember that women's rights are human rights, and we cannot celebrate fully until all women enjoy those rights.”

Ruby Sahota - (LPC—Brampton North, ON)

GAC-Related Key Interests

• Public Safety
• Immigration

Parliamentary roles

Since becoming an MP in 2015, Sahota has been a member of numerous Parliamentary Associations and Interparliamentary Groups. She was involved with the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CCOM) from January 2016 to February 2018, the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association from September 2018 to March 2019, the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group (CEUS) from January 2016 to April 2018, and the Canada-China Legislative Association (CACN) from December 2015 to 2016.

Notable committee memberships  

• Member, Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE), February 2020-Present
• Member, Public Safety and National Security (SECU), 2018-2019

Background

Before entering politics, Sahota worked as a lawyer, practicing for five years in the areas of criminal law, civil litigation, and dispute resolution in both the public and private sectors. She holds a combined Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Peace Studies from McMaster University and a J.D. with a concentration in Litigation from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Issues specific background

Sahota rose in the House of Commons on the 10 years anniversary of the end of the war in Sri Lanka, asking the Minister of Foreign Affairs how the government is holding those responsible for the atrocities to account.

Sahota is a proponent of the improvements made to the Canadian immigration system under the Liberal government, “we have an effective immigration system that Canadians and those wishing to become Canadians and members of our society can rely on.”

Sahota has spoken out about racism in the House, noting that the “Sikh community has been a victim to racism, discrimination, and violence.”

Sven Spengemann - (LPC—Mississauga-Lakeshore, ON)

GAC-Related Key Interests

• International Affairs, Diplomacy & Peacekeeping
• United Nations
• Rohingya
• Crisis in Yemen
• Defence Policy

Parliamentary roles

Spengemann has been a member of numerous Parliamentary Associations and Interparliamentary Groups since 2015. He became the Co-Chair of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association (CAAF) in February 2020. He has been a member of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association (CANA) since 2016, the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) since 2015, and was a member of the Canada-China Legislative Association (CACN) from November 2016 to March 2017.

Notable committee memberships  

• Member, Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE), February 2020-Present
• Member, Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SSEC), February 2020-Present; 2017
• Member, National Defence (NDDN), February 2020-Present, 2016-2019
• Member, Public Safety and National Security (SECU), 2016-2019

Background

After several years of professional experience in the securities industry, Spengemann returned to university to complete his law degree at Osgoode Hall and was called to the Bar of Ontario in June 2000. He pursued graduate degrees at the College of Europe in Belgium and Harvard Law School where he completed his doctorate in political and constitutional theory in 2006. Spengemann’s academic work earned him numerous awards and distinctions, including a Canada-US Fulbright Scholarship.

Spengemann worked in the Government of Canada’s Privy Council as a Senior Policy Analyst, where he led federal interdepartmental policy processes in the areas of risk management, international cooperation and national safety/security.

Spengemann also served as a UN official in Baghdad with the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). In Iraq, Sven negotiated operational protocols with the US Coalition Forces to ensure operational, security and medical support for the UN Mission. He led a team of international and Iraqi experts to assist the Iraqi Parliament and Kurdistan Regional Government with constitutional and legislative reforms, including oil & gas management, human rights, institutional design, and federalism. His work in Iraq earned him an Osgoode Hall Gold Key alumni award and recognition as a democracy expert in University of Toronto’s Boundless campaign.

Spengemann is a frequent speaker in the community on international affairs, diplomacy and peacekeeping and has been hosted by the NATO Association to discuss his work with UNAMI and Iraq’s ongoing transition. He continues to work closely at the local level with communities from the Middle East and North Africa, including Iraq, the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, Egypt, Somalia and Syria.

Issue specific background

On February 6, 2020, Spengemann rose in the House of Commons to speak about his visit to the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. During the 42nd Parliament, Spengemann spoke about what the government had done to promote peace, human rights, and democracy internationally. He also spoke about his trip to Senegal and Mali with the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence.

Bob Saroya - (CPC—Markham-Unionville, ON)

GAC-Related Key Interests

• Pipelines
• Illegal Organ Harvesting
• Gun Control
• Importing Controlled Drugs & Substances

Parliamentary roles

Soraya currently serves as the Conservative Party of Canada’s critic for the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada. Saroya was a member of the Canada-China Legislative Association (CACN) in March 2018 and the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group (CEUS) from February to March 2017.

Notable committee memberships 

• Member, Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE), February 2020-Present
• Member, Citizen and Immigration (CIMM), 2016-2018

Background

Saroya immigrated to Canada from India in 1974. He was elected to represent the riding of Markham-Unionville in 2015 and 2019. During the 42nd Parliament he sponsored one private member bill, C-338, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which would have increased mandatory minimum sentences for those convicted of importing controlled drugs and substances. The bill was debated at second reading but defeated by the government.

Issue specific background

On May 27, 2019, Saroya spoke on the issue of border security in the House of Commons: “Mr. Speaker, yet again the current government has failed Canadians at our borders. More than 400 Mexicans with ties to drug cartels have entered Canada since the Liberals removed visas for Mexico. Can the Prime Minister please tell us what his plan is to return these criminals back to Mexico?”

Dave Epp - (CPC—Chatham-Kent-Leamington, ON)

GAC-Related Key Interests

• CUSMA
• Temporary Foreign Workers Program
• Agriculture

Parliamentary roles

Epp currently serves as the Conservative Party of Canada’s deputy critic for Foreign Affairs.

Notable committee memberships 

• Member, Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE), February 2020-Present

Background

Epp is a third-generation farmer in Leamington, Ontario. In partnership with his brother Peter, they own and operate Lycoland Farms Ltd. growing processing vegetables and cash crops. In addition, David has served on the executive of several agricultural organizations, including the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers, and Agricorp. He been active locally in his municipality, as well as serving several terms as Chair of the UMEI Christian High School board of directors. He is an active member of Leamington United Mennonite Church and served in related church organizations. Since May 2015, David has been serving as Ontario and Quebec Regional Representative of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

Issue specific background

Most recently, Epp rose in the House of Commons during Question Period to ask about the impact of CUSMA, stating “Madam Speaker, there is an aluminum extrusion and parts company in Chatham that has grown to over 250 employees in less than 10 years. We have all heard the government's talking points, saying that 70% aluminum content is better than 0%, ignoring the reality that 70% is far less than our present market share. What we do not know is the real impact of the new NAFTA. Why does the government continue to refuse to release the economic analyses that we have requested? Release the documents.”

Kerry Diotte - (CPC – Edmonton Griesbach, AB)

GAC-Related Key Interests

• Ukraine
• Crimean Tartars
• Returning ISIS fighters

Parliamentary roles

Diotte has been the Vice-Chair of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group (CEUS) since February 2019. He is also a member of numerous parliamentary associations and interparliamentary groups including the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association (CANA), the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM), and the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CCOM). He previously served as the Conservative Party of Canada’s deputy critic for National Revenue and Public Services and Procurement.

Notable committee memberships 

• Member, Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE), February 2020-Present

Background

Diotte worked as a journalist and then an Edmonton City councillor before becoming a federal MP in 2015. his seat in the 2015 general election. Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and educated at Ottawa’s Carleton University, Kerry enjoyed a long and successful career as a journalist, working in radio, TV, magazines and newspapers. Kerry has taught journalism, authored a book about Edmonton’s history and was a national director of the Canadian Association of Journalists.

Issue specific background

Diotte has not made many foreign affairs-related comments in the House of Commons during the 43rd Parliament to date. On January 29, 2020, he rose to commemorate the victims of Flight PS752 and stated, “Iranian authorities must be transparent and fully co-operate with independent agencies investigating this horrific event. Families also deserve that the remains of their loved ones are allowed to be repatriated to Canada as soon as possible. Anything less is completely unacceptable. These loved ones have suffered enough”.

Garnett Genuis - (CPC–Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan, AB)

Key Interests

• Canada-China Relations
• Human Rights
• Rule of Law & Democracy
• Freedom of Speech

Parliamentary roles

Genuis currently serves as the Conservative Party of Canada’s critic for Canada-China Relations and Multiculturalism. He was a member of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association (CANA) from September 2018 to March 2019 and a member of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group (CEUS) from February to March 2017.

Notable committee memberships

• Associate Member, Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE), February 2020-Present
• Member, Special Committee on Canada-China Relations (CACN), February 2020-Present
• Member, Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (SDIR), February 2020-Present

Background

Genuis was elected in 2015 and 2019. He grew up in Strathcona County and got involved in his community through volunteering with various organizations, including a local care centre. At age 15, he began writing a column for Sherwood Park News for which he continues to be a regular contributor as an MP.

Genuis holds a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management from Carleton University and Master’s of Science in Philosophy and Public Policy from the London School of Economics. Prior to his election, he worked in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Issue specific background

Genuis often rises in the House of Commons to speak about a variety of foreign affairs-related issues. In the 43rd Parliament he has asked the government about Iran, Sri Lanka, Canada-China relations, and Taiwan during Question Period. He also sparked an emergency debate in the House of Commons concerning the genocide of Rohingya Muslims in Burma and has presented a private member’s bill to combat trafficking in human organs.

Question period monitoring

Summary documents

Page Proofs Supplementary Estimate B

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development

Overview of 2019-20 Supplementary Estimates B

Overview

• The 2019-20 Supplementary Estimates (B) were tabled in Parliament on the third week of February 2020.
• In the 2019-20 Supplementary Estimates (B), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will seek an increase of $75.2 million to its current authorities of $7.4 billion, bringing total authorities to $7.5 billion.
• The 2019-20 Supplementary Estimates (B), are comprised of an increase of $13.8 million in voted appropriations, $21.3 million in statutory funding, and $40.1 million net transfers from other government departments.
• Funding being sought includes:
  • $20.0 million transfer from Shared Services Canada for the cost of providing core information technology services to missions abroad;
  • $18.2 million to increase spending authority for the International Financial Institutions transfer payment;
  • $15.8 million transfer from various organizations to support departmental staff located at missions abroad; and
  • $13.4 million for increased costs related to salaries and benefits for employees locally engaged outside of Canada, foreign services allowances, and currency fluctuations for payments of assessed contributions.

Supplementary Points

• Supplementary Estimates (A) and (B) are part of the normal Parliamentary approval process to ensure that previously planned government initiatives receive the necessary funding to move them forward. They present information to Parliament on the Government of Canada’s spending requirements that were not sufficiently developed in time for inclusion in the Main Estimates and are not accessible through the Budget Implementation Vote.
• As part of a two-year pilot starting in 2018-19, the Treasury Board Secretariat introduced a centrally managed Budget Implementation Vote and has changed the timing of the Expenditure Management Cycle. Because of this change, there are now two supplementary estimates exercises as opposed to three in previous years.

Through the Supplementary Estimates (B), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ sought an increase of $75.2 million to its authorities of $7.4 billion:

• $20.0 million transfer from Shared Services Canada for the cost of providing core information technology services to missions abroad;
• $18.2 million to increase spending authority for the International Financial Institutions transfer payment;
• $15.8 million transfer from various organizations to support departmental staff located at missions abroad;
• $13.4 million for increased costs related to salaries and benefits for employees locally engaged outside of Canada, foreign services allowances, and currency fluctuations for payments of assessed contributions;
• $3.5 million for a strong sanctions regime;
• $3.0 million transfer from the Department of Citizenship and Immigration for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; and
• $1.1 million transfer from various organizations to support the North American Platform Program Partnership.

Supporting Facts and Figures

2019-20 Supplementary Estimates B – by Vote

Overview

• In the 2019-20 Supplementary Estimates (B), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ sought a total of $75.2 million in funding including:
  • $48.4 million in Vote 1 - Operating expenditures;
  • $1.4 million in Vote 5 – Capital expenditures;
  • $4.1 million in Vote 10 - Grants and Contributions; and
  • $21.3 million in Statutory Vote.
• Funding being sought includes:
  • Vote 1 – Operating
    • $20.0 million from Shared Services Canada for the cost of providing core information technology services to missions abroad;
    • $13.6 million from various organizations to support departmental staff located at missions abroad;
    • $9.9 million for increased costs related to salaries and benefits for employees locally engaged outside of Canada, foreign service allowances; and
    • $3.0 million for a strong sanctions regime.
  • Vote 5 – Capital
    • $1.4 million transfers from various organizations to support departmental staff located at missions abroad.
  • Vote 10 – Grants and Contributions
    • $3.0 million from the Department of Citizenship and Immigration for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; and
    • $0.8 million for currency fluctuations for payments of assessed contributions.
  • Statutory Vote
    • $18.2 million for payments to International Financial Institutions – direct payments; and
    • $3.2 million for contributions to employee benefit plans.

Supplementary Points

• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ has seven different Votes:
  • Vote 1 is to fund the operations of the department, which is comprised of salaries, the operating costs to deliver our programs (Trade, Development, and Foreign Affairs), including operating expenditures at missions abroad, and other operational expenses such as travel and professional services.
  • Vote 5 is to cover capital expenditures which are largely related to our Real Property program.
  • Vote 10 funds our grants and contributions expenditures including programming for international development and our assessed contributions.
  • Vote 15 is for expenditures relating to the costs of pension, insurance and benefits for locally engaged staff (LES).
• The following three Votes are technical in nature:
  • Vote 20 allows Global Affairs to make direct payments to International Financial Institutions, which are typically development banks.
  • The Statutory Vote includes the following items:
    • Direct payments for International Financial Institutions
    • Contributions to employees benefit plans
    • Minister’s salary and motor car allowances
    • Payments under the Diplomatic Service (Special) Superannuation Act
  • Budget Implementation Vote is to enable Treasury Board to allocate funding to Departments for items included in the 2019 Federal Budget Annex “Budget 2019 Measures by Department” shortly after the approval of the related Treasury Board Submission.

Supporting Facts and Figures

The following items represent the increases by Vote:

• Vote 1 – Operating Expenditures – $48.4 million
  • $20.0 million from Shared Services Canada for the cost of providing core information technology services to missions abroad;
  • $13.6 million from various organizations to support departmental staff located at missions abroad;
  • $9.9 million for increased costs related to salaries and benefits for employees locally engaged outside of Canada, foreign service allowances, and currency fluctuations for payments of assessed contributions;
  • $3.0 million for a strong sanctions regime;
  • $1.1 million from various organizations for the North American Platform Program Partnership;
  • $0.7 million from Communications Security Establishment for administrative support to departmental staff located at liaison offices abroad;
  • $42 thousand from the Treasury Board Secretariat to various organizations for innovative approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in government operations; and
  • $11 thousand transfer from ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ to the Department of Public Works and Government Services to adjust funding previously provided for departmental staff located at missions abroad.
• Vote 5 – Capital Expenditures – $1.4 million
  • $1.4 million transfers from various organizations to support departmental staff located at missions abroad.
• Vote 10 – Grants and Contributions – $4.1 million
  • $3.0 million from the Department of Citizenship and Immigration for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;
  • $0.8 million for currency fluctuations for payments of assessed contributions;
  • $0.2 million from the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and the Department of the Environment for a grant that supports the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity; and
  • $0.1 million for a strong sanctions regime.
• Statutory Vote – $21.3 million
  • 18.2 million for payments to International Financial Institutions – Direct payments; and
  • $3.2 million for contributions to employee benefit plans.
  • The Supplementary Estimates are also provided by Standard Object, which includes the types of goods or services to be acquired, or the transfer payments to be made from funding contained in these supplementary estimates.

Statutory Funding

Overview

• Through these 2019-20 Supplementary Estimates (B), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will receive a total of $21.4 million in Statutory funding:
  • $18.2 million for payments to International Financial Institutions (IFIs) – Direct payments; and
  • $3.2 million for contributions to employee benefit plans.
• The increase of $18.2 million was funded through Vote 10 (Grants and Contributions) by transferring an equivalent amount from the core development pool of the International Assistance Envelope.

Supplementary Points

• The increase of $18.2 million for payments to IFIs is required to fulfil Canada’s commitment to increase its contribution for the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Multilateral Investment Fund and the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol as follows:
  • $12.5 million for the Eleventh Replenishment of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD 11);
  • $3.1 million for the Third Replenishment of the Multilateral Investment Fund (IDB MIF III); and
  • $2.6 million for the Tenth Replenishment of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol (MFMP 10).
• The total $369.0 million in statutory budgetary authorities are comprised of the following items:
  • Direct payments to International Financial Institutions ($250.7 million);
  • Contributions to employee benefit plans (EBP) ($117.6 million);
  • Ministers’ salaries and motor car allowances ($263,100); and
  • Payments under the Diplomatic Service (Special) Superannuation Act ($500,000), a statutory grant, used to provide superannuation benefits for senior appointees of ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ serving outside Canada.
• The $17.0 million in statutory non-budgetary authorities is for the payments to International Financial Institutions – Capital subscriptions.

Background

• Expenditure authority is provided in two ways: Appropriation Acts that specify the amounts and purposes for which funds can be spent; and other specific statutes that authorize payments and set out the amounts and time periods for those payments. The amounts approved in Appropriation Acts are referred to as voted amounts, and the expenditure authorities provided through other statutes are called statutory authorities.

Supporting Facts and Figures

Funding requests

Funding for increased costs related to salaries and benefits for employees locally engaged outside of Canada, foreign services allowances, and currency fluctuations for payments of assessed contributions

Overview

• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ is requesting funding of $13.4 million for increased costs related to locally engaged staff salaries, Foreign Services Allowances and assessed contributions. 
• This amount takes into account the following items:
  • Funding for locally engaged staff salary increases - $9.1 million;
  • Funding for inflation on Foreign Service Allowance - $3.5 million; and
  • Funding for increased costs related to currency fluctuations for payments of assessed contributions – $0.8 million.

Supplementary Points

• Funding for increased costs related to employees locally engaged outside of Canada - $9.1 million
  • The department is requesting funding for revisions to locally engaged staff salaries and salary-related benefits under the established Quasi-Statutory Framework.
  • All locally engaged staff fall under ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s jurisdiction even though they may perform tasks or primarily work for partner departments.
• Funding for increased costs related to inflation on Foreign Service Allowance - $3.5 million
  • The Foreign Service Directives are negotiated via the National Joint Council of the Public Service of Canada. The $3.5 million adjustment reflects currency and inflation increases on FSD expenditures.
• Funding for increased costs related to currency fluctuations for payments of assessed contributions - $0.8 million
  • Assessed contributions are the price of Canada’s membership in international organizations and are usually paid in US dollars or Euros.  As they are typically paid in foreign currencies, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ is vulnerable to currency fluctuations.

Background

• By agreement with the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), the Quasi-Statutory Framework sets out the principles and methodology used by ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ to receive compensation for items including locally engaged staff salary increases, increases due to inflation on Foreign Services Allowance payments and currency fluctuations on assessed contribution payments.
• A key principle underpinning the Quasi-Statutory Framework is that ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ, as a common service provider for Canadian representation at diplomatic missions abroad is protected from the impact of foreign inflation and foreign currency fluctuations.  In this way, the Framework ensures that foreign inflation and currency fluctuations do not erode the department’s purchasing power.

Supporting Facts and Figures

Allocation by Core Responsibility

Allocation by Standard Object

Funding for a strong sanctions regime

Overview

• Budget 2018 announced $22.2 million over 5 years and $4.3 million per year ongoing for ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ and the Canada Border Services Agency to enhance Canada’s capacity to implement effective and efficient sanctions as a vital component of the Government of Canada’s foreign policy.
• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ is requesting funding of $3.5 million for 2019-20 via the Supplementary Estimates (B) to support funding to strengthen Canada’s sanctions system through the creation of a dedicated unit.
• This funding will allow ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ to support a dedicated, centralized capacity to enable a whole-of-government approach to sanctions policy design, oversight, and coordination, as well as to facilitate regulatory and legal work, and stakeholder engagement.

Supplementary Points

• In total, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ is requesting $14.2 million over four years (from 2019-20 to 2022-23), and $3.5 million ongoing. This includes $100,000 a year in Vote 10 (Grants and Contributions) funding to support projects and programming that further Canada’s sanctions expertise and capacity.
• [REDACTED]
• Sanctions are an important complement to Canada’s comprehensive suite of foreign policy tools. Canada’s autonomous sanctions are imposed under the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act or the Special Economic Measures Act; Canada is legally obligated to impose United Nations Security Council decisions, and does so under the United Nations Act.
• Sanctions can be imposed on specific countries, entities and individuals, and may include an arms embargo, dealings prohibition (including an asset freeze), export/import restrictions, financial or technical assistance prohibitions, and travel restrictions.
• A strengthened sanctions system aligns with the department’s priorities for advancing the Government of Canada’s commitments to preserve and nurture Canadian prosperity and security, and contribute to a more just, inclusive and sustainable world, in a gender-responsive manner, including by revitalizing the rules-based international order.
• This new funding also includes $100,000 a year in Vote 10 (Grants and Contributions) to support projects and programming that furthers Canada’s sanctions expertise and capacity.

Results

• This funding will support a dedicated, centralized capacity to enable a whole-of-government approach to sanctions policy design, oversight, and coordination, as well as to facilitate regulatory and legal work, and stakeholder engagement.
• In addition to ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ, part of the Budget 2018 funding was allocated to the Canadian Border Services Agency to enhance their capacity to support implementation of the sanctions regime.

Background

• The growing demand on ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ and Canada Border Services Agency to improve Canada’s sanctions policy coherence and administration was recognized in Budget 2018, which provided $22.2 million over five years and $4.3 million ongoing to the departments to enhance Canada’s capacity to manage sanctions.
• [REDACTED]

Supporting Facts and Figures

• In total, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will be requesting $14.2 million (excluding PSPC Accommodations and SSC Information Technology costs) over four years (from 2019-20 to 2022-23), and $3.5 million ongoing. This includes $100,000 a year in Vote 10 (Grants and Contributions) funding to support future potential projects and programming that furthers Canada’s sanctions expertise and capacity.

Allocation by Core Responsibility

Allocation by Standard Object

Qs & As

What do these funds cover?

• The funding will be used to build the capacity within the Government of Canada to levy sanctions on specific countries, organizations and individuals, and manage Canada’s sanctions regime. This includes policy development, regulatory work, coordination with partners, research and analysis, and stakeholder engagement and interacting with the public.

How do you justify additional expenditures?

• The Department has been undertaking sanctions work on an ad hoc basis since the Budget 2018 announcement. This has allowed Global Affairs to temporarily manage new demands placed on the Department by the passage of the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, as well as increased demand from the Canadian public for information to support compliance. The funding will allow for adequate resources by supporting a team of 19 positions in total to manage the entire system, which includes FTEs in the Legal Affairs Bureau and the Departmental Legal Services Unit.

Has this approach been a good value for money?

• Canada seeks to impose sanctions in concert with other countries to optimize their effectiveness, enhance their political legitimacy, and diminish the likelihood of sanctions evasion. The funds allocated to ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will support the work of a dedicated and centralized Sanctions Policy and Operations Coordination Division to enable a whole-of-government approach to sanction policy design, oversight, and coordination, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory work, as well as facilitate legal work.

What are the communications implications?

• A low-profile communication approach is recommended, including engagement with key stakeholder groups. Media lines aimed to highlight the modernization of Canada’s sanctions regime will be prepared.

What are the parliamentary implications?

• Parliamentarians from across the political spectrum are likely to be supportive of this proposal given that there have been calls for Canada to strengthen its sanctions regime and to more frequently flex Canada’s sanctions capacity as a policy tool in bilateral discussions and in multilateral fora, including through a 2017 report by the House Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. Canada’s like-minded partners, such as the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States have welcomed Canada’s decision to improve its sanctions capacity in line with an organizational structure more similar to their own.

Adjustments

1$ Item - Adjustment to increase Vote 20 spending authority for the International Financial Institutions (Direct payments)

Overview

• The $1 item allows Parliament to approve a change to the Vote wording that sets the maximum amount that can be paid to International Financial Institutions (IFIs) to increase the spending authority from the existing $232.5 million to $250.7 million.

Supplementary Points

• The revised Vote wording will read as follows:
  • Vote 20 – Pursuant to subsection 12(2) of the International Development (Financial Institutions) Assistance Act, the amount of financial assistance provided by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in consultation with the Minister of Finance, by way of direct payments for the purpose of contributions to the IFIs may not exceed $250,684,323 in the fiscal year 2019-20.
• This item allows changes to the amount paid directly to IFIs.
• The increase of $18.2 million was funded through Vote 10 (Grants and Contributions) by transferring an equivalent amount from the core development pool of the International Assistance Envelope.
• The increase is required to fulfil Canada’s commitment to increase its contribution for the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Multilateral Investment Fund and the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol as follows:
  • $12.5 million for the Eleventh Replenishment of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD 11);
  • $3.1 million for the Third Replenishment of the Multilateral Investment Fund (IDB MIF III); and
  • $2.6 million for the Tenth Replenishment of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol (MFMP 10).
• Canada’s investments in IFIs allow it to leverage funds from other countries, foundations and the private sector to maximize its impact on alleviating poverty in the developing world. These investments also allow Canada to serve on the Board of these institutions and influence issues including climate financing and infrastructure investment.

Background

• For both Vote 20 and L25, the authority to make payments out the Consolidated Revenue Fund is through the legislation International Development (Financial Institutions) Assistance Act.  However, in that Act, under Section 12(2), the ceiling on those payments, or the maximum amount that can be paid out in a fiscal year, must be approved by Parliament through an Appropriation Act.
• In an Appropriation Act, the basic structural units of the Estimates are the Votes.  Parliament approves spending authorities on an annual basis by votes which identifies the amount and defines the purpose and conditions under expenditures can be made.  Every vote in the Appropriation Act must have a monetary value.
• In the case of ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s two statutory votes, Vote 20 and L25, the purpose of the vote in Estimates is to establish only the maximum amount of the payments.  Each vote is listed as a $1 item because Parliament is not approving the spending because that authority has already been established through the International Development (Financial Institutions) Assistance Act. The first Appropriation Act in a given year establishes the ceiling for Vote 20 and L25 ($1 each). If ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ wishes to make a change to Vote 20 or L25 through a Supplementary Estimates exercise, this requires an additional $1 vote.
• According to the International Development (Financial Institutions) Assistance Act (S. 3 and s.12 (2)) and the 2019-20 Supplementary Estimates B (Schedule 1, A-6), the Minister of Finance needs to provide concurrence when increasing Vote 20’s authority limit. This concurrence from the Minister of Finance has been obtained.
• The direct payments to IFIs (Vote 20) are recorded as a financial asset in the Financial Reporting Account (FRA) 13248 - Multilateral advances to international financial institutions, using the budgetary statutory authority A281 – Payments to the international financial institutions.
• The purchase of share (capital subscriptions) made through L25 is also recorded as a financial asset in the FRA 13241 - Capital subscriptions, using the non-budgetary authority H161-Payments of notes to international financial organisations – capital subscription.
• Since ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ does not expect to recover these funds, both of advances and investments are recorded as expenses in the department`s financial statements. The allowance for advances is recorded as an expense using the FRA 51161-International development assistance, and the non-appropriated authority F156-Expenses to record allowance for valuation of loans, investments and advances. For the capital subscriptions, the allowances are recorded in the FRA 51829-Provision for valuation for all other transfer payments, using the same authority (F156).
• To summarize, both are accounted as financial assets. They are therefore presented separately in the public accounts (Vol I section 9 table 9.12).

Supporting Facts and Figures

Allocation by Core Responsibility

Allocation by Standard Object

Transfers

Transfer from Shared Services Canada for the cost of providing core information technology services to missions abroad

Overview

• Through these Supplementary Estimates (B), Shared Services Canada (SSC) will transfer $20.0 million to ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ for the cost of providing core information technology services to missions abroad.
• A Memorandum of Understanding between ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ and SSC was signed on September 3, 2019.

Supplementary Points

• In total, SSC will transfer $79.9 million over four years (from 2019-20 to 2022-23) and $20.0 million ongoing. Annual funding will be used as follows:
  • $10.7 million for ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ Information Technology (IT) professionals to provide IT infrastructure and telecommunications services within SSC’s mandate in missions abroad; and
  • $9.3 million for ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ to provide itself (or obtain from third party service providers – other than SSC) telecommunication hardware and services more specifically fixed line phone, mobile devices, and off-network internet services for ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s missions abroad.

Expected Results

• SSC provided ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ authorization to deliver a portion of SSC’s mandate. This authorization will ensure effective service delivery to Canadians and will strengthen our collective efforts to deliver on our mandates.
• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ is now authorized to obtain the following services, which were previously provided by SSC:
  • Information technology services to employees in missions abroad; and
  • Telecommunication services in missions abroad:
    • Fixed-line phone services (some components);
    • Mobile device services (some components); and
    • Off-network Internet services.

Background

• A business case was co-developed that demonstrated the exceptional circumstances that limit SSC’s ability to provide the specified service to ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ. These exceptions include:
  • Over 180 locations abroad with no SSC employees;
  • Health and safety considerations for Canadian missions;
  • Shipping some equipment is complex, costly and results in delays;
  • Reliance on local information technology infrastructure is required for some services;
  • Local policies and regulations or local monopolies that limit the use of foreign devices; and
  • Stand-alone information technology requirements that should not be integrated into Government of Canada network.

Supporting Facts and Figures

Allocation by Core Responsibility

Allocation by Standard Object

Transfers from OGDs to support staff located abroad

Overview

• Through these Supplementary Estimates (B), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will receive funding from other government departments to support increased costs related to the addition staff posted at missions abroad.
• This includes transfers from the department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canada Border Services Agency.
• Through these Supplementary Estimates (B), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will also receive $738,869 from Communications Security Establishment for administrative support to departmental staff located at liaison offices abroad.
• Through these Supplementary Estimates (B), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will provide $11,361 to Public Services and Procurement Canada to adjust funding previously provided for departmental staff located at missions abroad.

Supplementary Points

• These Supplementary Estimates (B) includes transfers as follows:

• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ is a common service provider for Government of Canada operations abroad and receives compensation for the increased cost of operations resulting from additional staff being posted at Canadian missions abroad by other government departments and agencies.
• Transfers to ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ are to cover the common services costs for new staff posted abroad to support Canada’s network, including those related to: Foreign Services Allowances and relocation, real property, security and other common services costs incurred at missions to staff.

Supporting Facts and Figures

Allocation by Core Responsibility

Allocation by Standard Object

Transfers from CIC for UNHCR

Overview

• Through these Supplementary Estimates (B), the Department of Citizenship and Immigration will transfer $3.0 million to ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ to support the funding of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
• In May 2019, the High Commissioner for Refugees requested that the Department of Citizenship and Immigration provide funds in support of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees resettlement operations.
• In September, the Department of Citizenship and Immigration responded with a pledge of $3 million to be transferred to UNHCR with the assistance of ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ.

Supplementary Points

• Department of Citizenship and Immigration lacks the authority to provide financial support to UNHCR, and therefore could not directly provide dedicated funding to UNHCR to support Canada’s refugee.
• Department of Citizenship and Immigration has committed to transferring these funds to ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ, who has agreed to act as a conduit to pay funds to UNHCR under its program authority.
• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ has previously provided funding transferred from Department of Citizenship and Immigration to support UNHCR’s refugee resettlement activities: this occurred most recently in 2017, when UNHCR received $4M for activities related to the Syrian resettlement initiative.

Expected Results

• With this funding, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ and Citizenship and Immigration will provide critical support to UNHCR to pursue its refugee resettlement objectives, and to support Canada’s refugee policy priorities.

Background

• UNHCR is an important humanitarian partner for Canada.  UNHCR gears its efforts towards providing and promoting legal and physical protection to refugees, supplying material assistance, and facilitating durable solutions (voluntary repatriation, local integration and third-country resettlement). In recent years, rising numbers of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons have placed increasing demands on UNHCR, an organization already facing major funding shortfalls.  As the second largest recipient of humanitarian funding, UNHCR plays a vital role in Canada’s humanitarian assistance response. UNHCR also plays a significant role in Canada’s resettlement program.

Supporting Facts and Figures

Allocation by Core Responsibility

Allocation by Standard Object

Transfers from OGDs to support the North American Platform Program Partnership

Overview

• Through these Supplementary Estimates (B), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will receive funding from other government departments to support the North American Platform Program Partnership (NAPP).
• This includes transfers from the department of Canadian Heritage, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada and the department of Natural Resources.

Supplementary Points

• In total, partner departments will be transferring $2.9 million to ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ over three years (from 2019-20 to 2021-22) to support the NAPP.
• The NAPP partnership is a well-established horizontal initiative between ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ and eight Government of Canada Departments and Agencies that provides a coordinated and integrated approach for advancing Canadian policy interests and promoting international business development in North America.
• These Supplementary Estimates (B) include transfers as follows:

• In the winter of 2019, partners agreed to join the North American Platform Program partnership, by way of signed memorandum of understanding.
• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ is responsible for administering the program, with federal department and agency partners transferring their funding contributions to ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ as part of the Estimates.

Expected Results

• Through this initiative, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will leverage the combined resources of its partners to strengthen Canada’s relationship with the United States—our closest ally and most important economic and security partner—and Mexico, our third largest trading partner.
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada’s contribution will be used to fund the NAPP advocacy allocation pool, the NAPP professional development and training budget, as well as the NAPP Coordination Unit.
• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s contributions will be used to fund the NAPP International Business Development competitive pool, the NAPP professional development and training budget, as well as the NAPP Coordination Unit.
• Canadian Heritage’s contribution will be used to fund the NAPP International Business Development competitive pool, as well as the NAPP Coordination Unit.

Background

• First established as the Enhanced Representation Initiative in the USA (2003-2008), and subsequent NAPP iterations (2008-2013, 2013-2016, and 2016-2019), the NAPP is now in its fifth iteration (2019-2022) and continues to pursue a mandate focused on advocacy, international business development, professional development opportunities, and training.
• Current members are Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Canadian Heritage, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, and Natural Resources Canada.

Supporting Facts and Figures

Allocation by Core Responsibility

Allocation by Standard Object

Transfers from OGDs for SCBD

Overview

• Through these Supplementary Estimates (B), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ is requesting funding to issue a grant in support of the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD).
• Funding is being transferred from the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec ($180,483) and the Department of Environment ($23,040).

Supplementary Points

• In total, the Government of Canada will be contributing $17.1 million to SCBD for $17.1 million (including the one-time $750,000 contribution toward renovation of the SCBD’s current premises) over ten years (from October 2019 to September 2029).
• This grant supports the work of the Secretariat in the protection and promotion of biological diversity. It is aligned with federal priorities and with the roles and responsibilities of all participating departments.
• The funding covers 75% of the actual costs of the Secretariat’s office space rental, operating costs (e.g. utilities), and a mandatory United Nations program support fee. The Government of Quebec covers the remaining 25%. Within the federal government, costs would continue to be shared in the following manner: 47% from ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ, 47% from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, and 6% from Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Expected Results

Through this initiative, it is expected that the annual grant to the Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat will achieve the following results:

• Demonstrate the importance that Canada attaches to the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and highlight the sustainable development agenda of the Government of Canada;
• Generate economic benefits in proportion to the investment made by Canada in the Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat; and
• Strengthen Montreal's and Canada’s position as a highly desirable location for international organizations.

Background

• The Convention on Biological Diversity (the Convention) was a key outcome of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Canada played a lead role in developing, negotiating, and concluding the Convention and was the first industrialized country to ratify it in 1992. In 1995, the second Conference of the Parties to the Convention selected Montreal as the location for the Secretariat on the basis of a Canadian offer of financial and in-kind assistance supported by all three levels of government, including an offer to cover the costs of the SCBD’s office space.
• Extensive discussions have been held with the SCBD on renewing their presence in Canada, beginning in November 2017. The SCBD review its existing space, including a need for general refurbishment and for more modern videoconferencing capability in order to reduce its carbon footprint, and considered a move to new office space in Montreal. However, it was ultimately decided that a renewal of the lease at the current premises presented better value-for-money.
• Following several rounds of negotiations, as well as internal United Nations review and approval processes, the SCBD reached an agreement with their landlord for a 10-year lease renewal in August, 2019. Under the new lease agreement, the SCBD will remain in its current premises and the landlord will provide a contribution towards general refurbishment of the premises.
• In addition, in order to secure the SCBD’s agreement to remain in the current office location, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ has proposed a one-time contribution of up to $750,000 in additional funds towards renovation of the SCBD’s current office space (primarily aimed at upgrading the videoconference facilities).

Supporting Facts and Figures

Allocation by Core Responsibility

Allocation by Standard Object

Transfer from TBS for Innovative approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Overview

• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ is requesting funding of $42,000 for 2019-20 via Supplementary Estimates (B) to support the development of a carpooling application.
• This funding is being allocated from the Greening Government Fund.
• [REDACTED]
• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will receive a total of $102,000 from this fund to develop a carpooling application.

Supplementary Points

• In total, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will be requesting an amount of $102,000 over 4 years (from 2019-20 to 2022-2023).
• The funding will support developing, implementing and monitoring of a carpooling application adapted to ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ employees’ specific needs.
• This initiative is part of the broader Green Government Initiative. It also complements other ongoing initiatives undertaken by ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ that are aimed at reducing the overall ecological footprint of domestic activities.

Expected Results

• Through this initiative, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will encourage green commuting habits, leveraging other commuting improvements such as on-going electric shuttles between the three main buildings. It is estimated that this initiative will reduce greenhouse gas from commuting by over 275 tons over a 4-year period.

Background

• The Greening Government Fund has been established as part of the Government of Canada’s response to climate change. The fund targets projects that are anticipated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in federal operations; test or implement innovative approaches; can be reproduced within or across departments; pursue solutions in areas where greenhouse gas are difficult to reduce.

Supporting Facts and Figures

Allocation by Core Responsibility

Allocation by Standard Object

Increase to grant ceiling

Internal reallocation of resources CanExport

Overview

• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ is requesting a grant authority increase of $14.3 million in 2019-20 via these Supplementary Estimates (B) to increase grants to support the CanExport Program.
• This increase will be financed by a decrease to contributions in support of the CanExport Program.

Supplementary Points

• In addition to the $14.3M increase, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ is also requesting a grant authority increase of $6.1 million in 2020-21 and ongoing via the 2020-21 Main Estimates process.

Expected Results

• As part of of the CanExport Porgram, this funding will be used to build a stronger and more competitive Canadian capacity to compete in the global economy, by increasing:
  • growth of the Canadian economy;
  • Canadian business involvement in international business development;
  • the capacity of Canadians to commercialize new technologies with foreign partners and in foreign markets; and
  • Canadian communities’ capacity to attract Foreign Direct Investment.

Background

• [REDACTED]
• The CanExport Program was established in an effort to increase consistency within Canada’s international commercial policy framework, the Global Commerce Strategy, updated in 2013 by the Global Markets Action Plan. It is also in response to a number of Government-wide initiatives, including a Blue Ribbon Panel, the 2008 Transfer Payment Policy and Treasury Board’s recommendation on horizontal coordination of program administration where appropriate.
• The program harmonizes four pillars under one umbrella mechanism:  CanExport Small and Medium-sized enterprises; CanExport Associations (formerly Global Opportunities for Associations); CanExport – Community Investments (formerly Invest Canada - Community Initiatives); CanExport Innovation (formerly Going Global Innovation).

Supporting Facts and Figures

Allocation by Core Responsibility

Internal reallocation of resources Biological Diversity

Overview

• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ is requesting a grant increase of $930,483 via these Supplementary Estimates (B) to secure the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity’s (SCBD) agreement and remain in the current office location.
• The increase will be financed by a corresponding decrease to Grants from the International Assistance Envelope.

Supplementary Points

• In total, the Federal Government of Canada will be contributing $17.1 million to support the SCBD office over ten years (from October 2019 to September 2029).
• Canada has hosted the SCBD in Montreal since 1996. When Montreal was selected as host city, it was on the condition that Canada would provide the SCBD’s office space. Both the federal government and the government of the province of Quebec have provided annual grants to cumulatively fund the SCBD’s office space lease and associated costs.
• Canada’s current host-country grant to the SCBD expires on September 30, 2019 and must be renewed. For the renewal of the host state grant arrangement, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ has proposed that the federal/provincial cost-sharing remain at 75% and 25% respectively.
• Within the federal government, costs would continue to be shared in the following manner: 47% from ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ, 47% from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, and 6% from Environment and Climate Change Canada.
• [REDACTED]
• The SCBD reviewed its existing space, including a need for general refurbishment and for more modern videoconferencing capability in order to reduce its carbon footprint, and considered a move to new office space in Montreal. However, it was ultimately decided that a renewal of the lease at the current premises presented better value-for-money.
• Following several rounds of negotiations, as well as internal United Nations review and approval processes, the SCBD reached an agreement with their landlord for a 10-year lease renewal in August, 2019. Under the new lease agreement, the SCBD will remain in its current premises and the landlord will provide a contribution towards general refurbishment of the premises.
• In addition, in order to secure the SCBD’s agreement to remain in the current office location, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ has proposed a one-time contribution of up to $750,000 in additional funds towards renovation of the SCBD’s current office space (primarily aimed at upgrading the videoconference facilities).

Budget implementation vote

Overview of Budget Implementation Vote

Overview

• As part of a two-year pilot starting in 2018-19, the Treasury Board Secretariat introduced a centrally managed Budget Implementation Vote (BIV) and has changed the timing of the Expenditure Management Cycle.
• The implementation of this new process enables Treasury Board to allocate funding to Departments for items included in the 2019 Federal Budget Annex “Budget 2019 Measures by Department” shortly after the approval of the related Treasury Board Submission.
• Due to this change, there were two supplementary estimates exercise in 2019-20 as opposed to three prepared in previous years.

Expected Results

• The change to the timing of the 2019-20 Expenditure Management Cycle was expected to streamline access to funding allocated in the Budget 2019 by allowing the Department to access funding through an Interim Main Estimates. This enabled the inclusion of Budget 2019 items in the final Main Estimates.
• With the end of this two-year pilot project, the Treasury Board Secretariat will revert to tabling a single Main Estimates and three Supplementary Estimates exercises in 2020-21 as opposed to two prepared during the two-year pilot.

Background

• Budget 2019 has proposed investments across all sectors of ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s mandate; political and security, trade and development. As is the case with all central vote allocations, initiatives funded from the Treasury Board Central Budget Implementation Vote will be reflected in the Authorities to Date on the page proofs of the Supplementary Estimates.

Supporting Facts and Figures

• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ was allocated $249.4 million in new funding in 2019-20 through the Budget 2019 Implementation Vote for the following initiatives:
  • $248.0 million for the Renewing Canada’s Middle East Strategy;
  • $0.8 million for Protecting Canada’s National Security; and
  • $0.6 million for Protecting Democracy.

Allocation by Core Responsibility

Renewing Canada’s Middle East Strategy

Overview

• Budget 2019 included funding up to an additional $1.39 billion over two years to renew Canada’s engagement in the Middle East, with a greater focus on building stability, governance and long-term resilience.
• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ received $249.7 million in 2019-20 via the Budget Implementation Vote 45 to support the Renewal of Canada’s Middle East Strategy.
• The increased funding will allow ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ to continue building on its current programming to respond to the crises in Iraq and Syria, address their impact on Lebanon, Jordan and the region, and enhance security and stability in the region.
• Canada’s humanitarian and development assistance has enabled humanitarian partners to provide 5.3 million people with emergency food assistance on a monthly basis and financial support to 3,600 public schools in Jordan, and will continue to provide assistance to the most vulnerable conflict-affected populations.

Supplementary Points

• In total, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ is requesting $499.4 million over two years (from 2019-20 to 2020-21) to renew Canada’s Middle East Strategy. Of this total, the department received $249.7 million in 2019-20 via the 2019 Budget Implementation Vote 45 and the remainder is requested via the 2020-21 Annual Reference Level Update.
• The Global Coalition has been effective in its mission to degrade and ultimately defeat Daesh in Iraq and Syria.
• Going forward, Canada will continue to work with the international community to set the conditions for longer-term security and stability, enable civilian-led stabilization programs and support governance efforts.

Expected Results

• Canada’s renewed Middle East Strategy is working to:
  • provide gender-sensitive humanitarian assistance to the over 18 million people in Syria and Iraq who are in dire need;
  • build the resilience of communities and governments in Jordan and Lebanon to help them shoulder the burden of hosting approximately 1.5 million Syrian refugees;
  • foster social cohesion, build livelihoods, restore services and basic infrastructure, and support demining operations to help more of the 8 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Iraq and Syria to safely return home;
  • increase stability by sustained efforts to improve inclusive governance; and,
  • support the Global Coalition Against Daesh, strengthen counter-terrorism capacity, and combat the acquisition and use of weapons of mass destruction to mitigate the threat of terrorism and violent extremism to Canada, our partners, and the region.

Results to Date

• Through the Middle East Strategy, Canada contributed to the following results with the support of coalition partners:
  • Over 7.7 million people, and all of the territory once held by Daesh in Iraq and Syria, have been freed from Daesh’s control;
  • More than 19.2 million square meters of land have been cleared of explosives, allowing displaced persons to safely return home;
  • Security forces in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon have received specialized advice, training and equipment to detect and address security threats in the region;
  • Canadian humanitarian and development assistance has enabled humanitarian partners to provide 5.3 million people with emergency food assistance on a monthly basis and training and financial support to 3,600 public schools in Jordan.
• The Middle East Strategy Coordination Secretariat at ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ has a comprehensive results-based management approach supported by an evergreen horizontal Logic Model and Performance Management Framework that organize and track the results achieved by ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ and other government departments.
• These results are reported through bi-annual and annual reports, which are overseen by a DG-level Middle East Strategy Steering Committee that can adjust operations as necessary. Results are also reported through the annual Departmental Results Report.

Background

• Budget 2019 confirmed the Government’s plan to provide up to an additional $1.39 billion over two years, starting in 2019-20.
• Of this amount, $967.9 million will be provided from the fiscal framework and $426 million would be sourced from GAC’s existing International Assistance Envelope (IAE) resources. The overall funding will be allocated as follows:
  • $926 million to support humanitarian, development, stabilization and security, and diplomatic activities ($500 million from the fiscal framework and $426 million from existing IAE resources);
  • $442 million to renew Operation IMPACT, Canada’s military contribution; and
  • $25.9 million to support intelligence activities.
• Daesh continues to be a threat, instability and geopolitical competition persist, and the needs of internally displaced people and refugees remain. Canada and the international community must continue to respond to humanitarian needs, deliver security and stabilization programs, build resilience, and advocate for peace, accountability, and human rights.

Supporting Facts and Figures

• In total (excluding PWGSC Accommodations and SSC Information Technology costs), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ is requesting $500 million over two years (from 2019-20 to 2020-21) to renew Canada’s Middle East Strategy. Of this total, the department received $249.7 million in 2019-20 via the 2019 Budget Implementation Vote 45 and the remainder is requested via the 2020-21 Annual Reference Level Update.

Allocation by Core Responsibility

Allocation by Standard Object

Qs & As

What do these funds cover?

• This funding will build on results achieved to date and will sustain programming over the two-year horizon. It will focus on three key pillars: security and stabilization; humanitarian and resilience-building assistance and diplomatic engagement. Funding will be allocated as follows:
  • Humanitarian Assistance Programming - $330 million
  • Development Assistance - $80 million
  • Peace and Stabilization Operations Programming - $38.2 million
  • Counter-Terrorism Capacity-Building Programming - $10 million
  • A total of $41.2 million in Vote 1 operating is also requested, which will fund 54 FTEs abroad and at HQ

How does the Strategy contribute to the defeat of Daesh?

• With coalition partners, Canada has made significant military and civilian contributions in the fight against Daesh and stability in the region.  However, the job is not complete, and the renewed Strategy works to ensure that our efforts contribute to the enduring defeat of Daesh, by continuing to respond to humanitarian needs, delivering security and stabilization programmes, building resilience, and addressing the current dynamics in the Middle East.

How does the instability in the region (protests in Iraq and Lebanon) affect the Strategy?

• The Strategy takes into account the volatile and unpredictable context in the region and mitigation measures to reduce the likelihood and impact of risks to Canada’s operations. This includes, for example, flexible funding authorities that allow the department to shift funding between countries to reflect changes on the ground.
• Canadian programming in support of improved governance, security sector reform, and economic livelihoods is geared towards helping address core issues at the heart of the demands of the populations for genuine political and economic reform.

How has the Strategy been affected by the Syrian regime’s offensive in Idlib?

• Canada condemns in the strongest terms the Syrian regime and its supporters’ deliberate attacks targeting civilians, schools, medical personnel and health-care facilities occurring in Idlib. Canada calls for an immediate ceasefire in the area and for all parties to respect basic human decency and ensure full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to civilians in need. Canada remains steadfast in its commitment to helping partners address humanitarian needs in Syria and the region.
• We express our condolences to Turkey and the families of those soldiers killed and injured in the attack on February 27. We condemn the attack and call for the Syrian regime and its backers to halt their offensive in Idlib. Also, we call on all parties to take steps to de-escalate the situation.

How has the COVID-19 virus affected affected the Strategy?

• There have been a number of COVID-19 cases confirmed in countries under the Middle East Strategy, including in Lebanon and Iraq. Canada is monitoring the situation in the region, particularly concerning the impact an outbreak could have on stability, and urges individuals and governments to work to reduce the spread of the virus.

Protecting Canada’s National Security

Overview

• Budget 2019 proposed investing $67.3 million over five years, starting in 2019-20 and $13.8 million ongoing, to Public Safety Canada; Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada; ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ; and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, among other federal agencies.
• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ received $979,161 in 2019-20 via the 2019 Budget Implementation Vote 35 to support funding for Protecting Canada’s National Security.
• The increased funding will equip ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ to respond more quickly and effectively to the highly time and commercially sensitive files managed under the Investment Canada Act, better ensure coordination across goods and technologies controlled for export and for investment, and to inform policy and regulatory decisions with a sharpened intelligence lens.

Supplementary Points

• In total, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ was allocated $5.8 million over five years (from 2019-20 to 2023-24) and $1.3 million ongoing for Protecting Canada’s National Security.
• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ has legislated responsibilities related to economic security as a result of the Investment Canada Act (ICA), the Export and Import Permits Act (EIPA) and the Remote Sensing Space Systems Act (RSSSA). These responsibilities are time sensitive, sensitive for commercial and security reasons, and require legal, technical and commercial operation expertise to manage.

Results

• This initiative will allow ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ to:
  • respond more quickly and effectively to the highly time and commercially sensitive files managed under the Investment Canada Act;
  • better integrate intelligence and analysis into decision making by identifying and understanding new and emerging threat vectors;
  • manage complex files, with the appropriate technical expertise, under the Export and Imports Permit Protection Act and the Remote Space Sensing Systems Act; and
  • address the increasing demands to matters that fall under the three pieces of legislation.
  • keep pace with Five Eyes (FVEY) alliance and close partners on the modernization and enhancement of economic security related legislations and enforcement.
  • to ensure whole-of-government coordination to safeguard Canada’s economic security interests.
• To date, results include:
  • increased collaboration, coordination and engagement with domestic and international partners to strengthen economic security, including the exchange of best practices and multilateral discussions on how to safeguard emerging and sensitive technology;
  • enhanced risk assessment, including the evaluation of risks associated with national security, of all export permit applications;
  • increased technical and policy analysis for national security reviews under the Investment Canada Act;
  • modernization of the Remote Sensing Space Systems Act (RSSSA), including the creation of an independent RSSSA ad-hoc review committee with experts from industry, academia, and domestic and international regulatory counterparts;
  • increased analytical reporting at headquarters and enhanced reporting from field officers on economic security challenges for Canada in the global environment;
  • increased awareness for trade commissioners and political officers of economic security concerns;
  • providing support to the Public Safety-led Economic Security Task Force

Supporting Facts and Figures

• In total (excluding PWGSC Accommodations and SSC Information Technology costs), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ was allocated $5.8 million over five years (from 2019-20 to 2023-24) and $1.3 million ongoing to respond effectively to the proposals put forward by the Economic Security Task Force stablished in January 2019. Of this total, $979,161 was received in 2019-20 via the 2019 Budget Implementation Vote 35.

Allocation by Core Responsibility

Allocation by Standard Object

Qs & As

What do these funds cover?

• The funding will be used to assist ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ in developing Canada’s capacity to assess and mitigate potential risks to its national economic security. This funding covers seven new full time employees at HQ to assist in developing this capacity in areas relating to intelligence, technical and engineering expertise, and policy analysis.

How do you justify these additional expenditures?

• This additional capacity is required to fill identified gaps, respond to evolving threats, contribute to whole-of-government initiatives on strengthening economic security, and ensure the department meets its legislated responsibilities related to economic security resulting from of the Investment Canada Act, the Export and Imports Permit Protection Act and the Remote Space Sensing Systems Act.

Protecting Democracy

Overview

• Budget 2019 set aside funding over a five-year period to implement a number of new measures to further strengthen and safeguard Canada’s democratic institutions, this includes $2.1 million for ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ over 3 years starting in 2019-20.
• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ received $670,211 in 2019-20 via the Budget 2019 Implementation Vote 40 to further strengthen and safeguard Canada’s democratic institutions.
• The increased funding will allow Global Affairs to establish and coordinate a Rapid Response Mechanism unit to strengthen cooperation and information sharing amongst G7 members in response to foreign threats to democracies.

Supplementary Points

• In total, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ was allocated $2.1 million over three years (from 2019-20 to 2021-22) for Protecting Canada’s Democracy. Of this total, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ received $670,211 in 2019-20 via the Budget 2019 Implementation Vote 40.
• Canada has committed to lead the coordination of the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) on an ongoing basis and establish the RRM Coordination Unit as a three-year pilot project.
• The RRM is a G7 Commitment announced in Charlevoix in June 2018 and endorsed by Ministers in April 2019. The RRM’s mandate is to strengthen G7 coordination to identify and respond to diverse and evolving threats to G7 democracies, through sharing information and analysis, and identifying opportunities for a coordinated response. It is comprised of focal points from the G7 Members, each positioned to leverage their own national-level structures and processes to support engagement in the RRM network.
• The RRM also participates in the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections Task Force to act as an early warning system by providing open source data analytics and leveraging the RRM network in terms of information exchange and potential response. The Task Force works to prevent covert, clandestine, or criminal activities from influencing or interfering with the democratic process in Canada.

Results

• Through this initiative, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will contribute to keeping Canada’s democratic institutions safe, while respecting Canadians rights and freedoms.
• The RRM’s goal is to ensure that information about threats to democracy, including lessons learned, flow systematically and freely among G7 members, and for the Coordination Unit to nurture and strengthen relationships of trust with G7 counterparts.
• The Coordination Unit will also undertake open social media monitoring and analysis activities in support of the RRM mandate and produce relevant reports to share with the G7 RRM community.
• In 2019/2020, the funding supported the following results:
  • The Coordination Unit at ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ was established, and the G7 RRM is operational with all focal points identified.
  • The RRM also developed relationships with a range of stakeholders from non-governmental and multilateral organisations to develop synergies and avoid duplication in addressing foreign threats to democracy.
  • To enhance the collective understanding of foreign threats to democracies across the G7 and beyond, the Unit: commissioned three successful research projects; organised an international Symposium; established a group on open data analytics, and has been producing a curated monthly bulletin – the Wire.
  • Over the past year, the Unit provided unique insight on foreign interference online based on open source analytics, including the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election and EU parliamentary election.
  • Recognising the global nature posed by foreign threats to democracy, the RRM has expanded its information-sharing benefits to new states (New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands and Lithuania) and has also included in its wider network a range of experts (over 100).
  • Leveraging its open source analytical capacity, the Unit played a critical role in protecting Canada’s 2019 federal election from foreign interference and acting as an early warning system. As such, it supported regular SITE reporting pertaining to foreign interference, including to the P5 and political parties’ representatives.
• The Unit was set up as a three-year-long pilot project to be assessed in its third year of functioning. As such, there is a rigorous monitoring and reporting framework in place:
  • Progress reports to Ministers, with the first progress report submitted to Foreign Affairs Ministers in April 2019.
  • ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ corporate reporting mechanisms, including tracking and reporting on the commitments of the Office of Human Rights, Freedoms and Inclusion and on commitments made during G7 summits and meetings.
  • Post-election reporting on Government of Canada efforts to safeguard the 2019 federal election.

Background

• Canadian security officials assessed that the threat of foreign interference from both human and cyber operations was real and growing in advance of the 2019 federal election. In light of this, [REDACTED] proposed funding to address policy and capability gaps to defend against foreign interference and protect the 2019 federal election and beyond.
• The initiative is a pan-government proposal, involving ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ, Canadian Heritage, the Communications Security Establishment and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, that seeks to address cyber threats, support intelligence gathering, increase public and international awareness of disinformation and threats to democratic processes, and lead an international initiative aimed at building consensus (i.e., the RRM).

Supporting Facts and Figures

• In total (excluding PWGSC Accommodations and SSC Information Technology costs), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ requested $2.1 million over three years (from 2019-20 to 2021-22) to establish and coordinate a Rapid Response Mechanism unit. Of this total, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ received $670,211 in 2019-20 via the Budget 2019 Implementation Vote 40.

Allocation by Core Responsibility

Allocation by Standard Object

Qs & As

What do these funds cover? How do you justify these additional expenditures?

• Additional resources were required to establish the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism Coordination Unit at ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ. Namely, additional policy and data analysts were required. Additional operational funds were also needed to cover expenses related to coordination, outreach, and open source data monitoring and analytical activities.

Has the RRM been a good value for money?

• The RRM has successfully shared unclassified information and analysis about foreign threats to democracy and contributed to building a shared understanding of the threat landscape across the G7 and beyond. The RRM Coordination Unit also actively participated in the Government of Canada efforts to safeguard the Canadian federal election and showed value-added in acting as an early warning system by providing open source data analytics pertaining to foreign threats and leveraging the RRM network.

Where do you see gaps and room for improvement?

• The RRM has been mandated with two primary objectives – information sharing and coordinated response. While the first objective has seen some success, we now need to focus our energies on testing the mechanism and further developing its coordinated response dimension.

Can Canadians participate in any way? How can Canadian citizens learn about how is the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism meeting its mandate?

• The RRM works with a range of partners from civil society, such as experts, think tanks, academics, and others to gain a better understanding of the challenges democracies face.  When possible and appropriate, the RRM reports on its progress and shares information with the public and has a publically accessible website.

Treasury Board Central Vote 10 (Government-wide Initiatives)

Export Diversification Strategy

Overview

• In the 2018 Fall Economic Statement, the Government announced the Export Diversification Strategy with a $1.1 billion investment over six years that includes a $289.5 million investment in ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s Trade Commissioner Service to help Canadian businesses access new markets.
• Through the Treasury Board Central Vote 10 (Government-Wide Initiatives), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ received $31.3 million in 2019-20 to support the Export Diversification Strategy.
• The increased funding will allow ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ to implement the new Export Diversification Strategy with the aim of increasing Canada’s overseas (non-U.S.) exports by 50% by 2025.

Supplementary Points

• In total, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ was allocated $340.3 million over six years (from 2019-20 to 2024-25) and $68.3 million ongoing for the Export Diversification Strategy.
• Building on trade diversification initiatives already underway, the Strategy will help Canadian businesses in maximizing their growth by capitalizing on economic opportunities abroad, particularly in markets covered by Free Trade Agreements such as the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
• The Strategy will focus on three key components:
  • Investing in infrastructure to support trade;
  • Providing Canadian businesses with resources to execute their export plans;
  • Enhancing trade services for Canadian exporters.

Results

• Implementation of the Strategy resources started in 2019-20 and Canadian companies are already beginning to benefit from additional resources available to help them explore new markets. For example, the CanExport-Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) program has already seen a significant increase in the number of applications from SMEs. Since April 1, 2019, over 1105 SMEs have received support, compared to 561 SMEs the previous fiscal year.
• New Trade Commissioners are being deployed in key markets abroad and in regions across Canada so that more businesses have access to the advice and services they need to grow globally, including a new office in Winnipeg to offer enhanced service to businesses in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
• The Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) is using new resources to offer services focused on digital, e-commerce and intellectual property needs of Canadian businesses.

Background

• In the 2018 Fall Economic Statement, the Government announced new investments to enhance federal trade services and programs for Canadian exporters. ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s TCS was allocated $289.5 million ($69.8 million ongoing) to help Canadian businesses develop and implement their export plans, and build more global partnerships.

Supporting Facts and Figures

• In total (excluding PWGSC Accommodations and SSC Information Technology costs), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ was allocated $340.3 million over six years (from 2019-20 to 2024-25) and $68.3 million ongoing for the Export Diversification Strategy. Of this total, $31.3 million was received in 2019-20 via Treasury Board Central Vote 10 (Government-Wide Initiatives).

Allocation by Core Responsibility

Allocation by Standard Object

Qs & As

What do these funds cover?

• The funding will be used to support expanding Trade Commissioner services into new sectors and growing markets, making the TCS more accessible to Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises and to support the renewal of the CanExport program on an on-going basis.

How do you justify additional expenditures?

• The strategy takes into account Canadian presence, macro-economic trends and the needs of Canadian businesses, particularly small to medium-sized enterprises and Trade Commissioner Service clients to ensure complementarity between Departmental objectives, Canadian investments in the current markets and future trends.

Funding for the Modernization of the Program and Administrative Services (PA) Group

Overview

• Through the Treasury Board Central Vote 10 (Government-Wide Initiatives), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ received $233,763 to support the Program and Administrative Services (PA) Modernization Initiative.
• The funds will be used to support classification operations, project management and change management activities related to the PA conversion.

Supplementary Points

• In total, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat will transfer $467,526 to ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ over two years (from 2019-20 to 2020-21) to support the Program and Administrative Services (PA) Modernization Initiative.

Expected Results

• Through this initiative, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will support the transition to the new PA group.

Background

• Through the 2019-20 Treasury Board Central Vote 10 (Government-Wide Initiatives), the Treasury Board authorized an allocation of up to $15,000,000 to implement the new classification standards for the PA group.

Supporting Facts and Figures

Allocation by Core Responsibility

Allocation by Standard Object

Treasury Coard Central Vote 15 (Collective Bargaining)

Compensation for Collective Bargaining Agreements

Overview

• The Vote 15 (Compensation Adjustments) is a Treasury Board Central Vote used for adjustments made to terms and conditions of service or employment of the federal public administration.
• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ has received funding of $17.3 million from this vote to compensate for the impact of signed collective agreements for Canada-based staff.
• The amount includes the eligible funding for all new collective agreements signed and other compensation related adjustments made between April 1st and October 18, 2019.

Supplementary Points

• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will be receiving $113.1 million over five years (from 2019-20 to 2023-24) and $25.1 million per year ongoing to compensate for the impact signed collective agreements for Canada-based staff taking effect for the following employee groups : Audit, Commerce and Purchasing (AV), Economics and Social Sciences Services (EC), Electronics (EL), Financial Administration (FI), Foreign Service (FS), Human Resources Management (HR), Law Practitioner (LP), Architecture, Engineering and Land Survey (NR), Compensation Advisor Incentive Package, Research (RE), and Applied Science and Patent Examination (SP).

Background

• The Compensation Reserve group prepares a base payroll snapshot from PWGSC’ pay files ahead of each round of bargaining. The snapshot is taken just before a new round of collective bargaining starts. The current snapshot that is used in the calculations of the impacts of economic increases, market adjustments and restructures for all departments, agencies and crown corporations is from March 2018.  This time period was chosen because it provides an accurate representation of the wage base at the end of the last round of bargaining upon which to base estimates of ongoing pay adjustment costs.

Supporting Facts and Figures

Allocation by Core Responsibility

Allocation by Standard Object

Public accounts 2018-2019

Public Accounts – Overview

Overview

• The Public Accounts of Canada is a report prepared annually by the Receiver General of Canada.
• The Public Accounts contain all government expenditures and revenues, accounts receivables, loans, assets and related reserves that are deemed necessary to present a fair picture of the Government of Canada’s financial position.  They also highlight, among other things, any losses of public money and property and explain the nature of lapses at year-end.
• The financial information of each individual department and agency are rolled up into the Public Accounts of Canada.

Supplementary Points

• Each year, the President of the Treasury Board tables a detailed report of the financial transactions of all government departments and agencies, entitled the Public Accounts of Canada.
• The report must be tabled on or before December 31 following the end of the fiscal year to which the accounts apply; or, if the House is not sitting, on any of the first 15 subsequent sitting days. As a matter of tradition only, the Public Accounts are addressed to the Governor General.
• The fundamental purpose of the Public Accounts of Canada is to provide information to Parliament, and thus to the public, which will enable them to understand and evaluate the financial position and transactions of the government.
• Two constitutional principles underlie the public accounting system: that duties and revenues accruing to the Government of Canada form one Consolidated Revenue Fund, and that the balance of the Fund after certain prior charges is appropriated by the Parliament of Canada for the public service.

Public Accounts – Losses

Overview

• The Public Accounts of Canada reports losses of public money or property due to offenses, illegal acts, accidents or accidental destruction. Total losses of public money and property reported in the Public Accounts for ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ (GAC) in 2018-19 were $1,227,413.
• Significant and noteworthy losses for GAC in 2018-19 include fraudulent use of contribution funds ($1,090,511) and accidental losses of Blackberries, laptops, cellphones, SecurID tokens and tablets at headquarters and missions (replacement value estimated at $73,236). GAC also reported two fraudulent overtime claims ($26,160), two losses of Petty Cash funds ($522), an unauthorized use of the travel card ($12,883) and a loss of mission funds ($19,807). Total losses (6) of consular revenue ($1,478) and theft of cellular phones (2) were also reported ($1,740).
• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ has taken several actions in response to these losses and has recovered funds to minimize the financial impact. The Department has strengthened internal controls around the use of mobile devices and promoted awareness around fraud and the safeguarding of its assets.

Supporting Facts and Figures

• Significant losses reported in the 2018-19 Public Accounts include:
  • $1,090,511 in fraudulent use of contributions funds in Somalia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Kenya and Canada.

GAC response when dealing with these situations

• GAC receives information on the questionable or potentially fraudulent use of contribution funds through monitoring, audits, whistleblowers or directly from partner organizations.
• Further payments to organizations are suspended until the activities are investigated. Complex cases or cases of significant value are referred to the RCMP for investigation.
• The recipients are informed of the conclusions of the investigations whereupon the department demands funds used inappropriately be reimbursed.
• GAC requires that areas of concern be addressed and corrective actions be implemented before further contributions can be considered.
• GAC requires monitoring of the implementation of the remedial mitigation strategies.

Recent enhanced measures undertaken by GAC

• A new separate Fraud Management of Grants and Contributions Unit is in the process of being established, to provide fraud management advisory services as well as implement, maintain and operate risk reporting channels and fraud issue tracking.
• A Grants and Contributions Fraud Review Committee is being established, to provide governance and oversee fraud risk management implementation and activities.

Additional information

• Somalia – Oxfam Canada: $592,117 (funds recovered)
  • Fraud was discovered by Oxfam Somalia on one of GAC’s grant arrangements. The fraud was committed by three local implementing partners and involved a series of schemes. These included overlapping costs, fabricated documents, forged signatures as well as expenditures with no supporting documentation.
  • Oxfam Canada hired two audit firms (KPMG and Ernst & Young) to perform internal and forensic audits. These findings were shared with GAC’s CFO.
• Nigeria – Oxfam Québec: $161,013 (funds recovered)
  • Fraud conducted by [REDACTED] Oxfam in Nigeria’s Bauchi office [REDACTED] as well as [REDACTED] Oxfam employees at the Bauchi office.
  • Employees had participated in fraudulent use of per diems, falsified project payments, misuse of cash payments, inappropriate use of motorcycles, fraudulent procurement-related transactions, project funds deliberately withheld from partners to retain more funds at the office and training claimed but not actually occurred.
• South Sudan – Oxfam Canada: $153,930 (funds recovered)
  • [REDACTED] had delegated authority for the approval of project expenses and procurement at Oxfam Canada in South Sudan and established and owned companies to which [REDACTED] approved various fraudulent and questionable transactions and procurement methods that lacked transparency.
• Kenya – Grand Challenges Canada: $138,284 (funds expected to be recovered in 2019-2020)
  • Failure by a Grand Challenges Canada’s partner to reimburse a loan due to fund mismanagement and misuse.
• Canada – COADY : $29,880 (funds recovered)
  • The most senior accountant at COADY St. Francis Xavier University created a scheme to personally cash cheques named to a legitimate organization. This employee created false invoices, caught these cheques in the process and deposited them into his own bank account. The former accountant was investigated by the RCMP and covered in the news media.
• Kenya – MEDA: $15,287 (funds recovered)
  • [REDACTED] MEDA office in Kenya have claimed fraudulent per diems. Fraud incidents include usage of ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ vehicles by [REDACTED] for personal reasons and suspect procurement process, including no financial or procurement policies in place during the first 1.5 years of the implementation of the project.
• [REDACTED]

Other Losses

• $74,976 for losses of Blackberries, laptops, cellphones, SecurID tokens and tablets at headquarters and missions:
  • Seventy-eight Blackberries, fourteen tablets, ten cellular phones, one hundred and three SecurID tokens, ten portable data storage and eight laptops have been reported as lost or stolen at headquarters and missions abroad. With the exception of the two cellular phones that were deemed to be stolen ($1,740), it was determined that no further action was required as the assets were generally considered accidentally lost.
  • New procedures and controls have been developed and were made available with the release of Android and iOS. These procedures include the remote locking down of lost/stolen devices and greater communication to promote awareness.
• $26,160 in fraudulent time claims ($17,479 in [REDACTED] and $8,681 in [REDACTED]):
  • The employee in [REDACTED] claimed and was paid for disallowed overtime over a one-year period.
  • The employee in [REDACTED] claimed vacation time not yet earned and also owes a prior balance for inappropriate time entry.
  • Both employees were terminated and an account receivable has been created.
• $12,883 for an unauthorized use of travel card at Headquarters:
  • The employee never paid their travel card account and no longer works at ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ.
  • Due to the fact that the employee declared bankruptcy in January 2019, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ cannot make any efforts to recover the amount directly, unless a bankruptcy settlement amount is granted.
• $1,478 for losses of consular revenue in Dar es Salaam, Dubai, Tunis, Yaoundé and Cairo:
  • While the department supports and promotes the use of electronic payments, in certain geographic locations, cash is still the major method of payment. Cash transactions inherently have high risk of errors in handling and recording.
  • Our department continues to promote alternative methods of payments to minimize cash transactions. Department uses communication and training to strengthen internal controls in the cash management area.

Public Accounts – Travel and Conferences

Overview

• Travel information is disclosed as part of the Public Accounts of Canada, including Travel of Ministers’ Offices (Volume III-Section 10).
• These expenditures are incurred by Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, and Ministers’ staff in the course of their duties on behalf of ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ. 
• Expenditures, including travel, for Canadian representation at International Conferences and Meetings are also reported in Volume III-Section 11 of the Public accounts of Canada.

Supplementary Points

• Expenditures for Canadian Representation at International Conferences and Meetings are also included in the Public Accounts (Vol III - Section 11).  This includes expenditures such as travel, hospitality and conference fees that are covered under the department’s International Conference Allotment (ICA) that is approved by Cabinet to fund the protocol activities of the Governor General and the Prime Minister of Canada during official visits abroad. The allotment also supports the participation of GAC portfolio ministers and their official delegations in major multilateral international conferences defined as a congress, convention, briefing seminar or other formal gathering in one location outside Canada, that deals with topics related to government of Canada objectives and priorities.
• This statement also contains travel costs incurred during each visit or conference that appear separately on the “Travel Expenditures for Canadian Representation at International Conferences and Meetings” statement which lists the travelling delegates.

Supporting Facts and Figures

• The most significant costs reported for Canadian representation at international conferences and meetings are those related to the following conferences:
• Prime Minister's Visit to Vimy, Paris (France), Singapore (Singapore) - East Asia Summit, and Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) - APEC ($1,126,507)
• Governor General's Visit to Africa ($870,714)
• Prime Minister's Visit to Lima (Peru) - Summit of the Americas, Paris (France), London (United Kingdom) - Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) ($709,162)
• The most significant travel costs reported for Canadian representation at international conferences and meetings include those related to the following conferences:
• Prime Minister's Visit to Vimy, Paris (France), Singapore (Singapore) - East Asia Summit, and Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) – APEC ($464,121)
• Prime Minister's Visit to Lima (Peru) - Summit of the Americas, Paris (France), London (United Kingdom) - Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) ($249,688)
• Prime Minister's Visit to New Delhi, Agra, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Amritsar (India) ($180,185)

Public Accounts – Lapses

Overview

• In the 2018-19 Public Accounts of Canada, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s Operating budget (Vote 1) was $1,899.5 million in 2018-19. The Public Accounts show an unspent amount of $78.5 million (4.1%). A total of $66.7 million was eligible to be carried forward to 2019-20.
• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s Capital budget (Vote 5) was $171.6 million in 2018-19.  The Public Accounts show an unspent amount of $39.4 million (23.0%).  A total of $25.3 million was eligible to be carried forward to 2019-20.
• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s Grants and Contributions budget (Vote 10) was $4,864.1 million in 2018-19. The Public Accounts show an unspent amount of $283.0 million (5.8%). Grants and Contributions surplus is not eligible to carry forward.

Supplementary Points

• The Department’s three primary votes are highlighted in the Public Accounts are as follows:
  • Vote 1 is to fund the operations of the Department, which is comprised of salaries, the operating costs to deliver our programs (Trade, Development, and Foreign Affairs), including operating expenditures at missions abroad, and other operational expenses such as travel and professional services.
  • Vote 5 is to cover capital expenditures, which are largely related to the Real Property program.
  • Vote 10 is for grants and contributions expenditures including programming for international development and assessed contributions.
• Departments are able to use portions of their operating and capital lapses in future fiscal years through the Operating and Capital Budget Carry Forward process.
• Grants and Contributions surpluses are not eligible to be carry forward to future fiscal years.

Supporting Facts and Figures

Operating - Vote 1:

• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s Operating budget (Vote 1) was $1,899.5 million in 2018-19. The Public Accounts show an unspent amount of $78.5 million (4.1%).  A total of $66.7 million was eligible to be carried forward to 2019-20. The surplus ($78.5 million) can be broken down as follows:
  • Frozen allotment ($27.1 million)
    • Conversion Factor between Operating and Salary Funds ($11.4 million);
    • Canada's G7 Presidency in 2018 (SPA) ($9.3 million); and
    • Other ($6.4 million).
  • Special purpose allotments ($30.7 million)
    • Canada-US Softwood Lumber Agreement litigation ($16.8 million);
    • Duty of Care at missions abroad ($9.7 million); and
    • Other ($4.2 million).
  • Programming and others ($20.7 million)
    • Middle East Strategy ($6.2 million);
    • Peace and Stabilization Operations ($3.2 million); and
    • Program lapses such as staffing delay and delays in projects approvals. ($11.3 million).

Capital - Vote 5:

• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s Capital budget (Vote 5) was $171.6 million in 2018-19. The Public Accounts show an unspent amount of $39.4 million (23.0%). A total of $25.3 million was eligible to be carried forward to 2019-20. The surplus ($39.4 million) can be broken down as follows:
  • Frozen allotment ($14.0 million)
    • Duty of Care at missions ($13.1 million); and
    • Other ($1.0 million).
  • Special purpose allotments ($7.4 million)
    • Duty of Care at missions abroad ($7.4 million).
  • Capital Projects ($17.9 million)
    • Delays in the development of major capital projects ($14.9 million); and
    • Other ($3.0 million).

Grants and Contributions - Vote 10:

• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s Grants and Contributions budget (Vote 10) was $4,864.1 million in 2018-19. The Public Accounts show an unspent amount of $283.0 million (5.8%) and can be broken down as follows:
  • Frozen allotments ($237.0 million)
    • Crisis Pool Quick Release Mechanism ($175.0 million);
    • Counter-Terrorism Capacity Building Program for supporting the Middle East Strategy ($21.7 million);
    • International Loan Refinancing Facility ($20.0 million);
    • International Financial Institutions ($19.2 million); and
    • Implementing 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda ($1.1 million).
  • Assessed contributions ($41.0 million)
    • United Nations peacekeeping operations ($31.5 million); and
    • Other Assessed Contributions ($9.5 million).
  • Programming ($5.0 million)
    • Enhanced Export Diversification Support ($5.0 million).

Spending and assets

Quasi-Statutory Framework

Overview

• By agreement with the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), the Quasi-Statutory Framework sets out the principles and methodology used by ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ to make annual adjustments in the following six areas:
  • Adjustment for Currency Fluctuations
  • Assessed Contributions
  • Foreign Inflation on Overseas Operations
  • Foreign Service Directives & Allowances
  • Locally-Engaged Staff Salary Revision
  • Locally-Engaged Staff Pension Benefits
• The adjustments are made using the Annual Reference Level Update (ARLU) and the Supplementary Estimates.

Background

Adjustments for Currency Fluctuations

• The purpose of this adjustment is to ensure that ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ maintains its purchasing power on items that are impacted by currency fluctuations including:
  • Locally engaged staff (LES) salaries, and
  • Operating expenditures at mission abroad, including those managed at headquarters (telecommunications).
• Currency gains are returned to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and reimbursement for currency losses is sought through the Supplementary Estimates (B) and the Annual Reference Level Update (ARLU). 
• The Department is compensated in-year for currency fluctuations.
• Capital expenditures at missions are NOT adjusted for currency fluctuations. This means that ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s capital purchasing power may erode over time and planning can prove difficult when currencies fluctuate dramatically within a fiscal year.

Assessed Contributions

• Assessed contributions are the price of Canada’s membership in international organizations and are usually paid in US dollars or Euros. As they are typically paid in foreign currencies, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ is vulnerable to currency fluctuations. Changes in rates of assessment and organization budgets are also included in calculating the amount of the adjustment.
• There are three categories of assessed contributions:
  • Official Development Assistance (ODA);
  • Non-ODA; and
  • UN Peacekeeping.
• The ODA adjustments fall within the purview of the International Assistance Envelope (IAE) and, as such, adjustments are made via transfers between development funds and foreign affairs and trade funds through the ARLU.

Foreign Inflation on Overseas Operations

• The main purpose of this adjustment is to ensure that foreign inflation does not erode ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s purchasing power.
• Like domestic departments, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ is expected to absorb the Canadian rate of inflation.
• To determine the net effect of foreign inflation on common services abroad, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ uses mission specific inflation indices provided by Statistics Canada. These indices are applied to actual expenditures categories of goods and services consumed abroad for the previous fiscal year, as a projection for the amounts required for the next fiscal.
• The department is compensated with a one-year lag for inflation.
• Capital expenditures at missions are NOT compensated for foreign inflation. This means that ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s capital purchasing power may erode over time.

Foreign Service Allowances

• The Foreign Service Directivess are negotiated via the National Joint Council of the Public Service of Canada (NJC). Foreign Service Allowances (FSAs) are a subset of the FSDs and are paid from the Department’s salary budget to its Canada-based employees (and to most OGD’s – except DND).
• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ updates reference levels through the ARLU based on the forecast for the current year, as well as the difference between the previous forecast and actual expenditures for each of the following allowances:
  • FSD 50: Foreign Service Vacation Travel Assistance
  • FSD 34: Education Allowances
  • FSD 46: Post Leave Option
  • FSD 55: Post Living Allowance
  • FSD 56: Foreign Service Premium and Post Specific Allowances
  • FSD 58: Post Differential Allowance
• There is no adjustment for all other FSAs – however, these allowances represent less than 10% of the total FSA expenditures and have been steady over the last number of years (approximately $10 million per year).
• The exception is FSD 64: emergency evacuation allowance. The Department can seek additional funds through the Supplementary Estimates if the cost of emergency evacuations is significant.
• Subject to TBS concurrence, the current year inflation on FSDs adjustments may be included in the Supplementary Estimates of the same fiscal year. The Supplementary Estimates would be the net increase between the current year forecast (actual expenditures + forecast expenditures to year end) and the amount requested in the previous year ARLU for the quasi-statutory compensated allowances.

Locally Engaged Staff (LES) Salary Revision

• The Department is not reimbursed for LES salary and benefits increases as part of the standard collective bargaining exercise. This is because unlike other federal Departments, the salaries and benefits of LES are not subject to neither the employment laws of Canada nor collective bargaining. Adjustments are included for all LES that provide services to ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ, Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Department of National Defence (DND), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and several other OGDs.
• The objective is for ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ not to lead nor lag the local market in terms of salary and benefits. For each LES position level, a comparison is made to the wages and hours of work of several other organizations.
• The Department is compensated with a one-year lag for LES salary revisions.

Locally Engaged Staff Salary Pension Benefits

• The Government of Canada employs over 5,000 Locally Engaged Staff (LES) in diplomatic missions abroad. Each mission has a unique compensation package for LES, which may include enrolment in local social security, as well as pension and insurance coverage. Treasury Board (TB) principles mandate the determination of LES Pension, Insurance and Social Security benefits as follows:
  • Pension and insurance plans for LES will be established when such coverage is required by local law, will be comparable to other employers within each country and the Government of Canada will participate in local social security systems unless there is a good reason not to.
• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ was sub-delegated the authority to manage the LES Pension, Insurance and Social Security Program. To facilitate this, a new departmental Vote 15 was created in consultation with Finance and the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), which is quasi-statutory in nature, to mitigate the impacts of the changing international environment in which the Department operates.
• A comprehensive global review of the Program has been undertaken. In the interim, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will be reporting regularly to TBS on its review progress. [REDACTED]
• Funding requirements for 2019-20 have been requested through the 2019-20 ARLU (Quasi-Stats process) to allow ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ to meet the expenditure requirements of the current Program on behalf of Treasury Board as the Employer and the Government of Canada as the sponsor of the plans.

DRR 2018-19 - Funding by Programs

Briefing note on Departmental Result Report 2018-19

Overview

• In 2018-2019, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ advanced Canada’s foreign policy, trade and development interests internationally in an increasingly dynamic and unpredictable global environment. The department worked to strengthen its relationships with key allies, such as the US, and engaged constructively with emerging global players.
• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ was key to Canada’s successful hosting of the G7 Summit in Charlevoix, Quebec, including bringing together countries to advance pressing global issues, such as the fight against climate change and ocean protection, throughout Canada’s G7 Presidency. The department also worked diligently to facilitate the successful conclusion of Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) negotiations and to end the U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum imports.
• The Feminist International Assistance Policy continued to make its mark through support to initiatives with the greatest potential to reduce poverty and close gender gaps. This includes through increasing access to sexual and reproductive health services in Africa and Latin America, and support for training of both men and boys and women and girls to prevent sexual and gender-based violence in Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan.
• Canada continued to provide timely and effective humanitarian assistance support through entities like the World Food Programme so they could provide food and cash-based transfers to 86.7 million people, and nutritious meals to 16.4 million schoolchildren. In Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria, Canada worked with trusted partners to deliver life-saving assistance, such as food, shelter, water, health, sanitation, education and protection services, including specialized care for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
• Canada ratified the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and also pursued modern and inclusive approaches with trading partners in important areas such as transparency, labour rights, the environment, small and medium-sized enterprises, gender equality, and Indigenous peoples. ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ established a regular and ongoing dialogue with Indigenous peoples through a dedicated trade-focused Indigenous Working Group. The department also strengthened engagement with the LGBTQ2 business community, including through the first minister-led LGBTQ2 trade mission to the United States.
• The Standing Rapid Deployment Team provided critical support to affected Canadians in response to emergencies, including two separate civil unrest situations in Haiti, Hurricane Isaac in the Caribbean, and a plane crash in Addis Ababa that killed 18 Canadians. Throughout 2018-19, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ provided timely and effective consular services on more than 202,400 cases, including over 6,675 cases concerning Canadians who required urgent assistance while traveling or residing abroad.

Supplementary Points

• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s results highlights include:
  • Facilitating the successful conclusion of Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) negotiations and the eventual removal of U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum imports.
  • Successfully hosting the G7 Summit in Charlevoix, Quebec and throughout its G7 Presidency, bringing countries together to advance pressing global issues, such as the fight against climate change and ocean protection.
  • Co-hosting with the EU the first formal Women Foreign Ministers’ meeting in September 2018, underscoring the benefits of a gender perspective in peace-building, security and the promotion of democracy.
  • Ratifying the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
  • Providing Trade Commissioner Services to 15,956 active Canadian business clients, with a satisfaction rate of 91.7%.
  • Through humanitarian assistance funding to the UN Population Fund, Canada provided access to sexual and reproductive health services, including modern methods of contraception, to 101,036 people in Syria, 336,770 people in Iraq, 66,434 in Jordan and 9,237 in Lebanon.
  • Providing $892.6 million in humanitarian assistance support, for entities like the World Food Programme to provide food and cash-based transfers to 86.7 million people and nutritious meals to 16.4 million schoolchildren.
  • Investing $4.4 billion in international assistance, which saved lives, reduced poverty, promoted sustainable economic growth, and improved global security and stability.
  • Disbursing $162 million via the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program, to promote peace and stability in fragile and conflict-affected states.
  • Providing critical support to Canadians in distress during civil unrest in Haiti, Hurricane Isaac in the Caribbean, and a plane crash in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia via its Standing Rapid Deployment Team.
  • Providing routine consular services to Canadians with a 94% of Canadians satisfaction rate.
  • Initiated a Comprehensive Framework Review for locally engaged staff to update and improve how this critical workforce is managed.
  • Improving the environmental sustainability of Canada’s properties abroad through solar energy, LED lighting conversions and water conservation projects.

Background

• The Departmental Results Report describes the department’s achievements for the fiscal year against the priorities and expected results established in the corresponding Departmental Plan. It highlights a number of significant accomplishments achieved by the department over fiscal year 2018-19.
• The format of the 2018-2019 Departmental Results Report has changed from that of last year. This is the first year the department will report results against the Departmental Results Framework, which was established on November 1, 2017. Results in the Report are presented by core responsibility and according to Treasury Board Secretariat requirements. More in-depth results can be found in the supplementary information tables on-line and also on the Government of Canada InfoBase website at the time of tabling.
• The Departmental Results Report was tabled in February 2020.

Explanation of Variances

• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s total actual spending in 2018-2019 of $7,056 million was within its total authorities of $7,480 million. The department’s total expenses increased by $482.6 million during 2018-2019 as compared to 2017-2018. This increase in actual spending is attributable to additional funding for:
  • Supplementary International Assistance Envelope funds supporting the Feminist International Assistance Policy and its six Action Areas: Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls, Human Dignity, Growth that Works for Everyone, Environment and Climate Action, Inclusive Governance, and Peace and Security;
  • Support for the 2015–2020 Strategy for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health to address global inequities in access to vaccines in the poorest developing countries;
  • Initiatives to help developing countries address the impact of climate change;
  • Canada’s annual commitment under the Food Assistance Convention;
  • Retroactive collective bargaining obligations and other compensation adjustments;
  • Hosting the 2018 G7 Summit, ministerial meetings and other events associated with Canada’s G7 presidency;
  • Support for the crises in Iraq and Syria and the impacts on the region (hereafter referred to as the Middle East Strategy) received from the Department of National Defence;
  • Development Assistance and Security Sector Support to Afghanistan; and,
  • Support for Duty of Care at missions abroad.

Overview – Funding by Core Responsibility

Overview

• Consistent with the Policy on Results, departments are required to obtain deputy head and Treasury Board Secretariat approval on all amendments to their Departmental Results Framework (DRF).
• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s DRF consists of five Core Responsibilities, which are the basis from which the new funding received through the 2019-20 Supplementary Estimates (B) is reported against. The breakdown by Core Responsibilities is as follows:
  • $6.9 million - International Advocacy and Diplomacy;
  • $1.7 million - Trade and Investment;
  • $21.4 million - Development, Peace and Security Programming;
  • $0.4 million - Help for Canadians Abroad;
  • $44.1 million - Support for Canada's Presence Abroad; and
  • $0.7 million - Internal Services.
• The Department’s total authorities requested in the 2019-20 Supplementary Estimates (B) is $75.2 million.

Background

• As of April 1, 2018, the Policy on Results requires all departments have a new reporting framework, which includes a DRF, a Program Inventory and Performance Information Profiles.
• ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s DRF came into effect in fiscal year 2018-19.
• The Core Responsibilities outlined in the DRF stem from ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s legislative framework and describe high-level domains in which ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ acts or has authority to operate on behalf of Canadians.
• International Advocacy and Diplomacy: ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ promotes Canada’s interests and values through policy development, diplomacy, advocacy, and effective engagement.
• Trade and Investment: ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ supports increased and more diverse trade and investment to raise the standard of living for all Canadians and to enable Canadian businesses to grow internationally and to create economic opportunities.
• Development, Peace and Security Programming: ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ programming contributes to reducing poverty, increasing opportunity for people around the world, alleviating suffering in humanitarian crises, and fostering peace and security, and in so doing, advances the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Help for Canadians Abroad: ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ provides timely and appropriate consular services for Canadians abroad, contributing to their safety and security.
• Support for Canada's Presence Abroad: ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ manages and delivers resources, infrastructure and services enabling Canada’s presence abroad, including at embassies, high commissions, and consulates.
• Internal Services: Internal Services are those groups of related activities and resources that the federal government considers to be services in support of programs and/or required to meet corporate obligations of an organization. Internal Services refers to the activities and resources of the 10 distinct service categories that support Program delivery in the organization, regardless of the Internal Services delivery model in a department.

Supporting Facts and Figures

Allocation by Core Responsibility

Development, Peace and Security Programming

Overview

• Through the Development, Peace and Security Programming Core Responsibility, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ programming contributes to reducing poverty, increasing opportunity for people around the world, alleviating suffering in humanitarian crises, and fostering peace and security, and in so doing, advances the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Excluding funding received through Treasury Board Central Votes, the current 2019-20 funding for this Core Responsibility is $4.46 billion. Through Supplementary Estimates (B), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will receive an additional $21.4 million, bringing the total 2019-20 funding to $4.48 billion within Development, Peace and Security Programming.

Background

• The department seeks to advance five high level results through this area of departmental spending: 1) Improved physical, social and economic well-being among the poorest and most vulnerable; 2) Enhanced empowerment and rights of women and girls; 3) Reduction of suffering and increased human dignity in communities experiencing humanitarian crises; 4) Improved peace and security in countries and regions where Canada engages; and, 5) More effective international assistance through leveraging diverse partnerships, innovation, and experimentation.
• Highlights from the 2019-20 Departmental Plan for this area include:
  • Strengthening governance capacity of governments at all levels to establish inclusive and accountable institutions to ensure public services better respond to the needs of all people;
  • Implementing Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, through its six action areas as well as efforts to target or integrate gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls across Canada’s bilateral international assistance initiatives;
  • Continuing to be a leader in gender-responsive humanitarian action to alleviate suffering and increase human dignity in communities experiencing crises;
  • Implementing multiple approaches to addressing pressing security concerns, including through targeted stabilization programming in fragile and conflict-affected states and the deployment of Canadian civilian experts;
  • Contributing to Canada’s broader commitments on peace operations and to help support improved UN effectiveness; and,
  • Leveraging diverse partnerships, innovation, and experimentation by continuing to engage with a diverse range of partners and promote new approaches, business models, policy practices, technologies, and behavioural insights.
• The department will report on its results against the 2019-20 Departmental Plan via the Departmental Results Report (DRR) in the fall of 2020. Refer to the 2018-19 DRR briefing note for the most recent departmental results.

Supporting Facts and Figures

Support for Canada's Presence Abroad

Overview

• Through the Support for Canada's Presence Abroad Core Responsibility, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ manages and delivers resources, infrastructure and services enabling Canada’s presence abroad, including at embassies, high commissions, and consulates.
• Excluding funding received through Treasury Board Central Votes, the current 2019-20 funding for this Core Responsibility is $1.03 billion. Through Supplementary Estimates (B), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will receive an additional $44.1 million, bringing the total 2019-20 funding to $1.07 billion within Support for Canada’s Presence Abroad.

Background

• The Department seeks to advance two high level results through this area of departmental spending: 1) Sound management and delivery of resources, infrastructure and services enables Canada’s presence abroad; and, 2) Personnel are safe, missions are more secure and government and partner assets and information are protected.
• Highlights from the 2019-20 Departmental Plan for this area include:
  • Developing integrated five-year mission plans and 20-year investment strategies for each mission to ensure the long-term sustainability of Canada’s network of missions abroad;
  • Enhancing the delivery of the newly negotiated Foreign Service Directive payments, and services;
  • Undertaking real property pilot projects related to environmental sustainability;
  • Testing new approaches to increasing security awareness and promoting appropriate security behaviour; and,
  • Investing to strengthen security measures at embassies, high commissions and consulates, including through improved security services, infrastructure upgrades, emergency readiness, and training programs.
• The department will report on its results against the 2019-20 Departmental Plan via the Departmental Results Report (DRR) in the fall of 2020. Refer to the 2018-19 DRR briefing note for the most recent departmental results.

Supporting Facts and Figures

International Advocacy and Diplomacy

Overview

• Through the International Advocacy and Diplomacy Core Responsibility, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ promotes Canada’s interests and values through policy development, diplomacy, advocacy, and effective engagement.
• Excluding funding received through Treasury Board Central Votes, the current 2019-20 funding for this Core Responsibility is $873.6 million. Through Supplementary Estimates (B), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will receive an additional $6.9 million, bringing the total 2019-20 funding to $880.5 million within International Advocacy and Diplomacy.

Background

• The Department seeks to advance four high-level results through this area of departmental spending: 1) Canada builds and maintains constructive relationships that advance Canada's interests; 2) Canada's leadership on global issues contributes to a just and inclusive world; 3) Canada helps build strong international institutions and respect for international law; and, 4) Canada’s global influence is expanded and strengthened.
• Highlights from the 2019-20 Departmental Plan for this area include:
  • Strengthening collaboration and engagement with partners through targeted diplomacy and advocacy efforts, including on trade, investment, innovation, security, energy and the environment, to advance Canadian values and interests internationally;
  • Advancing comprehensive engagement and reinforcing Canada’s role in key multilateral forums;
  • Implementing a whole-of-government strategy for Canada’s diplomatic, development and security/stabilization engagement in Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon;
  • Working with partners to champion rights and inclusive governance, advance democracy and human rights, promote inclusion and respect for diversity, and challenge corruption and impunity;
  • Advancing international peace and security interests related to stabilization and counter-terrorism, and delivering on its commitment to make Canada a leader in international efforts to combat climate change;
  • Pursuing constructive leadership and engagement to support organizational innovation and reforms to improve accountability, transparency, effectiveness and results in international institutions; and
  • Expanding and strengthening Canada’s global influence on key issues, including building on Canada’s recent success in hosting the G7 by continuing to advance issues of importance on the global stage.
• The department will report on its results against the 2019-20 Departmental Plan via the Departmental Results Report (DRR) in the fall of 2020. Refer to the 2018-19 DRR briefing note for the most recent departmental results.

Supporting Facts and Figures

Trade and Investment

Overview

• Through the Trade and Investment Core Responsibility, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ aims to increase and diversify trade and investment to raise the standard of living for all Canadians and to enable Canadian businesses to grow internationally and to create economic opportunities.
• Excluding funding received through Treasury Board Central Votes, the current 2019-20 funding for this Core Responsibility is $350.6 million. Through Supplementary Estimates (B), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will receive an additional $1.8 million, bringing the total 2019-20 funding to $352.4 million within Trade and Investment.

Background

• The Department seeks to advance three high level results through this area of departmental spending: 1) Building and safeguarding an open and inclusive rules-based global trading system; 2) Supporting Canadian exporters and innovators internationally; and 3) Ensuring Canada is a top destination for global investment.
• Highlights from the 2019-20 Departmental Plan for this area include:
  • Engaging with key partners in various forums (such as G7, G20, OECD, and WTO) to ensure Canada’s economic interests in relation to the global trading system are advanced;
  • Advancing implementation and promotion of modern and inclusive Trade agreements, including with the European Union and other European countries;
  • Building on Canada’s recent success in negotiations of the Canada-United-States-Mexico Agreement by fortifying relationships with these trade partners and continuing to work together to strengthen North America’s global competitiveness;
  • Expanding and diversifying trade and investments with emerging markets and new partners, with a particular focus on the Asia-pacific region;
  • Pursuing an export diversification strategy, including through an expansion of the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) and modernization of its tools, with the goal of increasing Canada’s overseas exports by 50% in 2025; and,
  • Advancing inclusive approaches to trade, with a special focus on women and women-owned businesses, Indigenous peoples, small and medium-sized enterprises, newcomers and LGBTQ2 and intersex persons.
  • The department will report on its results against the 2019-20 Departmental Plan via the Departmental Results Report (DRR) in the fall of 2020. Refer to the 2018-19 DRR briefing note for the most recent departmental results.

Supporting Facts and Figures

Help for Canadians Abroad

Overview

• Through the Help for Canadians Abroad Core Responsibility, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ provides timely and appropriate consular services for Canadians abroad, contributing to their safety and security.
• The 2019-20 Main Estimates includes funding of $51.0 million within Help for Canadians Abroad. Through Supplementary Estimates (B), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will receive an additional $0.4 million, bringing the total 2019-20 funding to $51.4 million within Help for Canadians Abroad.

Background

• The Department seeks to advance two high level results through this area of departmental spending: 1) Canadians have timely access to information and services regarding safety abroad; and, 2) Canadians abroad receive timely and appropriate government services.
• Highlights from the 2019-20 Departmental Plan for this area include:
  • Ensuring that Canadians receive the best possible consular assistance, as well as providing proactive and timely updates during international crises;
  • Delivering service excellence to Canadians, which includes providing timely and appropriate government services, such as notarial, passport and citizenship services;
  • Updating consular service standards to reflect consultations and ensure new standards have a clear, achievable and measurable design; and,
  • Expanding the Honorary Consul Network with the creation of new offices in locations where there is no Canadian diplomatic mission.
• The department will report on its results against the 2019-20 Departmental Plan via the Departmental Results Report (DRR) in the fall of 2020. Refer to the 2018-19 DRR briefing note for the most recent departmental results.

Supporting Facts and Figures

Internal Services

Overview

• Internal Services are those groups of related activities and resources that the federal government considers to be services in support of programs and/or required to meet corporate obligations of an organization.
• Excluding funding received through Treasury Board Central Votes, the current 2019-20 funding for this Core Responsibility is $248.2 million. Through Supplementary Estimates (B), ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ will receive an additional $0.7 million, bringing the total 2019-20 funding to $248.9 million within Internal Services.

Background

• The Core Responsibilities stem from ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s legislative framework and describe high-level domains in which ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ acts or has authority to operate on behalf of Canadians.
• Internal Services refers to the activities and resources of the 10 distinct service categories that support program delivery in the organization, regardless of the Internal Services delivery model in a department.
• The ten service categories are:
  • Management and Oversight Services;
  • Communications Services;
  • Legal Services;
  • Human Resources Management Services;
  • Financial Management Services;
  • Information Management Services;
  • Information Technology Services;
  • Real Property Services;
  • Material Services; and
  • Acquisition Services.

Supporting Facts and Figures