NEWS RELEASES

December 7, 2004                (10:15 a.m. EST)                        No. 146

MINISTER PETTIGREW INTRODUCES FOREIGN AFFAIRS ACT

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew introduced legislation in the House of Commons today to officially create the Department of Foreign Affairs. An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, codifies the December 12, 2003 Order-in-Council separating the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade into two departments. An Act to establish the Department of International Trade and to make related amendments to certain Acts was introduced by the Minister of International Trade today.

“By introducing today’s legislation, I am formalizing the changes made last December. Since then, Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC) has continued to coordinate and conduct Canada’s foreign policy, providing services to Canadians travelling, working and living abroad,” said Mr. Pettigrew. “The creation of separate departments of Foreign Affairs and International Trade will enable both departments to better focus on their core mandates.”

Today’s Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts codifies the changes made in the Order. Specifically, it:

•         reaffirms that FAC is under the authority of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is responsible for the management and direction of the Department both in Canada and abroad;

•         sets out the powers, duties and functions of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, which largely mirror those set out in the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Act, minus those responsibilities related to international trade;

•         adjusts several federal Acts to reflect the fact that FAC and International Trade Canada (ITCan) are two separate departments.

The Government of Canada has been using the opportunities provided by the creation of the new department and the drafting of an International Policy Statement (IPS) to review its priorities and the mechanisms necessary to deliver them. Structural changes to FAC to enable it to better implement the provisions of the IPS are under discussion and will be finalized in the new year.

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A backgrounder is attached.

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Sébastien Théberge
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca

Backgrounder

FOREIGN AFFAIRS CANADA

On December 12, 2003, the Governor General in Council passed an Order in Council under the Public Services Rearrangement and Transfer of Duties Act, separating the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) into two departments: the Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC), and International Trade Canada (ITCan). The Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts and An Act to establish the Department of International Trade and to make related amendments to certain Acts (International Trade Act) together codify the changes made to the former DFAIT in the Order. Draft legislation implementing some of the other changes announced in December 2003 has already been introduced, such as the separation of Human Resources Development Canada into two distinct departments, and the creation of the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.

These two Bills follow the apportionment of the responsibilities of the respective departments and ministers as provided in the Order, and set out consequential amendments to other Acts as required. Although the Department has already been operating under the new name for casual or routine correspondence, the proposed legislation will allow the legal name to be changed to the Department of Foreign Affairs for all official and legal correspondence. The draft legislation also removes from the mandate of the Minister of Foreign Affairs the powers and responsibilities of the Minister of International Trade as prescribed by the Order. These, along with a number of other related amendments, are found in the International Trade Act.

The duties given to the Minister of Foreign Affairs under the proposed legislation largely mirror those of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Act, minus those related to international trade. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is responsible for:

•         conducting Canada’s foreign policy and coordinating Canada’s international relations, and continuing his role in relation to the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA);

•         coordinating the direction given by the Government of Canada to heads of mission;

•         managing Canada’s diplomatic and consular missions;

•         overseeing the provision of consular and passport services;

•         administering the Foreign Service; and

•         fostering the development of international law and its application in Canada’s external relations.

Since the new departments have been functioning increasingly separately since December 12, 2003, this legislation will not have any impact on day-to-day government operations.