Section III Priorities, Strategies and Expected Results

A. Summary of Priorities and Expected Results

In the following table, the priorities for each business line ("To provide Canadians with") are based on the business line objectives established in the Department's Planning, Reporting and Accountability Structure (PRAS). The expected results ("To be demonstrated by") are based on the key results identified in the PRAS.

B. Business Line Plans

International Business Development

Totals may not add due to rounding

Objective

The intended outcome of this business line is to provide Canadians with increased employment and prosperity by encouraging Canadian firms to take full advantage of international business opportunities and by facilitating inward investment and technology flows.

Context

Internationally, Canada now faces a globalized economy in which companies increasingly must export to survive, grow and prosper. This dynamic environment contains both commercial threats and opportunities, particularly at present as Asian economic troubles and setbacks in Latin America affect priority markets.

There is increased competition from other countries to defend and expand market share for goods, services and inward investment flows. International business development delivers benefits which cut across all socio-economic priorities in Canada, whether they be jobs, youth employment, productivity, innovation or regional development.

Successful influence on trade and investment results in multiple economic spin-offs such as higher private and public sector revenue flows. Canadian industry is heavily dependent on access to the latest science and technology to achieve commercial breakthroughs. Foreign direct investment (FDI) accounts directly and indirectly for three jobs in ten. Canada's global market share of FDI has declined, however, from 7.4 percent in 1985 to 4 percent in 1997.

The International Business Development (IBD) business line needs to respond to the increasingly competitive external environment in a more aggressive, results-oriented, client-focused manner. In addition to providing an increasing number of services to exporters and investors in Canada, the Trade Commissioner Service is the primary source of assistance to the business community abroad, as a result of new technologies that have made missions more directly accessible while heightening clients' service expectations. This business line's strategies and initiatives are underpinned by the multi-year implementation of the Department's Performance Measurement Initiative (PMI or "Expand your Horizons") which defines service and delivery standards for business line clients and improves the quality of the services.

Strategy and Key Activities

Encourage capable and committed Canadian firms to take full advantage of international opportunities

• Encourage more Canadian firms to become active exporters with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women, youth and Aboriginals. In particular, the Department will target the Program for Export Market Development (PEMD) to meet the needs of these groups.
  
  
• Support the broadening of the export product range to encompass knowledge-based sectors such as professional services, education, culture and public sector expertise. The Department expects to target value-added and knowledge-based industry sectors and their national associations with specific outreach programs.
  
  
• Diversify markets by assisting exporters to expand into new sales destinations in the U.S. and other developed and emerging markets. A rapid response team of Trade Officers (the GO-Team) will be deployed for short-term assignments to exploit specific opportunities effectively in priority and emerging markets for Canadian exporters.

Facilitate job-creating foreign direct investment and technology flows

• Market Canada as a competitive investment destination focusing on three regional investment strategies supported by comparative cost and other studies. The Department intends to implement a marketing campaign to publicize Canada's international competitiveness supported by comparative studies drafted by outside consultants.
  
  
• Promote the development of strategic alliances between Canadian SMEs and foreign partners. In particular, the Department intends to organize venture-capital missions to the U.S., Asia-Pacific and Europe.
  
  
• Encourage scientific and technological inflows to Canada to improve competitiveness. The Department will work to support Canadian scientists and researchers in their efforts to meet and engage foreign colleagues in beneficial cooperation through the Science and Technology in Europe Program, and the Japan Science and Technology Fund Program.
  
  
• Promote more effective investment partnerships with provinces and municipalities. The newly created PEMD-Investment shared-cost program will help municipalities in all provinces and territories to attract international investors.

Provide an improved level of service to Canadian clients

• Implement the "Expand your Horizons" initiative to improve Trade Commissioner Service delivery abroad based on client feedback, accountability for results and specialized employee training. The Department will implement an action plan in response to a first-ever client and employee survey focusing upon service standards and client satisfaction.
  
  
• Improve the effectiveness of federal and provincial trade missions through a more strategic and coordinated approach. A priority will be the implementation of the recommendations of the Federal-Provincial IBD Task Force on the management of high level missions.
  
  
• Consolidate federal and provincial membership in Team Canada Inc and further streamline the delivery of integrated trade and investment services. The Department will strengthen Canada's International Business Strategy, a key federal-provincial planning document used to link priority sectors to priority markets and better support our posts abroad.
  
  
• Increase domestic outreach to build awareness of and support for the government's IBD agenda. The Department will implement a nationwide communications strategy to publicize Team Canada Inc and the services it provides to the business community.

Expected Results

Growing participation of Canadian business, particularly SMEs, in the international economy

• Full benefits of liberalization by helping sectoral and geographic business breakthroughs, and improving and defending market access abroad.
  
  
• Additional trade officers based abroad in accordance with client requests and ministerial direction in order to achieve a 70:30 field-HQ ratio by 2006.
  
  
• An increased number of Canadian firms, especially SMEs, assisted by Export Development Corporation and the Canadian Commercial Corporation.
  
  
• Increased participation in International Financial Institutions (IFI) financed commercial activities for Canadian companies.
  
  
• Successful delivery of six core services (Market Prospect, Key Contacts Search, Local Company Information, Visit Information, Face-to-face Briefing, Troubleshooting) at all posts abroad in accordance with standards and policies.
  
  
• Ability to measure client satisfaction with these six core services through annual client surveys aimed at identifying service gaps, continuously improving TCS delivery and generating greater impacts.
  
  
• Better coordination and management of stretched IBD resources at the federal level and between the federal and provincial governments.

A broadened export base and a diversification of export markets

• Increased year-on-year value/volume of exports of goods and services.
  
  
• Increased number of active exporters (double target by 2000).
  
  
• Broadened export product range to encompass knowledge-based goods and services (as measured in the new Exporter Profile statistical tracking).
  
  
• Graduation of more exporters to new regional markets in the U.S. and beyond (as documented in Statistics Canada's annual Exporter Profile).

Attraction and retention of job-creating foreign direct investment

• Enlarged Canadian share of foreign direct investment, aided by the new PEMD-I program.

Private sector strategic alliances in investment and technology

• Increased number of successful commercial matches between Canadian SMEs and foreign buyers by 10 percent.
  
  
• 100 additional technological research projects and 40 science and technology partnerships.

Trade and Economic Policy

Notes:
The difference between forecast spending in 1998–99 and planned spending in 1999–2000 is primarily attributable to $63 million in contributions to the provinces under the softwood lumber export controls arrangements being included in forecast expenditures for 1998–99. The Department will be seeking spending authority in 1999–2000 and 2000–01 to continue payment of the contributions.

Objective

The intended outcome of this business line is to provide Canadians with increased employment and prosperity by effective management of Canada's trading relationships, and liberalization of trade and capital flows around the world, based on clear and equitable rules that reflect Canadian interests.

Context

Expansion of the trade and investment relationship with the United States and ensuring the integrity of the NAFTA disciplines are important to our economic well-being. Enactment of protectionist legislation in the United States and the use by the United States of trade sanctions in support of foreign policy or in response to domestic pressures remains a constant threat. These factors and a potential downturn in the United States economy could cause an unpredictable stream of trade remedy cases. There would be increased pressure to resolve these disputes, and significant associated demands on departmental resources.

The work of the Trade and Economic Policy business line has increased significantly in recent years. Preparation for negotiations in the WTO, the FTAA and EFTA, the Canadian chairmanship of the FTAA and work on the WTO "built-in" agenda require an intensive program of outreach and comprehensive consultations with Canadian stakeholders, including governments, industry and civil society. As trade agreements become more comprehensive and increasingly cover tariff as well as non-tariff and regulatory issues, these groups expect to play a greater role in international trade matters. Their involvement is essential to ensuring a coherent trade policy agenda which supports the domestic policy agenda and the needs of key domestic constituencies.

The increasingly litigious nature of the trade policy dispute settlement system and the complexity of the cases under dispute, impose additional demands on financial and human resources. The number of disputes, involving Canada, that were brought to the WTO and the NAFTA rose from one case in 1994 to 11 cases in 1998.

The expansion of the economic turmoil in Asia into a more global economic and financial crisis requires significantly increased policy coordination at both the domestic and international levels. The effect of the crisis on global trade, capital flows, economic growth and social development, its impact on consumer and investor confidence and its potential for renewed protectionist influences pose serious pressures for this business line. Canada's participation in international economic fora such as the G-7/G-8, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), as well as the International Financial Institutions, is aimed at promoting global economic stability and growth through concerted multilateral efforts.

The business line is also responsible for controlling the export and import of certain goods through the Export and Import Permits Act (EIPA) and Regulations. These trade control measures serve to protect national security and to implement international arrangements that preserve peace and stability. The EIPA also serves to ensure adherence to UN sanctions, protect vulnerable Canadian industries, maximize benefits of international trade agreements, and ensure effective administration of Canada's supply management programs.

Strategies and Key Activities

Create and expand opportunities for Canadian exporters of goods and services to priority markets

Manage Canada - United States Trade and Investment Relationship

• Continue effective management of the Canada–United States trading relationship, now worth more than $1.4 billion per day, and ensure the integrity of NAFTA.
  
  
• Continue use of dispute settlement mechanisms to defend Canadian interests against unilateral action, specifically in the areas of grains, livestock, meat and dairy industries, and the cultural sector. Minimize the impact of protectionist United States initiatives by building alliances with business groups in the United States, the European Union and other countries to gain support for reducing the impact of the possible legislation.
  
  
• Manage the Canada–United States Softwood Lumber Agreement, including continuation of consultations with stakeholders on options upon expiry of the Agreement in 2001.
  
  
• Strengthen the NAFTA institutional framework and continue follow-up on the operational review. In addition, promote a broader and deeper public understanding of the agreement within the context of the fifth anniversary of NAFTA.

Global Trade Policy Environment

• Strengthen the WTO as an institution including its relationships with other multilateral institutions, and advance multilateral trade liberalization to secure improved access for Canadian goods and services in global markets. At the same time, Canada will remain sensitive to the environment, core labour standards, vulnerable industries and sectors, and the needs of developing countries.
  
  
• Undertake an extensive consultation process with Canadians as part of the preparation for the launch of negotiations on agriculture and services by 2000, and the expected launch of broad-based multilateral negotiations in the WTO. As well, researching and identifying research gaps will also be necessary to assist in the development of the Canadian position.
  
  
• Place particular emphasis on the implementation of the WTO's "built-in agenda" of commitments under its existing agreements and associated work at the OECD.
  
  
• Strengthen the rules-based international trading system and promote institutional improvements to the WTO, including discussion of improvements to dispute settlement procedures and participation in the review of the Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU).
  
  
• Protect Canadian interests in the WTO accession negotiations of major trading nations by participating in bilateral market access negotiations with countries such as China, Chinese Taipei, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine.
  
  
• Pursue market access initiatives to expand and diversify Canadian goods and services exports, while safeguarding vulnerable sectors. This will include the dissemination of key information to Canadian exporters to promote follow-up of market access gains.
  
  
• Ensure effective administration of Canada's export and import controls, consistent with Canadian interests. This includes administration of controls on military and sensitive dual-use items, cryptography products, supply-managed agricultural products, textiles and clothing. Successful Y2K remediation is critical as the import-export controls function is one of the government's "mission critical" systems.

Regional Initiatives

• Improve Canada's ability to trade and invest in the hemisphere through pursuit of the FTAA and by implementing other cooperation arrangements including a Trade and Investment Cooperation Agreement (TICA) with MERCOSUR (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay). Canada is also chairing the initial phase of the FTAA negotiations, and pursuing business facilitation and engagement of civil society in part through an extensive consultation process.
  
  
• Improve Canada's trade and investment relations with Europe by implementing the EU-Canada Trade Initiative (ECTI) and successfully completing negotiations for a free trade agreement with the EFTA countries (Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein).
  
  
• Strengthen economic and trade cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries, building on the 1997 and 1998 APEC Summits by continuing negotiations of Early Voluntary Sector Liberalization in priority sectors.

Strengthen Canada's economic, social and financial interests in the globalized world

• Promote the reform of international financial architecture and economic policy consensus building among the G-7/G-8, APEC and OECD, and through our participation in international financial institutions to ensure global stability, growth and sustainable development.
  
  
• Assist the transition to a knowledge-based economy by developing and supporting, where appropriate, a legal framework for global electronic commerce through international organizations. This will include developing a Canadian trade policy position on electronic commerce by conducting extensive consultations with the provinces, private sector and civil society.
  
  
• Strengthen investment rules multilaterally, regionally and bilaterally and secure greater protection for Canadian investors abroad by negotiating, concluding and implementing Foreign Investment Protection Agreements (FIPAs) with key investment partners.
  
  
• Promote an international trade policy that is sensitive to issues of environmental and labour standards, vulnerable industries and sectors, and to the needs of developing countries through, in part, the encouragement of multi-stakeholder processes to address such issues. Advance Canadian objectives in these areas in relevant multilateral fora.
  
  
• Work with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to ensure foreign and trade priorities are appropriately reflected in the International Assistance Envelope expenditure plans. With CIDA, ensure Canadian strategies for the WTO and FTAA negotiations are developed with consideration for developing country objectives.

Expected Results

Continued implementation of the WTO agreement and its continuing built-in agenda

• Increased confidence in and respect for the rules-based multilateral trading system. Improvements to the WTO should also lead to enhanced transparency and greater awareness on the part of the public and non-governmental organizations of the WTO and the dispute settlement process.
  
  
• Accession to the WTO of major trading nations on meaningful commercial terms.

Bilateral and multilateral agreements which promote trade and investment liberalization

• Consensus reached on Canadian negotiating positions for upcoming multilateral negotiations on agriculture and services.
  
  
• Foundation for negotiations in the FTAA established. Canadian trade and investment opportunities advanced with Latin American countries.
  
  
• The development of a rules-based framework for global electronic commerce.
  
  
• Develop a consensus in Canadian negotiating positions on trade and environmental issues in bilateral and multilateral fora.
  
  
• Reform international financial architecture through efforts in the G-7/G-8, APEC and the IFIs aimed at promoting sustained stability and growth.

Solutions that reduce the possibility of disputes with trading partners

• Minimize disputes with the United States through effective management of the Canada–United States trade relationship and improve the administration of NAFTA.
  
  
• A phased and non-disruptive adjustment of domestic industries to increase international competition through the administration of export and import controls, in addition to ensuring Canadian interests are protected by limiting the increase of certain weapons, information technology and environmentally-hazardous products.

International assistance allocated to reflect foreign policy and development priorities

• Allocate international assistance to reflect an understanding of the needs of developing countries and remain consistent with Canadian foreign and trade policy objectives.

Stimulation of export and investment performance through improved access to markets

• Opportunities for Canadian exporters and investors in key markets and sectors expanded through the strengthening of a stable, rules-based trading relationship.
  
  
• Improve market access for Canadian exporters and investors by identifying key barriers and actions to address them.
  
  
• Increase Canadian direct investment abroad to complement expanded exports.

International Security and Cooperation

Objective

The intended outcome of this business line is a peaceful, law-based international system reflecting Canadian values, in which Canada is secure from threats from abroad.

Context

The security of Canada's large landmass, long coastlines and border require collaboration with the United States, bilateral cooperation with other like-minded countries, the development of multilateral and regional organizations, and the promotion of the international rule of law.

With the end of the Cold War and the advent of globalization, human security requires conflict prevention, crisis resolution, peace building, and cooperation to deal with issues such as the illegal movement of people and drugs, climate change and transboundary pollutants.

Canada's position as a non-permanent Member of the UN Security Council will lead to increased demands for Canadian participation in an effort to protect international peace and security, but will also provide opportunities to demonstrate that the changing international agenda can be addressed in this paramount body that has traditionally been preoccupied by questions of "hard security."

Conventional arms problems, such as anti-personnel mines (APM), the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and drug trafficking will persist.

The European security structure will continue to undergo significant changes that reflect the new post-Cold War environment, including the enlargement and reform of NATO and the European Union.

The climate of political volatility and conflict can be expected to continue in the former Yugoslavia, especially Kosovo.

The transition toward market economies and democratic societies will continue in Russia, Ukraine and neighbouring countries, but political stability in these countries, and others in Asia, the Pacific and Latin America will be affected by the spreading economic downturn.

Chinese influence will continue to grow.

Humanitarian disasters and political instability will remain likely in Africa and elsewhere.

The risks of the spread of weapons of mass destruction will continue and the detonation of nuclear weapons by India and Pakistan has further darkened the picture.

The pursuit of sustainable development will continue to pose serious challenges, particularly with respect to the issue of climate change.

Strategies and Key Activities

Manage and foster Canada/United States relations on International Security and Co-operation (ISC) matters

• Maintain regular, high-level contacts between the Prime Minister and Ministers and key United States decision-makers, and enhance the awareness of United States legislators and officials of Canadian positions on key international issues.
  
  
• Renew and strengthen the International Joint Commission (IJC).
  
  
• Oppose bulk water removal from Canadian water basins and interbasin transfers from the United States.
  
  
• Reduce transboundary air pollution and negotiate bilateral environmental impact assessment guidelines.
  
  
• Pursue long-term fisheries arrangements under the Pacific Salmon Treaty and protect Canadian interests under the Columbia River Treaty.
  
  
• Ensure passage and implementation of statutory authority for pre-clearance via air and other modes of transportation.
  
  
• Resist the implementation by the United States of an entry/exit documentation system.
  
  
• Manage Aboriginal issues related to United States Congress review in 1999 of the United States Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

Use Canada's non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council

• Promote effective management of international crises by the Council and develop institutional capacity at the UN and regionally for effective crisis response.
  
  
• Promote Canadian approaches to peace and security issues, including human security matters, and protecting civilians in armed conflict, in particular.
  
  
• Improve UN support for Special Representatives of the Secretary General (SRSGs) as a key conflict prevention tool.

Promote non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament of weapons of mass destruction, and of conventional weapons, as well as ensuring the non-weaponization of outer space

• Combat proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and work toward their elimination.
  
  
• Provide leadership in international disarmament fora to promote conventional weapons transparency, control and disarmament, especially small arms.
  
  
• Ensure entry into force of the Additional Protocol to Canada's Safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Promote human rights including women's equality and rights, children's rights and Aboriginal rights

• Press for the promotion and protection of human rights, both bilaterally and in international fora, including Aboriginal rights.
  
  
• Promote international women's equality through mainstreaming a gender perspective.

Support peacekeeping, and enhance the UN's capacity for effective and rapid peacekeeping response

• Contribute to peace building and the implementation of peace agreements in ex-Yugoslavia, including the Dayton Agreement in Bosnia and peace building efforts in Kosovo and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
  
  
• Support African initiatives and African participation in UN peacekeeping operations in the sub-Saharan African crises.
  
  
• Implement peace building activities and improve coordination of peace building and peacekeeping; support peacekeeping and enforcement of UNSC resolutions, and the search for solutions in troubled areas.
  
  
• Enhance UN peacekeeping capacity through cooperation with major developing country contributors, e.g., India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Malaysia.
  
  
• Provide police and judiciary training and develop with the RCMP and CIDA, the capacity to deploy Canadian police officers in support of international monitoring and training missions.

Promote Canada's human security agenda through multilateral and bilateral channels

• Define Canada's human security agenda by integrating human security with national security priorities and international development objectives; formulate an agreed approach with Norway and continue the Lysoen human security process.
  
  
• Introduce human security issues with G-8 partners.
  
  
• Implement human security action plans for the African Great Lakes region and Sudan, and identify and implement human security action plans with extended partners.
  
  
• Extend Canada's small arms agenda within this hemisphere, to Asia, the Middle East and Africa, through focused dialogue with like-minded countries building on their own human security initiatives, by implementing the war affected children action plan and promoting security sector reform.
  
  
• Promote progress on international children's issues, including: international exploitation of child labour; the impact of conflict on children; the sexual exploitation of children; integration of youth into Canadian foreign policy; and the development of an Action Plan on the Health and Well-being of Children and Youth of the Arctic.

Foster sustainable human development through multilateral and bilateral mechanisms and organizations, by promoting democratic development, good governance and the development of a vigorous civil society

• Facilitate democratic transitions in key countries by using the Department's Peace Building Fund, by promoting economic engagement with the Russian Arctic and North, and by developing relations with emerging democracies.
  
  
• Contribute to democratic development, good governance and the building of civil society in specific Middle East and African countries, through parliamentary exchanges, electoral assistance and encouragement of freedom of the press.
  
  
• Promote measures to improve effectiveness of electoral observation.
  
  
• Strengthen and enhance international cooperation on migration, refugee and population policy issues, including internal displacements and forced population movements.

Make progress on Canada's environmental security and promote appropriate international action on nuclear safety issues

• Establish a Northern Foreign Policy that protects Canadian sovereignty and the Arctic environment, and promotes development.
  
  
• Promote sustainable development and use of energy resources.
  
  
• Contribute to a Canadian implementation strategy to meet our Kyoto target of reducing our 1990 level of GHD emissions by 6 percent by 2008–2012, and promote more meaningful engagement of developing countries in climate change actions.
  
  
• Promote the launch of negotiations on an International Convention on Forests.
  
  
• Promote international action to address the problems posed by persistent organic pollutants, and ratify and implement a Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Trade in Certain Banned or Severely Restricted Chemicals.
  
  
• Support reform of the UN Environment Programme and support the work of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, as well as the effective implementation of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation.
  
  
• Promote Canada's international biodiversity interests, negotiate a Biosafety Protocol, and promote efforts to address ozone depletion.
  
  
• Promote efforts to protect the marine environment and improve international coordination of freshwater issues. Promote sustainable development of fisheries off Canada's coasts and on the high seas.

Foster early entry into force, universalization and effective implementation of the Landmines Treaty, including coordinated Canadian leadership in mine clearance and victim assistance

• Press remaining non-participating countries to sign and ratify the Treaty: engage in a continual, coordinated international campaign working with key like-minded states, NGOs, the UN, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and across all diplomatic fora; and contribute to the organization of the First Annual UN Meeting of States Parties to the Landmines Treaty (Mozambique, May 1999).
  
  
• Pursue a four-step program designed to encourage universalization and promote ratification by offering technical expertise and modest financial assistance for stockpile destruction.
  
  
• Provide financial support to mine action programs in diverse mine-affected countries and provide funding through the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) to NGOs in approximately 100 countries to foster the development of sustainable capacities of civil society organizations to monitor and report on the implementation of the Ottawa Convention in all its aspects.
  
  
• Sustain Canadian awareness and support for Canadian leadership on mine action by fostering partnerships among Canadian APM communities and constituents.

Combat transnational organized crime, terrorism and illegal drug trade through the Hemispheric Ministerial Dialogue initiative

• Work with hemispheric partners to deal with the effects of illicit drugs, by implementing Canada's Hemispheric Foreign Ministers Dialogue Group on Drugs and by working within Inter-American Commission for the Control of Drug Abuse (CICAD) to develop a Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism.
  
  
• Promote multilateral anti-drug activities by providing stable and assured funding to the United Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP) and CICAD, following up the 1998 UN Special Session on Drugs, and reporting to the International Narcotic Control Board (INCB).
  
  
• Ensure coherence in domestic and international efforts to combat transnational organized crime through Canada's candidacy for the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (UNCCPCJ) in 1999, negotiation of a United Nations Transnational Organized Crime Convention to be completed in the year 2000, and the G-8 Experts' Group on Organized Crime (Lyon Group) and its sub-groups (on firearms trafficking, illegal migration, high-tech crime, corruption and financial crime).
  
  
• Contribute to multilateral efforts to curb trafficking in firearms, tackle criminal corruption, and curb trafficking in humans, including development of a UN protocol.
  
  
• Address the threat of Eastern Europe-based, including Russian, organized crime.
  
  
• Contribute to international efforts against terrorism through negotiation of new UN conventions; draft a proposed Multilateral Treaty on Terrorism Financing; promote G-8, UN, OAS and other action plans on counterterrorism; conduct bilateral efforts on counterterrorism, including addressing the threat posed by terrorism to the orderly succession of traditional regimes; negotiate new Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties; and modernize and expand Canada's extradition treaty system following new extradition legislation.

Promote Canada's political, security, humanitarian, social and other objectives by working for an effective and efficient multilateral system which responds to Canadian priorities and approaches, with both the United Nations and such regional organizations as the OAS

• Promote management reform in the UN including governance, finding new resources for UN development efforts and addressing the problem of late payment and nonpayment of contributions; pursue structured dialogues on UN affairs with the key countries and targeting other countries for dialogue on UN reform and exchanges on respective UN policy frameworks.
  
  
• Pursue financial and administrative reform in the UN Specialized Agencies.
  
  
• Coordinate with other government departments, Canada's role in UN Specialized Agencies to reflect Canadian ideas in global norms of the Specialized Agencies including effective administration of the ICAO Headquarters Agreement (Montreal).

Support security and cooperation aspects of the G-8 Summit, and its ancillary elements

• Promote and protect human rights, humanitarian affairs and international women's equality through the G-8 Summits.
  
  
• Seek to influence G-8 policy on proliferation and regional security in South Asia, Africa and elsewhere.

Foster regional security and conflict prevention, through support for regional security bodies and security dialogues with key partners, as well as by elaborating means to prevent conflicts

• Promote NATO transformation to meet security challenges: definition of a path to future NATO enlargement that supports sound relations with non-NATO partners, especially Russia; and a review of NATO resource management issues.
  
  
• In the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), promote development of a comprehensive and substantive Charter on European Security; enhance human rights and good governance; strengthen conflict prevention and management capabilities; and enhance confidence and security building measures (CSBMs).
  
  
• Engage Russia and the Ukraine in dialogue at all levels in support of democratic reforms and good governance.
  
  
• Support development of a more effective Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council.
  
  
• Encourage Greece and Turkey to contribute to regional stability by defusing bilateral tensions.
  
  
• Develop a regional strategy for Central Asia and the Caucasus, incorporating regional security, human rights and technical assistance priorities.
  
  
• Support efforts for peace in the Middle East region and strengthen regional security, including curtailing the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.
  
  
• Promote regional dialogues as a peace building strategy in South Asia and encourage progress by India and Pakistan toward arms control and disarmament benchmarks.
  
  
• Strengthen Asia-Pacific peace and security cooperation including the ASEAN Regional Forum. Support African mechanisms to address conflict prevention and resolution, as well as other security issues, in sub-Saharan Africa. Provide targeted Canadian assistance for building local conflict prevention capacity and promote increased learning across regional organizations on conflict prevention

Strengthen Canada's place in this hemisphere, through actively working to broaden and deepen our security and cooperation relationships at all levels

• Play an active role in Santiago Summit follow-up process, as a member of the United States-Chile-Canada troika; prepare and organize the Third Summit of the Americas; host the OAS General Assembly in June 2000, the Hemispheric Conference of First Spouses in September 1999, the FTAA Trade Ministerial in November 1999 and supervise the Organization of the Americas Business Forum in October 1999.
  
  
• Promote civil society participation in the OAS General Assembly, in the Summit of the Americas and in FTAA negotiations; work to strengthen the capacity of civil society and non-governmental organizations in Cuba through implementation of the Canada–Cuba Declaration.
  
  
• Strengthen regional approaches to democratic development by working to refocus the OAS Working Group on Human Rights and Democratic Development and through follow-up of Santiago Summit commitments on democratic development; support continued free and transparent elections in Mexico, Haiti and elsewhere.
  
  
• Maintain close ties with the Commonwealth Caribbean while moving to a new relationship based less on aid and more on support for regional integration and trade liberalization.
  
  
• Pursue North American cooperation by engaging Mexico and the United States in a trilateral dialogue through regular meetings of Foreign Ministers and through initiatives to advance the trilateral agenda.

Defend and advance Canadian interests in la Francophonie

• Assure effective and harmonious coordination of Canada's role within la Francophonie.
  
  
• Host the Sommet de Moncton, working closely with international Francophonie partners to develop the Summit's theme and the Moncton Plan of Action; coordinate the international aspects of the Francophone Games in Ottawa-Hull 2001.
  
  
• Support the Secretary-General's initiatives on peace, resolution of conflicts and election monitoring involving Francophonie countries.
  
  
• Work to improve the efficiency of the main Francophonie agencies, including the Agence de la Francophonie, TV5 and l'Agence universitaire de la Francophonie.

Promote Canada's agenda through the Commonwealth; and manage its participation in Commonwealth meetings, events and organizations, including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)

• Use Commonwealth fora to garner support for Canadian initiatives and policies, such as landmines, international criminal court, terrorism, small arms, democracy and human rights, anti-corruption, and other elements of Canada's human security agenda.
  
  
• Support the Secretary-General's "good offices" role in mediating conflicts involving Commonwealth countries.

Pursue our structured political dialogues with, inter alia, the EU, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, China, Cuba and Indonesia; and develop and expand dialogues with Israel and the Palestinians

• Redefine Canada's relationship with Europe, especially with the European Union, including development of a coordinated approach with the EU for northern security.
  
  
• Develop and expand bilateral consultations on a variety of international security and cooperation issues with Germany and Italy; Greece and Turkey; Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, as well as with Partnership for Peace countries; Russia, Ukraine, Belarus; Australia and New Zealand; Japan, China, Korea; Indonesia; Brazil, Argentina; Cuba; South Africa and Nigeria.

Expected Results

Canada seen to speak with one voice in the world

• A non-permanent Member of the Security Council.
• Host of a successful Francophonie Summit in Moncton.
• Host of the OAS General Assembly.
• Host of the Third Summit of the Americas in Canada in 2000.

Canadian contributions to ensuring global and regional security

• Continuation of the enlargement of NATO and implementation of Canada's commitment to early admission for Romania and Slovenia; implementation of the NATO Russia Founding Act and the NATO-Ukraine Charter; broader dialogue with other Central/Eastern European countries; and progress on a NATO Strategic Concept that provides a basis for conduct of NATO peace-support operations, and sound relations with non-NATO partners especially Russia.
  
  
• Strengthening of the OSCE through adoption of the Charter on European Security and the enhanced Vienna Document on CSBMs.
  
  
• Progress in the Security Council toward the successful implementation of the mandate to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction and of the Middle East peace process Arms Control and Regional Security Working Group.
  
  
• Progress toward a peace treaty on the Korean peninsula and the eventual reunification of North and South Korea.
  
  
• Publication of a "White Paper" for implementation of Canada's Northern Foreign Policy.
  
  
• Increased integration of Aboriginal interests and perspectives into the Department's programs, and raised profile of indigenous peoples' issues within the UN system; progress in negotiations on the UN and OAS declarations on indigenous peoples' rights.

Canadian contributions to achieving greater control of conventional and nuclear weapons

• Widespread adoption and progress in the implementation of the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction.
  
  
• Humanitarian de-mining and victim assistance, the destruction of stockpiles of landmines, and the eventual endorsement of the Ottawa convention by all countries.
  
  
• International consideration of a global convention on transfers of small arms; adoption of the UN Experts Group Study on Small Arms; enhanced cooperation with the United States on small arms; ratification of OAS convention on Illegal Trafficking of Firearms; and creation of a UN and African action plan to deal with small arms trafficking in the region.
  
  
• Agreement on a modernized Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty.
  
  
• Broader agreement on nuclear disarmament issues and continued efforts to prevent the weaponization of outer space.
  
  
• Broader and more complete compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention and successful conclusion of the negotiations on a compliance protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.

Canadian contributions to democracy, human rights and good governance

• The progressive acceptance of Canada's Human Security agenda.
  
  
• Pursuit of Canada's human security agenda in the Security Council, the G-8 and other multilateral fora, through regional cooperation and structured dialogue with key countries.
  
  
• Enhance the effectiveness of electoral observation and use of informal channels to deal with conflict, as well as advancing democratic transitions in such countries as Nigeria and Indonesia.
  
  
• Better international protection of children's rights, including adoption of a strong International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention on the worst forms of child labour.
  
  
• Increased integration of human rights, including women's human rights, into the work of the United Nations and promotion of human rights through formal bilateral dialogues with China, Cuba and Indonesia.

Canadian contributions to strengthening conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peace building

• Implement a regional confidence- and security-building regime under the Dayton Accords in Bosnia, Croatia and the former Yugoslavia.
  
  
• Develop a professional, community-based police in Bosnia, Haiti, Guatemala and Croatia, leading to the eventual end of Canadian police participation in these peace operations.
  
  
• A renewed and improved Civilian Police Arrangement and enhanced consultations with international partners on civilian police deployments.
  
  
• Greater cooperation between Canadian and African peacekeeping institutions, including the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre and the appropriate centres in Africa.
  
  
• A more constructive contribution by South Asian countries to UN deliberations on challenges facing peacekeeping.

Canadian contributions to countering terrorism, transnational crime and drug trafficking

• New international political commitments and initiatives to enhance cooperation and suppress the demand and supply of illicit drugs.
  
  
• Negotiation of Transnational Organized Crime Convention and Protocols on illicit trafficking of firearms, migrant smuggling, and trafficking in women and children.
  
  
• Negotiation of additional bilateral Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties.
  
  
• Negotiation of a Terrorism Financing Convention.

Canadian contributions to promoting sustainable development and environmental protection

• Improved environmental protection and more sustainable levels of economic and social development, including in the northern regions of Canada and the world.
  
  
• Progress on an International Convention on Forests to promote the sustainable management and use of the world's forests.
  
  
• Substantial progress in elaborating outstanding Kyoto Climate Change Protocol issues. Develop the protocol further in areas such as emissions trading and the clean development mechanism; advance energy issues relating to climate change mitigation, including nuclear energy.
  
  
• Negotiation of a UN Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants; a Biosafety Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity; and an ozone annex to the Canada-United States Air Quality Agreement.
  
  
• Implementation of an effective high-seas fisheries enforcement regime.
  
  
• Signature of the UNEP/FAO Convention on the implementation of a Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Trade in Certain Banned or Severely Restricted Chemicals (PIC Convention).
  
  
• Enhanced cooperation with South Asian countries on international environment issues, including negotiation of an environmental Memorandum of Understanding with India.

Canadian contributions to building a strong multilateral system and an effective United Nations

• Improved UN capacity to respond effectively to peace support challenges through promotion of rapid deployment capability.
  
  
• Progress toward resolving the institutional and financial crisis of the United Nations and support for efforts to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the UN system.
  
  
• Canadian priority Commonwealth objectives reflected in decisions and communiques from meetings, and ongoing Commonwealth activities.

Canada will sustain constructive relationships with specific countries and regions

THE UNITED STATES

• High-level bilateral cooperation with the United States on defence and security matters and enhanced Congressional awareness in selected policy areas of interest to Canada.
• Strengthened United States support for international law and security cooperation, the United Nations, peaceful conflict resolution, environmental issues, the Landmines Treaty and International Criminal Court.
• Cooperation on salmon conservation through agreed bilateral fisheries arrangements for the forthcoming fishing season and, if possible, for the longer term.
• Progress on management of the Canada-United States border, including renewal of the Shared Border Accord and implementation of more active mechanisms to anticipate and prevent transboundary disputes.

EUROPE

• Enhanced cooperation with EU; and promotion of mutually reinforcing policies, programs and strategies on northern human security.
• Development and implementation of Arctic Council agenda and work plan for Second Arctic Council Ministerial in fall 2000.

ASIA PACIFIC

• The first Canadian-hosted meeting of the Bilateral Consultative Forum with Indonesia.
• Participation at ministerial level in the annual ASEAN Regional Forum meeting on Asia-Pacific security matters.
• Provision of development and technical assistance to Southeast Asian countries facing social impacts from the economic crisis.
• Enhanced South Asian regional cooperation through the Canada-South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Memorandum of Understanding.

WESTERN HEMISPHERE

• Continued work on implementation of the Canada-Cuba Joint Declaration and further expansion of bilateral cooperation into new areas.
• Successful conclusion of the OAS General Assembly and the First Spouses Meeting.
• Encourage all parties in the Chiapas conflict to negotiate a peaceful solution.

AFRICA

• Maintain Canada's position as a key African ally and partner on international security and cooperation issues.
• Conclusion of a bilateral agreement formalizing the existence of a structured political dialogue with South Africa.