bout de papier, Vol. 31, No. 3 (2021), p. 2
THE WORST OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC is now hopefully behind us, at least for those of us who reside in Canada. The Canadian foreign service has risen to the challenge during these trying times, demonstrating the importance of a vital, dynamic, adaptable foreign service to meet the needs of Canadians.
As we return to normality, let’s look back at the extraordinary period through which we are passing, and make use of the lessons we’ve learned. What we now need — more than ever — is a major review of the Canadian foreign service. Other countries, for a variety of reasons, are thinking along similar lines. There may be a Senate review of the Canadian foreign service, to begin in the fall of 2021. This would be a timely and welcome initiative. If it begins, give credit to Sen. Peter Boehm, who spent his career as a Foreign Service Officer prior to joining the Senate in 2018.
Personne ne peut affirmer que le service extérieur canadien soit en bonne condition. Mesuré par rapport aux capacités dont nous disposions autrefois, ou comparé aux ressources diplomatiques déployées par des pays plus petits, nous tirons nettement de l’arrière par rapport aux autres pays du G7 en termes de représentation, de programmes et de capacités. Les alliés et les amis commencent d’ailleurs à noter notre faible contribution aux enjeux mondiaux malgré nos ambitieux objectifs. Le gouvernement canadien est responsable de cette situation; il doit maintenant y remédier.
Many huge issues require examination. Of greatest urgency are human resource issues within GAC, from recruitment, to promotions, to assignments, as well as training. The problems are too numerous to catalogue succinctly. Special attention has to be paid to recovering expertise in critical areas of foreign policy, from languages and cultural understanding, to international law and practice, to the intricacies of arms control, and numerous other areas. Emphasis then has to be placed on rewarding and retaining that talent over the long term.
Attention should also be paid to the ways in which Canadian departments and agencies other than Global Affairs and IRCC manage their international programs and activities. Could foreign service officers be more widely deployed in these areas, as part of a rotational career? There is no question that a more broadly-based Canadian Foreign Service, serving the entire Government of Canada, would be a “win-win” situation for governmental coherence and the re-building of Canadian expertise.
It’s also time for a dispassionate look at all Canadian foreign service resources abroad. Are we represented in the right places, with the right number of people, in the right ways? Has the micro-mission lost its allure? And where we have representation abroad, what’s the office space of tomorrow, and how do we accommodate Canadian staff? There are lots of tough issues here, about the need for stand-alone embassies, the nature of official residences, and security standards abroad. They have enormous resource implications.
It would also be timely to take a “root and branch” look at some of the Government’s foreign policy programs. What are we trying to achieve abroad, and what are the programs we need to attain those objectives? Many of our traditional programs are slow and burdensome. Can we have greater dexterity to manage in the world of today? And how do we delegate authority and resources to missions abroad, without strangling them in oversight reporting? Years ago, in a pique of short-sightedness, a Foreign Affairs Minister abolished most public affairs programs and our cultural affairs program. He then cut funding to Canadian Studies abroad. It’s time for a re-think about the long-term value of these areas, with modern tools of communication.
La communication avec les Canadiens s’est aussi détériorée au cours des récentes années. Il est temps de sonder les Canadiens sur leurs attentes vis-à-vis le service extérieur. Si nous voulons un service extérieur canadien « adapté à sa mission » pour l’avenir, nous devons connaître notre mission. Il est temps de renouer le dialogue avec les Canadiens et encourager le gouvernement du Canada à redresser la barre.
bout de papier can play a role in the revitalization of the Canadian foreign service. It’s an appropriate place to highlight the major issues and the challenges ahead. I invite the views of our readership, even though l’m passing the torch to another editor of bout in the near future. I promised to “re-boot” bout after a couple of years of uncertainty. In March, the team at PAFSO headquarters achieved that objective in our spring “re-boot” issue. In this issue, we verify the proof of concept. As I pass the editor’s job to my successor, I re-join the ranks of former foreign service officers who continue to argue the case for a capable Canadian foreign service. “Service to Canadians at home and abroad” has been our mantra. That motto should define our future.
Originally published in / Publié à l’origine dans bout de papier, Vol. 31, No. 3 (2021), p. 2. Read the rest of this issue / Lire le reste de ce numéro →
