bout de papier, Vol. 10, No. 4 (1993) — Fall/Winter 1993 // Automne/Hiver 1993, p. 33
The President of PAFSO wrote to the four major political parties before the October 25 elections setting out the views of the PAFSO membership on the appointment of persons outside the foreign service at both the Head of Mission level and below. He asked their position and commitment to a professional foreign service. Printed below is his letter. We will publish the replies in
the next edition of bout.
September 2, 1993
The Right Honourable Kim Campbell, P.C.
Prime Minister of Canada
Dear Prime Minister,
I write to invite your attention to an issue of abiding concern to the members of our Association. It concerns your commitment to a professional foreign service and the appointments of persons outside the foreign service at both the Head of Mission level and below.
As with most of our allies, Canada has chosen to have a professional foreign service to advance our national interests beyond our borders. We help Canadians in distress, we advance our trade and investment goals, we select new Canadians, and we play a role in the ongoing quest for peace and security, and in the promotion of Canada’s identity abroad.
Selected after a rigorous and open competition, our men and women are put through a comprehensive training program. Throughout our career, training in foreign languages and the art of diplomacy is fundamental to development. Our performance is assessed annually and we must meet high standards, both at home and abroad, before we are eligible for promotion, again through a competitive process. Heads of mission are chosen from our most experienced and senior officers. For most of us, a career in the foreign service will encompass our entire working life. We are proud to serve Canadians and we believe we do our work well.
My predecessor wrote to Mr. Mulroney, shortly before he took office in 1984 and in his reply the Prime Minister stated, “the standard of professionalism so characteristic of our Foreign Service will be reflected in the diplomatic appointments we will be making.” Sadly, his record belied his words. Prime Minister Mulroney made more non-career appointments than any of his predecessors. We believe that this marks a significant deviation from a long established Canadian tradition.
The practice of making some ’politically-inspired’ appointments is unassailable. We believe that the national interest has been served by the contributions of individuals such as Vincent Massey, Roland Michener, Yves Fortier and Stephen Lewis. We believe, however, that such appointments should be made only when it is generally obvious that they are the best candidates for the job and when none is available within our professional foreign service.
The foreign service has provided leadership in which Canadians take justifiable pride. Professionals such as L.B. Pearson, George Ignatieff, Jules Léger, Escott Reid, Norman Robertson, Dana Wilgress, Marcel Cadieux, among many others, made significant contributions to Canada both at home and abroad. It is in no one’s interest to see their legacy devalued. At a time of extreme pressure on resources, the foreign service is vital to sustaining the quest for excellence on behalf of Canada.
Canadians do not want to see their diplomatic network used as a repository for those seeking rewards for faithful service to a political party. Such appointments diminish the role of the foreign service and send a clear signal to professional diplomats that merit, hard work and ingenuity are less important to career prospects than political loyalties’. This is the wrong message and contrary to the concept of a professional and politically neutral public service.
With the increasing emphasis on the expansion of trade and economic relationships as prerequisites to Canadian prosperity, our diplomatic performance must remain no less than excellent. This can only be achieved by continuing to field a cadre of trained and experienced, career professionals.
We should welcome receiving the benefit of your views on this important issue.
Thank you for your personal attention
D. Colin Kobertson :::
President
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 10, No. 4 (1993) — Fall/Winter 1993 // Automne/Hiver 1993, p. 33. Read the rest of this issue →
