bout de papier, Vol. 2, No. 2 (1984) — June 1984 // Juin 1984, p. 12
The “new” External Affairs has its basis in the Department of External Affairs Act promulgated on November 17, 1983.
Normally most of us would never have an opportunity to read this Act so, in celebrating the 75th anniversary of the department, it seems appropriate to print relevant portions of the actual text:
3. (1) There shall be a department of the Government of Canada called the Department of External Affairs over which the Secretary of State for External Affairs, appointed by commission under the Great Seal, shall preside. (2)The Secretary of State for External Affairs (in this Part referred to as the “Minister”) holds office during pleasure and has the management and direction of the Department of External Affairs in Canada and abroad.
4. A Minister for International Trade shall be appointed by commission under the Great Seal to assist the Minister in carrying out his responsibilities relating to international trade.
5. A Minister for External Relations may be appointed by commission under the Great Seal to assist the Minister in carrying out his responsibilities relating to the conduct of Canada’s international relations.
6. A Minister appointed pursuant to section 4 or 5 shall act with the concurrence of the Minister in carrying out his responsibilities and shall make use of the services and facilities of the Department of External Affairs.
8. The Governor in Council may appoint an officer called the Under- Secretary of State for External Affairs to be the deputy head of the Department of External Affairs.
9. (1) The Governor in Council may appoint three Associate Under- Secretaries of State for External Affairs, each of whom shall have the rank and status of a deputy head of a department and shall, under the Under. Secretary of State for External Affairs, exercise and perform such powers, duties and functions as deputies of the Minister and otherwise as the Minister may specify.
(2) The Governor in Council may designate one of the Associate Under- Secretaries of State appointed under subsection (1) to be Deputy Minister for International Trade and one to be Deputy Minister for Political Affairs.
1l. (1) The powers, duties and functions of the Minister extend to and include all matters over which the Parliament of Canada has jurisdiction, not by law assigned to any other department, board or agency of the Government of Canada, relating to the conduct of the external affairs of Canada, including international trade and commerce and international development. (2) In exercising his powers and carrying out his duties and functions under this Part, the Minister shall (a) conduct all diplomatic and consular relations on behalf of Canada; (b) conduct all official communication between the Government of Canada and the government of any other country and between the Government of Canada and any international organization;
(c) conduct and manage international negotiations as they relate to Canada; (d) coordinate Canada’s international economic relations;
(e) foster the expansion of Canada’s international trade and commerce; (f) have the control and supervision of the Canadian International Development Agency;
(g) coordinate the direction given by the Government of Canada to the heads of Canada’s diplomatic and consular missions;
(h) have the management of Canada’s diplomatic and consular missions; (i) administer the foreign service of Canada;
(i) foster the development of international law and its application in Canada’s external relations; and (k) carry out such other duties and functions as are by law assigned to him. (3) The Minister may, with the approval of the Governor in Council, enter into agreements with the government of any province or any agency thereof respecting the carrying out of programs related to the Minister’s powers, duties and functions.
(4) The Minister may develop and carry out programs related to his powers, duties and functions for the promotion of Canada’s interests abroad, including the fostering of the expansion of Canada’s international trade and commerce and the provision of assistance for developing countries.
12. Subject to section 6, the Minister for International Trade shall promote the expansion of Canada’s international trade and commerce
(a) assisting Canadian exporters in their international marketing initiatives and by promoting Canadian export sales;
(b) improving the access of Canadian produce, products and services into external markets through trade negotiations;
(c) fostering trade relations with other countries; and (d) contributing to the improvement of world trading conditions.
13. (1) In this section, “head of mission” means (a) an ambassador, high commissioner or consul-general of Canada; or (b) any other person appointed to represent Canada in another country or a portion of another country or at an international organization or diplomatic conference and designated head of mission by the Governor in Council. (2) Except as otherwise instructed by the Governor in Council, a head of mission shall have the management and direction of his mission and its activities and the supervision of the official activities of the various departments and agencies of the Canadian Government in the country or portion of the country or at the international organization to which he is appointed.
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 2, No. 2 (1984) — June 1984 // Juin 1984, p. 12. Read the rest of this issue →
