The Foreign Service Journal, March 2005

ministers as the heads of the foreign affairs establishment and other par- liamentarians as “secretaries of state” (junior ministers) supervising several geographic areas, Canadian diplomats believe they lack political constituencies within the Ottawa political structure as well as through- out Canada. Some of their laments are familiar: the average citizen’s disdain for the stereotype of “pin- striped cookie pushers” with lavish cost-of-living allowances in posh capitals around the globe. Thus, Canadian diplomats are struggling with the same variety of rel- evancy questions that afflict all 21st- century foreign affairs establishments: CNN instant news of any crisis; special envoys to address technical/economic issues; increasing (if still relatively minor in U.S. government terms) lev- els of political appointment to favored ambassadorships. Likewise, for day- to-day life both in Ottawa and in for- eign postings, Canadian diplomats have familiar concerns: health and safety issues; adequate education for children; spousal employment; and recovery from the lingering effects of a hiring shortfall during the 1990s. Additionally, today’s Canadian diplomats are grappling with an exis- tential problem: what is the future of Canadian diplomacy? The foreign ministry was divided in December 2003 into “Foreign Affairs Canada” and “International Trade Canada” divisions, each led by powerful per- sonalities. This move reportedly was directed by then-Prime Minister Jean Chretien without going through the standard practice of extensive internal discussion or consultation with career Foreign Service personnel. By any measure, this is not your standard bureaucratic reshuffle. For example, it poses a much greater institutional challenge for Canadian diplomats than what their American counter- parts experienced when State spun off its trade officers to the Department of Commerce in 1980 or when State absorbed USIA and ACDA in the 1990s. A year after the reorganization, officials are still unclear over how functions and funding are to be divid- ed, whether additional Foreign Affairs economic and trade policy departments will move to the Inter- national Trade Ministry — and even, given the intimate association of trade and diplomacy for Canada, what Foreign Affairs Canada will have as its primary focus. This reorganization comes on top of a de facto transfer of the substantive elements of the U.S./ Canada portfolio to the prime minis- ter’s office. Moreover, Canada is currently governed by an inherently unstable minority government; there is no assurance that should the opposition win the next election, it would not M A R C H 2 0 0 5 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 49 You know that intimate, boutique all-suite hotel that everyone wants to find? The one that has cutting-edge style and service, but is still reasonably priced? You just found it! • Located minutes from State Department Headquarters • Government per diem accepted all year • Newly Renovated suites with full kitchens • Visit our new restaurant “Dish” For more information please visit www.theriverinn.com or call (202) 337-7600. L OTS OF S TYLE , N OT A LOT OF P R I CE 9 2 4 2 5 T H S T R E E T , NW W A S H I N G T O N , DC 2 0 0 3 7