More News from Fort Pearson

On June 23, we announced the creation of a new geographic group. This new structure will bring Canada's bilateral and regional relations under one integrated group responsible for the full range of trade, economic and political relations for DFAIT.

Today, we are pleased to announce the assignments of the four assistant deputy ministers who will co-manage this new group:

Alexandra Bugailiskis, Assistant Deputy Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean, also responsible for the Strategy and Services Bureau in support of the new Geographic Group;

Elaine Feldman, Assistant Deputy Minister for North America;

Jim Fox, Assistant Deputy Minister for Europe and the Middle East; and

Ken Sunquist, Assistant Deputy Minister for Asia and Africa, and Chief Trade Commissioner.

The ADMs will also manage horizontal teams to collaborate on both foreign policy and international trade files, such as our three key priorities (Afghanistan, Americas and emerging markets), innovation strategies, UN campaigns and G8 issues. We will be making an announcement in the coming weeks regarding the restructuring of the trade branches.

The assignments will take effect on September 1, 2008.

Fraser River Sturgeon

Jim Graham (left) catching and releasing sturgeon in BC's Big Muddy.

Changes at Fort Pearson

DFAIT staff have received initial information about a long-rumoured departmental re-organization, the gist of which is that the three geographic branches will be brought under a management pool consisting of four ADMs. The significance of the announced change may be clearer to those still labouring in Fort Pearson. The unaltered text of the announcement is below.

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On September 1, 2008, DFAIT will implement an innovative structure to lead and to manage the full range of its bilateral and regional relations.

NGM, RGM & WMM will merge into a new Geographic Group with four ADMs accountable for the collective leadership and vision of this Group.

In a June 19th Memo to Ministers, USS and DMT committed to the following goals for the Geographic Group:

• More integrated intelligence, service, advice and options on country and regional issues to both Ministers;

• Enhanced policy capacity and responsibility of our missions;
  More equitable, aligned allocation of resources to foreign policy and international trade interests;

• Better horizontal coordination, including with functional branches;

• More coherent advice to clients within and outside the Government of Canada.
  
  

Each ADM will be responsible for one of the following geographic portfolios:

• Europe and the Middle East;

• Latin America and the Caribbean;

• North America; and

• Asia and Africa.

• ADMs will also manage “Horizontal Teams” to cooperate and collaborate on both foreign policy and trade files: e.g.

• 3 priority themes (Afghanistan, Americas & Emerging Markets);

• Innovation Strategies;

• UN Campaigns;

• Human Rights;

• G8 Issues.
  
  

The new Geographic Group will be one Branch, co-managed by four ADMs.

This Group will focus on both bilateral and regional relationships.

Only one common-services bureau will support the new Geographic Group.

The integration of people and programs will be at the Director General level.

DGs will act as Chief Operating Officers (COOs) for their regions and will have the primary role of dealing with stakeholders in the public and private sectors.

Peter Boehm, Jim Fox and Ken Sunquist are organizing information sessions with staff from NGM, RGM and WMM to discuss what this new structure will mean for employees at Headquarters.

Conference calls will also be scheduled with missions.

The names of the four ADMs for the new Geographic Group will be announced in an upcoming broadcast message.

More detailed information will follow by broadcast messages over the course of the summer.

Maddick-Britten Cup

When: Saturday Sept 13, 2008 beginning at 11:30

Where: Chateau Cartier Resort Golf Club

Get out your agenda and schedule your participation in that fall classic, the Maddick - Britton Cup, celebrating the time-honoured sporting challenge between the trade stream and the political stream of Canada's foreign service. The organizing committee, Chaired by Don Campbell (with Trade Co-captains Bill Clarke and Allan Stewart and Political Co-captains: David Stockwell and Brian Northgrave) have again selected the Chateau Cartier Resort Golf Club, 1170 Aylmer Road, (tel: 777 8870) for the match (15 minutes from the Pearson Building). Drinks and dinner to follow.

To encourage more of our colleagues still gainfully employed in DFAIT to participate, we are holding the event on a Saturday, so no excuses re work that day. There will be prizes, thanks to Don Campbell, and a convivial time for all. Jokes and appropriate stories are permitted but no / no speeches! We have successively welcomed more women and younger players, and hope the trend continues this year.

Two teams will be selected and match play will prevail. If any of our colleagues do not wish to participate in the competition then we will organize a side game for you and, if you wish only to participate in the drinks and dinner, you are most welcome.

Costs:

$55 per player for 18 holes (price includes tax)

$18 per player for a shared electric cart ($27 for single rider), $6 for a pull cart (prices include tax)

$23 for 3 course steak, chicken or salmon dinner (salad, dessert and coffee included) plus tax, plus gratuity (15% automatic). We will have a private room again this year, which is a great plus.

Drinks: A la carte

Wine: A la carte (Chilean red/white at $27 per btl).

NB - Everyone settles their own bills for golf, cart if wanted, drinks and dinner.
The golf course is in beautiful shape and, situated along the Ottawa River, it offers a fine autumn vista. Come early, and stay late!
Please pass on this message to any colleagues who you think might wish to join us. Please let me know whether you can join us so that we can get an early idea of how many players will participate. Advise if you want a cart, so we can try to match the foursomes accordingly.

Warm regards,

Brian Northgrave bnorth0919@rogers.com
For the Organizing Committee

P.S. -- Let me get in my annual personal plug for the Cerro Golf Club in Montevideo which runs free golf clinics for some forty youngsters who live in the poorer barrio nearby. In April this year the Cerro's President, addressing the members, gave special thanks to "the Canadian friends" for their "social solidarity" in outfitting the "Escuelita". If you have any used equipment to bring to the match, I and my brother will take it down.

Pat Molson, RIP

Pat Molson passed away suddenly a couple of months ago, in Spain. I missed the obit, which appeared in the Citizen. - JL

MOLSON, Walter Paterson Unexpectedly in Majorca, Spain on Monday March 17th, 2008 in his 67th year. Survived by his loving wife Andree, his daughters Sarah, Caro and Jennifer, his step daughters Isabelle and Genevieve and his seven grandchildren and step grandchildren. Also survived by his mother Nancy, his sister Mary and three brothers John, Thomas and William. Predeceased by his father Walter Kingman Molson. A funeral service will be held at The Memorial Chapel, Trinity College School, 55 Deblaquire St. N., Port Hope, Ont. L1A 4K7 on Monday, March 31st, 2008 at 2 p.m.

Which One is Mine?

A typical Dutch train station. Everyone has a bike at either end of their commute. They do not use helmets.

Efficiency Kills Jobs

According to this, US manufacturing jobs comprise a smaller portion of total jobs but manufacturing output is up. It looks like productivity is to blame for job losses, not just China.