Letter to the Editor in responce to an article in Embassy Magazine: April 30th, 2008
http://www.embassymag.ca/page/view/.2008.april.30.letter5
The Canadian Expat Association has been trying to get a reply from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade ever since our members in Japan, Russia and Italy began asking us about the logic in closing the Osaka, St. Petersburg and Milan consulates last spring (RE: "Demand for Consular Services Triples Over Last 10 Years," April 23).
It looks like we are going to be getting more questions as a reduction of $5 million will probably mean a contraction in staffing and some of the department's brick and mortar. This has serious consequences for Canadian residents abroad. One normally requires consular services in times of dire need and often when time and finances are of concern.
In the case of the now closed Osaka office, a Canadian living in southwestern Japan will now have to travel to Tokyo for service. With the price of transportation, accommodation and food in Japan, it now will cost a Canadian upwards of $700 just to visit the embassy.
However, don't get me wrong. It's not DFAIT that we blame. They are miracle workers with what budget they are given. The current government is bent on reducing the services it provides to its citizens abroad. With the economic impact that Canadians living abroad have on Canada, this is a serious strategic error.
Where we do find DFAIT at fault, is in a serious deficiency with their public relations department. This is not news. Peter Harder, former DFAIT deputy minister, in his address to the Retired Heads of Mission Association in October of 2006, pointed out that if DFAIT doesn't begin to answer questions about its value to Canadian citizens, taxpayers and businesses, "we will be at risk of suffering a death by a thousand cuts."
We are now seeing Mr. Harder's prophecy coming to fruition at the expense of Canadian expatriates. This valuable resource to the whole of Canada deserves better.
Allan Nichols
Canadian Expat Association
Victoria, B.C.