Global Affairs Canada 2024–25 Departmental plan

On this page

• From the Ministers
• Plans to deliver on core responsibilities and internal services
  • International Advocacy and Diplomacy
  • Trade and Investment
  • Development, Peace and Security Programming
  • Help for Canadians Abroad
  • Support for Canada’s Presence Abroad
  • Internal services
• Planned spending and human resources
  • Spending
  • Funding
  • Future-oriented condensed statement of operations
  • Human resources
• Corporate information
• Supplementary information tables
• Federal tax expenditures
• Definitions

From the Ministers

The Honourable Mélanie Joly
Minister of Foreign Affairs

The Honourable Mary Ng
Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development

The Honourable Ahmed Hussen
Minister of International Development

As the world grapples with complex crises and conflicts, Canada will continue to build bridges, find common ground and work to bring about a better world for Canadians.

In the year ahead, we will work to strengthen and improve the rules-based international system, advance democratic principles, human rights and gender equality, promote biodiversity and climate action and build lasting peace and security.

The relationships Canada shares with its key allies and partners will be strengthened, and we will support Canadian priorities in multilateral forums. Alongside partners, we will promote the rule of law and counter authoritarianism and digital threats, including the spread of misinformation and disinformation.

We will address the conflict between Israel and Hamas, respond to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and support peace in the Middle East.

We will work with the G7 and others to mobilize military and development aid for Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s war of aggression, support Ukraine’s sovereignty and recovery and implement the modernized Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement.

Under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, we will enhance Canada’s presence, visibility and influence in the region, including by advancing peace and security, trade and economic growth, people-to-people ties, sustainable development and Canada’s role as an active and engaged partner.

Canada supports an open and inclusive rules-based multilateral trading system. We will strengthen the competitiveness of Canadian exports and advance Canada’s interests through deepened global engagement. We will also work with economic partners to encourage respect for human rights, reduce poverty and inequality and strengthen global supply chains.

It is also essential that we support sustainable and inclusive economic growth, drive international economic cooperation, further diversify Canada’s trade relationships—including into new areas, such as clean infrastructure, agriculture and energy—and grow opportunities for underrepresented groups, such as women, Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized entrepreneurs, persons with disabilities, members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community and young people.

We will build foreign investor knowledge of, and interest in, Canada by coordinating, facilitating and supporting attraction efforts in foreign direct investment among Canadian stakeholders. We will also advance Canada’s export diversification strategy, increasing access to markets around the world.

Canada will continue to act on international trade law reform, including as part of the Ottawa Group on WTO reform, and we will further Canada’s trade partnership with the United States and help Europe meet its demand for clean energy by increasing the supply of Canadian critical minerals and hydrogen.

Through Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, we will focus on eradicating global poverty and contributing to a more peaceful, prosperous and inclusive world. We will also advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and help to dismantle persistent discriminatory practices and structural barriers that result in inequalities.

Canada’s international assistance efforts will continue to engage Canadian stakeholders and the Canadian public, as well as scale up partnerships with the private sector, to maximize the impact of our efforts. We will also further expand our partnerships with Canadian development and humanitarian organizations, as well as with small and medium-sized organizations.

Canada’s development assistance will support the poorest and most marginalized people, particularly women and girls in vulnerable situations, including by supporting women leaders and feminist organizations, preventing sexual and gender-based violence and defending sexual and reproductive health and rights.

We will respond to global food and nutrition needs, invest in climate change mitigation and adaptation and prevent biodiversity loss in developing countries. We will address barriers to safe and inclusive quality education for the most marginalized people, including refugees and displaced persons, and support vocational training aimed at expanding employment opportunities for youth, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The department will also emphasize new approaches to innovative financing and work toward enhancing the impacts of international assistance investments.

We will advance Canada’s efforts in Women, Peace and Security, enhance engagement and leadership in UN peace operations and provide humanitarian assistance to people impacted by natural disasters and to those in fragile and conflict-affected settings.

Timely and appropriate consular services for Canadians abroad is imperative to mitigating the risks inherent to international travel. We will continue to provide emergency consular assistance through the 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre and tailor services to Canadians in potentially vulnerable situations, including women, children and members of the Indigenous and 2SLGBTQI+ communities. The department will also further implement its digital strategy to modernize mission networks, which will improve digital security and service delivery to Canadians.

We will uphold the safety of Canadians abroad in deterring and responding to arbitrary detention in state-to-state relations, including by expanding the growing coalition of countries that endorse the Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention in State-to-State Relations and anchoring the issue in international law, organizations and mechanisms.

Additionally, through its Transformation Implementation Plan, Global Affairs Canada will continue to make the organizational changes needed to ensure that it can better deliver on its mandates in foreign affairs, trade, international assistance and consular support. As part of the department’s broader transformation plan, GAC is also undertaking the Grants and Contributions Transformation Initiative to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Canada’s international assistance.

As we address the challenges facing us today, we will work with Canadians and partners around the world to chart a path toward a safer, more secure and prosperous world that leaves no one behind, and we will continue to stand up for Canadians everywhere.

Plans to deliver on core responsibilities and internal services

Core responsibilities and internal services:

• International Advocacy and Diplomacy
• Trade and Investment
• Development, Peace and Security Programming
• Help for Canadians Abroad
• Support for Canada’s Presence Abroad
• Internal services

International Advocacy and Diplomacy

Description

Global Affairs Canada promotes Canada’s interests and values through policy development, diplomacy, advocacy, and effective engagement.

Quality of life impacts

This core responsibility contributes to the indicators “Confidence in institutions” and “Indigenous self-determination” in the “Good Governance” domain of the Quality of Life Framework for Canada. The quality of life impacts will be achieved through the activities mentioned in the core responsibility description above.

Results and targets

The following tables show, for each departmental result related to International Advocacy and Diplomacy, the indicators, the results from the three most recently reported fiscal years, the targets and target dates approved in 2024–25.

Table 1: Indicators, results and targets for departmental result “Canada builds and maintains constructive relationships that advance Canada’s interests.”

Table 2: Indicators, results and targets for departmental result “Canada’s leadership on global issues contributes to a just and inclusive world.”

Table 3: Indicators, results and targets for departmental result “Canada helps build strong international institutions and respect for international law.”

Table 4: Indicators, results and targets for departmental result “Canada’s global influence is expanded and strengthened.”

The financial, human resources and performance information for GAC’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Plans to achieve results

Canada builds and maintains constructive relationships that advance Canada’s interests

Constructive relationships are the cornerstone of GAC’s ability to advance Canada’s interests internationally and address many of the most critical challenges facing the world today. The department will advance Canadian interests and priorities by continuing to strengthen Canada’s long-standing relationships with like-minded allies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and its member states, the Nordic countries, and others within the G7 and Five Eyes communities. Importantly, Canada will assume the rotating presidency of the G7 in January 2025. At the same time, GAC will work with many diverse countries throughout the international community, particularly the world’s leading advanced economies at the G20 and priority countries in the Indo-Pacific region, in order to drive international economic cooperation, including addressing multilateral development bank reform.

International instability and challenges to peace and security will certainly continue to dominate the foreign policy agenda in 2024–25. GAC will work with partners both inside and outside the Middle East region to address the rapidly evolving conflict between Israel and Hamas and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. The department will continue to work with the G7 and others to mobilize military and development aid for Ukraine in its ongoing defense against Russia’s war of aggression, entering its third year. Efforts will continue to address shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific and other regions, and to face emerging security issues like foreign interference. GAC will promote an inclusive approach to addressing these issues and is committing to greater gender analysis and integration of gender perspectives in crisis response.

GAC will continue to contribute its expertise and leverage its influence in key multilateral and regional forums to support Canadian priorities, whether at the UN, the G7, the G20, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Commonwealth, La Francophonie, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Arctic Council, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Organization of American States (OAS), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), or a wide range of other bodies and entities created under international treaties to which Canada is a party. The department’s work to strengthen and improve the rules-based international system, on which Canada relies domestically and internationally, facilitates collective advancement on critical issues like democracy, inclusion, human rights, gender equality, climate change, inclusive growth, and sustainable peace and security.

In the Americas, GAC will further strengthen Canada’s partnership with the United States and Mexico to enable bilateral and trilateral cooperation in areas related to competitiveness and supply chains, commercial ties, borders, Arctic sovereignty, energy, environment and global threats to North America peace and security. At the same time, the department will engage with new and traditional regional partners to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law where they are under threat. This will include constructive engagement through regional multilateral partnerships, including the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP). In Haiti, the department will collaborate with key partners, including Haitian political actors, CARICOM, Kenya, the UN and the U.S., to facilitate Haitian-led solutions to the political, security and humanitarian crisis. GAC will contribute to building the capacity of the Haitian National Police by coordinating security assistance from a wide range of donors.

Changes to the political situation in the Middle East since the creation of the Middle East Strategy, which was focused on the immediate threat presented by Daesh in Iraq and Syria, have led to a shift in focus in the department’s engagement in the region. In 2024–2025, in an effort to promote peace, stability, prosperity and dialogue in the Middle East, GAC will advance Canada’s bilateral and multilateral relationships in Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudia Arabia and key Gulf countries and work with other bilateral partners and multilateral institutions active in the region.

Building on the outcomes of the Canada-EU Summit held in St. John’s in 2023, GAC will work with the European Union and its member states to further strengthen our strategic partnership. The department will remain unwavering in its support to Ukraine and its people, who continue to defend their independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, in the face of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of their country. In this effort, GAC will continue to implement the whole-of-government strategy for Canada’s support to Ukraine, working with international partners to address Russian disinformation and provide support for the people of Ukraine, and Ukraine’s reforms, recovery and reconstruction. Canada will continue working closely with NATO Allies, the EU and European partners to address transatlantic security issues.

In the Arctic, GAC will continue to advance international Canadian interests, including maritime boundaries and the status of the Northwest Passage, and promote a stable and rules-based approach to the region, in collaboration with civil society, Indigenous Peoples, and international, provincial and territorial governments.

In the Indo-Pacific region, GAC will advance the implementation of the Indo-Pacific Strategy to promote peace, resilience and security in the region; to expand trade, investment and supply chain resilience; to invest in and connect people; to build a sustainable and green future; and to expand Canada’s role as an active and engaged partner. The department will also work to encourage closer ties between Canada and regional allies and partners through sustained high-level engagement and enhanced diplomatic efforts, including by seizing opportunities for further collaboration with APEC members and seeking membership in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). The department will also prepare for Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, and participate in other signature events in the region.

In 2024–25, GAC will step up engagement with countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on economic cooperation. The department will leverage Canada’s influence and competitiveness in the region by enhancing its diplomatic engagement with both established and emerging partners, including governments, citizens, businesses, and civil society. The department will also further deepen its important partnership with the African Union through formal dialogues on policy, development and trade to advance our common interests. GAC will work with partners in order to support efforts to address challenges to democratic forms of governance, in particular in West Africa. The department will also continue to support peace and security efforts in key parts of the continent. Targeted advocacy initiatives will focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment, human rights (including the rights of 2SLGBTQI+ people), inclusive governance, peace and security, and poverty reduction. The department will also seek out opportunities to advocate for a strengthened and more balanced international rules-based system.

Canada’s leadership on global issues contributes to a just and inclusive world

With democratic principles increasingly under threat and violations of human rights on the rise around the world, GAC will continue to be a consistent voice for the protection of human rights and take action to address the root of these challenges. The department will be a strong global advocate for strengthening the international human rights system and for human rights defenders and their vital work— even when this requires tough conversations and the risk of consequences. GAC’s leadership and engagement on human rights issues are most evident in multilateral spaces like the UN Human Rights Council, and in international coalitions like the Media Freedom Coalition and the Equal Rights Coalition. GAC also supports the work of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism in order to advance the international aspects of their mandates. The department will also target the advancement of democracy and stability in specific countries by supporting UN-led initiatives to promote international stability, among other efforts. The department will continue to implement the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan and advance rights and equality for 2SLGBTQI+ people abroad.

GAC will continue working to protect and advance democratic principles, including through the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM), policy leadership on the governance of digital technology, participation in the third Summit for Democracy in the Republic of Korea, and active engagement in the Community of Democracies and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). The department will further leverage the G7 RRM and other partnerships to counter transnational repression globally and to deepen engagement on countering disinformation and other threats to democracy in the Indo-Pacific region. GAC will leverage resources announced in 2022 to broaden responses to Russian disinformation and hybrid threats in Ukraine, Eastern Europe and NATO’s eastern flank.

To counter authoritarianism, grand corruption, transnational organized crime, terrorism and violent extremism, the department’s efforts in 2024–25 will include collaboration with international partners to establish an International Anti-Corruption Court. The department will also continue active engagement in key multilateral forums including the Global Coalition to Counter Daesh, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the UN Commission for Narcotic Drugs and the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction.

GAC will enhance engagement and leadership in UN peace operations and continue to advance flagship initiatives such as the Elsie Initiative, the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers. The department also provides specialized and innovative training for peace operations and support for the UN’s Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) agenda. Canada’s ambassador for Women, Peace, and Security will continue to advocate globally for greater and more meaningful participation of women in peace and security efforts. The department will also support Canada’s defence and security engagement to ensure that Canada’s military deployments align with multilateral commitments and foreign policy objectives.

Canada helps build strong international institutions and respect for international law

Canada will continue to play an active role in the development, promotion and application of international law, which is central to economic and social development and environmental protection, as well as to the advancement of international human rights, peace and security. GAC will foster an environment of cooperation with diverse partners to strengthen the rules-based international order and counter those who wish to undermine it. The department will work closely with partners, including at the UN and the WTO, to preserve, develop and enhance the vitality of multilateral forums. These efforts will include continued advocacy and negotiation on existing and new international instruments dealing with a range of issues including human rights, peace and security, environmental protection and climate change.

GAC will strongly promote compliance with international law throughout 2024–25 through continued efforts to pursue accountability for serious violations of international law, in coordination and collaboration with allies and partners, including by initiating or intervening in cases against Syria, Myanmar, Iran and Russia at the International Court of Justice. The department will continue to use sanctions to address grave breaches of international peace and security, human rights, and corruption laws (for example in the context of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, as well as in Iran, Haiti and Myanmar). GAC will continue to be a leader in the development and implementation of Canada’s sanctions regime through its newly established Sanctions Bureau. The department will also continue to lead the international initiative against the use of coercive arbitrary detention in state-to-state relations.

GAC will uphold and strengthen the international non-proliferation and disarmament architecture through active support of and engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, the intersessional process of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, the Missile Technology Control Regime, and the Review Cycle process of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

As Chair of the International Coordination and Response Group for the victims of Flight PS752, alongside state members Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, Canada will maintain its efforts to support the families and loved ones of the victims and hold Iran accountable for its violation of international law, including through the International Court of Justice and the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Canada’s global influence is expanded and strengthened

The increasingly complex geopolitical landscape makes it necessary for GAC to find new, creative and innovative ways to expand and strengthen Canada’s global influence and promote Canadian interests and values around the world. To ensure that GAC is a modern department that is fit for purpose, it will implement a transformation agenda to address known challenges and strengthen its global presence, including through the mission network and by enhancing engagement with outside research and analytical expertise. The department will also work to expand its capacity in order to support whole-of-government approaches to digital issues, critical minerals, the green transition and climate change.

In 2024–25, GAC will focus its efforts on becoming more strategic and nimble in regions of influence, including the Indo-Pacific, where Canada has a plan to enhance its presence, visibility and influence. At the same time, the department recognizes that pragmatic bilateral engagement, even with countries whose values may not be fully aligned with Canada’s, will be critical to finding common ground and making progress on collective global challenges.

Canada’s official languages are key to Canadian diplomacy, as communication is foundational to cooperation. The French language is an important asset for all of Canada’s diplomatic and advocacy initiatives, foreign relations, and representation in governance bodies of international institutions. GAC will increase efforts to assert the place of the French language in international organizations and broader foreign relations by working within La Francophonie, with La Francophonie member countries, and in other francophone spaces.

Program inventory

International Advocacy and Diplomacy is supported by the following programs in the program inventory:

• International Policy Coordination
• Multilateral Policy
• International Law
• The Office of Protocol
• Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb Policy & Diplomacy
• Americas Policy & Diplomacy
• Asia Pacific Policy & Diplomacy
• Sub-Saharan Africa Policy & Diplomacy
• Geographic Coordination and Mission Support
• International Assistance Policy
• International Security Policy and Diplomacy

Supporting information on planned expenditures, human resources, and results related to GAC’s program inventory is available on GC Infobase.

Trade and Investment

Description

Global Affairs Canada supports increased and more diverse trade and investment to raise the standard of living for all Canadians and to enable Canadian businesses to grow internationally and to create economic opportunities.

Quality of life impacts

This core responsibility contributes to the indicators “Firm growth,” “GDP per capita” and others in the “Prosperity” domain of the Quality of Life Framework for Canada. The quality of life impacts will be achieved through the activities in the core responsibility description above.

Results and targets

The following tables show, for each departmental result related to Trade and Investment, the indicators, the results from the three most recently reported fiscal years, the targets and target dates approved in 2024–25.

Table 5: Indicators, results and targets for departmental result “Canada helps to build and safeguard an open and inclusive rules-based global trading system.”

Table 6: Indicators, results and targets for departmental result “Canadian exporters and innovators are successful in their international business development efforts.”

Table 7: Indicators, results and targets for departmental result “Foreign direct investment is facilitated, expanded or retained.”

The financial, human resources and performance information for GAC’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Plans to achieve results

Canada helps to build and safeguard an open and inclusive rules-based global trading system

An open and inclusive rules-based global trading system is not only important for Canada’s economy and job growth, but also for promoting sustainable development and poverty reduction across the world. In 2024–25, GAC will support a more balanced and strengthened rules-base international system by continuing to take action on international trade law reform through principled engagement at the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, the WTO (including through the Ottawa Group), the G20, the G7, the OECD and APEC.

The department will work to enhance its critical trade partnership with the U.S. and provide effective leadership in the management of Canada-U.S. trade policy issues, such as successful implementation of Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) and defending market access for softwood lumber. With the EU, the department will continue to use the mechanisms established by the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) to deepen trade relationships.

GAC will advance Canada’s export diversification strategy, increasing access to markets around the world and contributing to long-term and inclusive economic gains for Canadian businesses and consumers. To this end, the department will work to increase the number of countries and regions that Canada has agreements with, including in the Indo-Pacific; assume the role of chair of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Commission; complete the entry into force and implement the modernized Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA); work to modernize existing agreements such as the Canada-UK Trade Continuity Agreement; negotiate new trade agreements with Indonesia, ASEAN and Ecuador; and continue to negotiate and implement foreign investment promotion and protection agreements.

The department will also diversify and build more inclusive trade through the implementation of the Global Trade and Gender Arrangement and the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement, aiming to ensure that the benefits of trade are inclusive and distributed across economies and all segments of society.

GAC will continue to combat protectionism, unfair trade practices and economic coercion around the world. The department will work with new and existing economic partners to encourage human rights, reduce poverty and inequality, and strengthen the diversity, sustainability and resilience of global supply chains through new initiatives such as the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, the negotiation of new free trade agreements, and by maximizing the benefits of existing trade and investment agreements, including CETA, the CPTPP, and CUSMA.

Canadian exporters and innovators are successful in their international business development efforts

The international success of Canadian businesses contributes to the strength and resilience of Canada’s economy. GAC’s Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) will continue to support Canadian entrepreneurs and innovators to grow, develop and commercialize their technologies through its key services and programs, including CanExport, Canadian Technology Accelerators and the Canadian International Innovation Program. These services and programs provide Canadian exporters increased access to networks, partners and resources to pursue their international business development goals. In addition, increased efforts toward Canada’s trade relationship with the Indo-Pacific will help Canadian businesses tap into growing opportunities in the region, including via Team Canada Trade Missions. To reflect these emerging priorities, CanExport has also been expanded with additional funding to support the international trade pillars of the Indo-Pacific Strategy. These initiatives will continue to promote Canadian goods and services abroad, foster international collaboration and help Canadian firms connect with new customers and partners in priority markets. The department will also seek to diversify trade and investment relationships into new areas, such as green building and infrastructure, energy efficiency, climate-smart agriculture and clean energy.

GAC will foster linkages with other countries by supporting federal science-based departments and agencies in science and research collaborations with foreign partners, in line with federal priorities, while protecting the integrity and security of Canada’s research ecosystem from external threats. The TCS will maximize international opportunities for Canadian firms by working with partners to help more Canadian companies take advantage of opportunities presented by Canada’s free trade agreements, particularly CETA, the CPTPP and CUSMA. The department will also continue to invest in information technology tools to provide the best service to Canadian businesses. To widen future investment opportunities for Canadian firms, Canada will continue to support African countries in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.

The new International Education Strategy (IES) will promote exports of educational products and services and respond to labour market needs to ensure Canada’s long-term prosperity. With respect to international students, it will focus on quality over quantity and protect Canada’s global brand of educational excellence. It will seek to create more diverse international education opportunities for students and educational institutions in order to stimulate innovation and develop competencies that can help bridge the gap between different cultures within the Canadian workforce.

To increase the diversity and number of exporters, the TCS will support and develop international business development activities targeting groups underrepresented in international trade, particularly women, Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized entrepreneurs, members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, and youth. GAC will also support Canadian companies in adopting responsible business conduct practices to mitigate risks, improve competitiveness and exemplify Canadian values as set out in Canada’s Responsible Business Conduct Strategy.

Foreign direct investment is facilitated, expanded or retained

Foreign direct investment (FDI) creates opportunities, stimulates economic development and introduces new ideas and innovation to Canada. For Canadians, this means more high-quality jobs and a stronger, more sustainable economy. GAC will continue to build foreign investor knowledge of and interest in Canada by coordinating, facilitating and supporting FDI attraction efforts among stakeholders, including other federal government departments, provincial governments, municipalities and Invest in Canada. To protect Canadians from the potential pitfalls of FDI, the department will support the ongoing administration of the Investment Canada Act’s national security provisions, which address foreign investment that could harm Canada’s national security. 

Over the course of 2024–25, the department will strengthen the provision of quality services to potential investors in priority sectors and markets with a view to increasing foreign investor awareness of, and interest in, investment opportunities in Canada.  The department will also address investor irritants as part of the business retention and expansion services; refer investment leads to relevant federal government departments, provinces and territories; and coordinate deal teams for major investment projects.

Program inventory

Trade and Investment is supported by the following programs:

• Trade Policy, Agreements Negotiations, and Disputes
• Trade Controls
• International Business Development
• International Innovation and Investment
• Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb Trade
• Americas Trade
• Asia Pacific Trade
• Sub-Saharan Africa Trade

Supporting information on planned expenditures, human resources, and results related to GAC’s program inventory is available on GC Infobase.

Development, Peace and Security Programming

Description

Global Affairs Canada programming contributes to reducing poverty, increasing opportunity for people around the world, alleviating suffering in humanitarian crises, and fostering peace and security, and in so doing, advances the Sustainable Development Goals.

Quality of life impacts

This core responsibility contributes to the indicators “Life satisfaction” and “Sense of meaning and purpose” in the “Life satisfaction and sense of meaning and purpose” domain, and the indicators “Sense of pride/belonging in Canada” and “Positive perceptions of diversity” in the “Society” domain in the Quality of Life Framework for Canada. The quality of life impacts will be achieved through the activities mentioned in the core responsibility description above.

Results and targets

The following tables show, for each departmental result related to Development, Peace and Security Programming, the indicators, the results from the three most recently reported fiscal years, the targets and target dates approved in 2024–25.

Table 8: Indicators, results and targets for departmental result “Improved physical, social and economic well-being for the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly for women and girls, in countries where Canada engages.”

Table 9: Indicators, results and targets for departmental result “Enhanced empowerment and rights for women and girls in countries where Canada engages.”

Table 10: Indicators, results and targets for departmental result “Reduced suffering and increased human dignity in communities experiencing humanitarian crises.”

Table 11: Indicators, results and targets for departmental result “Improved peace and security in countries and regions where Canada engages.”

Table 12: Indicators, results and targets for departmental result “Canada’s international assistance is made more effective by leveraging diverse partnerships, innovation, and experimentation.”

The financial, human resources and performance information for GAC’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Plans to achieve results

Improved physical, social and economic well-being for the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly for women and girls, in countries where Canada engages

With concurrent crises eroding development gains in all corners of the world, GAC will continue to focus Canada’s international assistance on improving the well-being of those most in need. This includes continued investments targeted to address historic gender inequalities in global health and nutrition as part of the 10-Year Commitment to Global Health and Rights (2020-2030), with an emphasis on comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights, infectious disease prevention, pandemic prevention preparedness and response and nutrition. The department will deliver programming through key multilateral partners and global initiatives such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria, Gavi, UNICEF, UNFPA, Nutrition International, the World Food Program, as well as Canadian civil society organizations including Grand Challenges Canada. Canada will also continue to engage at the global level to strengthen alignment between key global health initiatives in support of country-led priorities aimed at health systems strengthening and universal health coverage.

Throughout 2024–25, GAC will work to address barriers to safe and inclusive quality education for the most marginalized, including for refugees and displaced persons. For example, Canada’s contribution to the Education Cannot Wait initiative ($87.5 million over 2023–2026) will provide crisis-affected children access to quality education, particularly girls and adolescent girls living in hard-to-reach, fragile or conflict-affected regions. Additionally, the Canadian International Development Scholarships 2030 program ($80 million over 2022–2030) contributes to access to quality higher education and vocational training for over 7,000 women and men, including displaced people and refugees. This will be achieved through scholarships in Canada and in 26 select countries, predominantly in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as through building institutional capacity and integration in local labor markets.

With the ongoing economic and food crises in many developing countries, GAC’s support to services and programs for entrepreneurs and farmers has never been more important. In the year ahead, the department will provide support to strengthen the resilience of the agriculture sector in developing countries, including targeted programs for smallholder women farmers.

GAC will continue to support climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. This includes investments funded through Canada’s $5.3 billion commitment (2021–2026) which aims to help developing countries transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient, nature-positive and inclusive sustainable development. This commitment also includes the work of Indigenous Peoples Partnering for Climate initiative which leverages Indigenous climate leadership and expertise on nature-based solutions and supports partnerships that build the climate resilience of Indigenous Peoples in developing countries. 

GAC will operationalize Canada’s first International Biodiversity Program ($350 million over 2023–2026), supporting initiatives with developing countries that aim to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 in support of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Enhanced empowerment and rights for women and girls in countries where Canada engages

Canada’s recognized leadership on gender equality and the empowerment and rights of women and girls in all their diversity has positively influenced the lives of millions worldwide. In the year ahead, GAC remains committed to directing no less than 95% of Canada’s bilateral international development assistance toward initiatives that either integrate or target gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, with 15% specifically targeting these goals. This includes investing in efforts to safeguard the rights of women and girls, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, and to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage, as well as female genital mutilation and cutting. The department remains committed to achieving broad cross-regional support for the biennial UN General Assembly resolution on child, early and forced marriage, which Canada co-leads with Zambia.

In addition to advocating for the rights of women and girls, the department will continue to implement new programming planned to address paid and unpaid care work in low- and middle-income countries under Canada’s flagship five-year $100 million Care Work commitment, which includes the Action for Paid Care Workers Initiative.

The department seeks to further strengthen its support to organizations and networks aimed at advancing the rights of women and girls and gender equality, including supporting the work of women human rights defenders, women’s rights organizations and 2SLGBTQI+ groups in developing countries and in crisis- and conflict-affected contexts. Initiatives including the Alliance for Feminist Movements, the recently renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership Program and the Equality Fund Initiative will support and build on the strength and leadership of local women’s rights organizations in Canada’s partner countries.

Reduced suffering and increased human dignity in communities experiencing humanitarian crises

GAC recognizes the increasing scope, scale and complexity of humanitarian crises as forced displacement, acute food insecurity and malnutrition continue to reach historically high levels. Women, girls and marginalized communities continue to bear a disproportionate burden and face a greater proportion of violence. The international humanitarian system continues to struggle to respond to growing needs, with the UN global appeal projecting a need of $46.4 billion for 2024.

GAC will continue to engage at the global level and leverage its influence on the governance mechanisms of key humanitarian multilateral partners to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the international humanitarian system. The department will also continue to advance key humanitarian policy priorities, including advancing gender-responsive humanitarian action, protecting space for impartial humanitarian organizations, advocating for the safety and security of humanitarian workers, advocating for and promoting the protection of civilians, and advocating for the respect of international humanitarian law by parties to armed conflict.

Improved peace and security in countries and regions where Canada engages

In 2024–25, GAC will continue to engage countries in peacebuilding efforts, to reinforce global stability and to advance international assistance in fragile and conflict-affected settings. The department’s peace and stabilization priorities will continue to address geopolitical crises including Russia’s illegal invasion in Ukraine as well as peace and security implications in Haiti, the Middle East, Africa and the Indo-Pacific Region.

Canada will support interventions through forums including the UN, the G7 and the G20 to prevent, detect or respond to crime and terrorism; to counter the proliferation of nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological and conventional weapons; and to improve compliance with non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament regimes, including through the Anti-Crime and Counter-Terrorism Capacity Building Programs.

In particular, the department will continue to advance capacity building efforts within the G7-led Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction. Through the Weapons Threat Reduction Program (WTRP), GAC will work to strengthen nuclear security, particularly through contributions to the Nuclear Security Fund of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and to activities implemented by the US Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.  The department will help build international capacity to identify and respond to North Korea’s activities to evade UN Security Council sanctions on its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and missile programs.

GAC will continue to lead Canada’s efforts to prevent biological terrorism and proliferation, including through the Global Partnership’s Signature Initiative to Mitigate Biological Threats in Africa and the ASEAN Mitigation of Biological Threats Programme. In support of a future free from the threat of chemical weapons, the department will provide tangible support to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and lead a coordinated approach by the 31-member Global Partnership to counter WMD-related disinformation campaigns. The department will also continue to address threats from conventional weapons by supporting the universalization and national implementation of conventional arms control regimes including, the Arms Trade Treaty, the Ottawa Convention and the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

GAC plans to implement Canada’s third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), including mainstreaming WPS issues across diplomatic, trade, consular and international assistance engagements. This work will include supporting women peacebuilders, reinforcing efforts to increase women’s participation in institutions focused on security and justice, applying an intersectional feminist approach in crisis response and advancing peace and security for all people. The Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations and the Women, Peace and Security awards program will continue to be key initiatives supporting Canada’s efforts. Canada’s ambassador for Women, Peace and Security will continue to promote WPS around the world and provide advice on effective implementation of the National Action Plan.

The use of cyber, digital and emerging technologies and the associated geopolitical competition are increasingly at the centre of international politics, with broad implications for Canada’s security, values and prosperity. Digital threats posed by malicious state and non-state actors, including the spread of misinformation and disinformation, is one of the greatest modern risks to democracy worldwide. With impacts that include interference with electoral processes and threats to civil society, human rights defenders, freedom of expression, and freedom of religion or belief, enhanced global cooperation and safeguards are urgently needed. GAC will enhance its international cyber and digital diplomacy to shape global governance of these technologies in line with Canadian interests and values while also exploring ways to advance awareness and cooperation, including through the Freedom Online Coalition; through continued engagement with La Francophonie, the ASEAN Regional Forum and other regional forums; and through programming in the context of the Promoting and Protecting Democracy Fund and the Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program.

Canada’s international assistance is made more effective by leveraging diverse partnerships, innovation, and experimentation

Harnessing innovation and experimentation is essential to exploring ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Canada’s international assistance in order to meet mounting global challenges. To help facilitate this, GAC is undertaking a Grants and Contributions Transformation Initiative as part of the department’s broader transformation plan. This initiative prioritizes making international assistance investment processes more responsive, effective, transparent and accountable. This includes by removing unnecessary barriers and making the application processes for international assistance funding faster and simpler, in order to reduce administrative burdens on partners and expand partnerships with new and smaller organizations. It will also include changes to how the department approaches risk.

GAC continues to leverage a range of diverse partnerships, including private sector partners, smaller organizations and local partners. In 2024–25, the department will emphasize new approaches to innovative financing and work toward enhancing the impacts of international assistance investments. This includes the International Assistance Innovation Program aimed at making strategic, pro-poor, gender-focused blended finance investments that leverage private sector resources and help build equitable markets. Through initiatives like this, and in concert with FinDev Canada, Canada can help crowd in the private sector resources that are essential to move the world closer to achieving global goals such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals and tackling climate change.

In further support of greater innovation and experimentation in international assistance, GAC will continue to deliver the Canadian Small and Medium Organizations for Impact and Innovation initiative, which includes testing innovative approaches and building partner capacity in international assistance. In order to achieve greater development impact, the department will also work with partners like Grand Challenges Canada to support health and humanitarian innovations, while also working to catalyze global and local ecosystems to address barriers to the updating, scaling and sustainability of proven innovations.

Program inventory

Development, Peace and Security Programming is supported by the following programs in the program inventory:

• International Assistance Operations
• Office of Human Rights, Freedom and Inclusion (OHRFI)
• Humanitarian Assistance
• Partnerships for Development Innovation
• Multilateral International Assistance
• Peace and Stabilization Operations
• Anti-Crime and Counter-Terrorism Capacity Building
• Weapons Threat Reduction
• Canada Fund for Local Initiatives
• Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb International Assistance
• Americas International Assistance
• Asia Pacific International Assistance
• Sub-Saharan Africa International Assistance
• Grants and Contributions Policy and Operations

Supporting information on planned expenditures, human resources, and results related to  GAC’s program inventory is available on GC Infobase.

Help for Canadians Abroad

Description

Global Affairs Canada provides timely and appropriate consular services for Canadians abroad, contributing to their safety and security.

Quality of life impacts

This core responsibility contributes to the indicators “Personal safety,” “Canada’s place in the world” and “Access to fair and equal justice” in the “Good governance” domain of the Quality of Life Framework for Canada. The quality of life impacts will be achieved through the activities mentioned in the core responsibility description above.

Results and targets

The following tables show, for each departmental result related to Help for Canadians Abroad, the indicators, the results from the three most recently reported fiscal years, the targets and target dates approved in 2024–25.

Table 13: Indicators, results and targets for departmental result “Canadians have timely access to information and services that keeps them safer abroad.”

Table 14: Indicators, results and targets for departmental result “Canadians abroad receive timely and appropriate government services.”

The financial, human resources and performance information for GAC’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Plans to achieve results

Canadians have timely access to information and services that keeps them safer abroad

GAC provides Canadians with timely and essential information that helps them make reasoned decisions regarding their safety while they work, travel and live abroad. This essential service is especially critical in these times of increasing rapid onset emergencies and global uncertainty.

Information, advice, consular services and emergency assistance provided via travel.gc.ca and the 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre will help ensure Canadians are well supported, both prior to travelling abroad and while they are outside of Canada. GAC will continue its efforts to ensure that Canadians are able to access the precise information they need at the right time, including through the online Travel Advice and Advisories on the Government of Canada travel website (www.travel.gc.ca), official social media accounts, and the Registration of Canadians Abroad service. In addition, in order to clearly show areas where the safety of Canadians may be at increased risk, the department will be publishing visual colour-coded maps to complement Canada’s online Travel Advice and Advisories. Importantly, efforts will also continue to improve the availability of information on safety risks for Canadians in potentially vulnerable situations, such as trends of harassment or violence targeting women and 2SLGBTQI+ travellers.

The department will also increase awareness of safe travel advice and consular services through multiple avenues, including working with stakeholders in the travel industry, participating in travel shows and promoting the newly re-launched Safe Travel Planner. GAC will also utilize departmental social media channels and traditional media to provide pre-departure travel advice to specific groups, such as Canadian students leaving to study or work abroad. The department will also be conducting seasonal advertising campaigns that target key audiences at risk when travelling abroad.

Canadians abroad receive timely and appropriate government services

GAC’s consular program provides routine services and emergency assistance to Canadians in distress abroad. Through the provision of timely and appropriate consular services that adhere to established service standards, Canadians will be supported to mitigate some of the risks inherent to international travel. This includes tailored services for Canadians in potentially vulnerable situations, such as members of the Indigenous and 2SLGBTQI+ communities, as well as women and children.

The department will continue to modernize its consular and emergency case management with the implementation of faster information management/information technology (IM/IT) systems.  These improvements will allow the department’s global network to rapidly and efficiently respond to consular and emergency situations internationally during times of crises when mobilization must be immediate.

GAC will continue to work toward improving access to consular services in jurisdictions where Canada has a limited presence, including through the Honorary Consul Program. This program is an innovative mechanism aimed at ensuring that Canada has the correct level of representation abroad and that Canadians receive the quality services they need.

GAC is also protecting the safety of Canadians abroad through its work to deter and respond to arbitrary detention in state-to-state relations. Canada will continue its efforts to expand the growing coalition of countries that endorse the Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention in State-to-State Relations. Canada will also work to anchor the issue in international law, organizations, and mechanisms, and will collaborate with partners to address cases and to collectively deter this practice.

Program inventory

Help for Canadians Abroad is supported by the following programs in the program inventory:

• Consular Assistance and Services for Canadians Abroad
• Emergency Preparedness and Response

Supporting information on planned expenditures, human resources, and results related to GAC’s program inventory is available on GC Infobase.

Support for Canada’s Presence Abroad

Description

Global Affairs Canada manages and delivers resources, infrastructure and services enabling Canada’s presence abroad, including at embassies, high commissions, and consulates.

Quality of life impacts

This core responsibility contributes to the indicators “Canada’s place in the world” in the “Good governance” domain in the Quality of Life Framework for Canada. The quality of life impacts will be achieved through the activities mentioned in the core responsibility description above.

Results and targets

The following tables show, for each departmental result related to Support for Canada’s Presence Abroad, the indicators, the results from the three most recently reported fiscal years, the targets and target dates approved in 2024–25.

Table 15: Indicators, results and targets for departmental result “Sound management and delivery of resources, infrastructure and services enables Canada’s presence abroad.”

Table 16: Indicators, results and targets for departmental result “Personnel are safe, missions are more secure and government and partner assets and information are protected.”

The financial, human resources and performance information for GAC’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Plans to achieve results

Sound management and delivery of resources, infrastructure and services enables Canada’s presence abroad

GAC’s presence abroad, including its network of embassies, high commissions and consulates, is a cornerstone to Canada’s ability to deliver on its international mandate, advance Canadian interests abroad, and provide vital services to Canadians, including consular services. In 2024–25, GAC will support Canada’s diverse presence in missions, which includes managing human resources, finances, IM/IT services, safety and security, and real property. This work supports not only GAC staff, but many other government departments, crown corporations and provinces providing services to Canadians abroad.

GAC will strive to uphold the highest standards for expected employee behaviour at work by reviewing both its values and ethics codes of conduct, which apply to both Canada-based-staff (CBS) and locally engaged staff (LES). In addition, the department will review and update the LES Policy Framework and move forward on the LES benefits modernization initiative, with the objective of increasing the department’s competitiveness across its network.

The department will continue to implement its digital strategy to modernize mission networks, which will improve digital security and secure information processing, help employees collaborate and work more efficiently, improve staff abilities to leverage data analytics to inform decision-making, and improve service delivery to Canadians, including in times of crises. The department is also pioneering projects to evaluate the potential for using advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to augment and transform the capacity of GAC employees at work. The improvement of these capabilities will be complemented by a transformation in digital service delivery and supported through the Operations Modernization Program, which will seek to enhance information security. 

GAC will continue efforts to integrate sustainability into its operations through the Global Portfolio Strategy, in line with the Greening Government Strategy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These efforts will build on existing greening initiatives and introduce new opportunities for innovation, including reducing energy and water consumption and carbon emissions, analyzing climate risk, implementing waste reduction and diversion practices, and leveraging green building certification. Reducing the department’s environmental footprint not only reduces our impact on the environment, but also leads to more efficient use of resources.

Personnel are safe, missions are more secure and government and partner assets and information are protected

Employees working at Canadian missions abroad are often exposed to a wide variety of unique health, safety and psychological risks. In the year ahead, GAC will continue to ensure access to health care and other critical support for both Canadians working and LES abroad, all of which will be tailored to local conditions. This includes supporting a working environment free from harassment and violence, where employee physical and psychological safety is a top priority.

The department will continue to meet its obligations to provide specialized care for its staff abroad to reinforce the department’s security posture by ensuring the security of people, infrastructure and information at its missions abroad through the appropriate utilization of resources, assets and programming. This will also include ensuring the highest physical safety standards by enabling data-driven decision-making through the modernization of security risk management systems, tools and technology. These improvements will better guide operations and optimize service delivery to enhance the protection of staff working in the rapidly evolving global threat environment. This includes using Mission Emergency Plans, which help missions to prepare for a broad range of potential emergencies and reduce disruptions in critical services.

GAC will continue to upgrade IT security and infrastructure and enhance its cyber security capabilities in order to better prevent and respond to cyber threats to the various digital systems within the department. This includes an initiative to better safeguard the information of Canadians living and working abroad, as well as the information of Canada’s allies. Additionally, new secure information processing and collaboration capabilities will be expanded to meet international needs.

Program inventory

Support for Canada’s Presence Abroad is supported by the following programs in the program inventory:

• Platform Corporate Services
• Foreign Service Directives
• Client Relations and Mission Operations
• Locally Engaged Staff Services
• Real Property Planning and Stewardship
• Real Property Project Delivery, Professional and Technical Services
• Mission Readiness and Security
• Mission Network Information Management / Information Technology

Supporting information on planned expenditures, human resources, and results related to  GAC’s program inventory is available on GC Infobase.

Internal services

Description

Internal services are the services that are provided within a department so that it can meet its corporate obligations and deliver its programs. There are 10 categories of internal services:

• management and oversight services
• communications services
• legal services
• human resources management services
• financial management services
• information management services
• information technology services
• real property management services
• materiel management services
• acquisition management services

Plans to achieve results

GAC is undertaking a multi-year organizational transformation to ensure that it is well equipped to serve Canadians in meeting the global challenges of today and the future. The department’s transformation plan aims to better deliver on its mandates in foreign affairs, trade, international assistance and consular support, including through changes to internal services. From 2023 to 2026, this transformation will be guided by the Transformation Implementation Plan, which focuses on outcomes under the five following pillars:

1. Our organizational culture: Strengthening our foundation
2. Our people: Becoming an employer of choice in Canada and abroad
3. Our global presence: Increasing our influence and engagement where it matters most
4. Our policy: Leveraging our strengths to advance Canada’s national interests
5. Our processes and tools: Building a high-performing organization

These pillars will transform how internal services are provided within the department, with the aim of creating a better work environment and improved efficiency.

Enterprise Risk Management

To better support the advancement of its priorities in 2024–25, GAC will continue to implement its Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Strategy by leveraging data and evidence to manage risk at all levels and by fostering a strong risk culture across the organization. The ERM Strategy guides departmental officials in managing risks that affect strategic plans and priorities. GAC’s Strategic Risk Landscape and the Enterprise Risk Profile identify specific pressures associated with the department’s unique mandate and geographically dispersed operations. For 2022–23 to 2023–24, the top risk areas that are being tracked and addressed by allocating more resources and attention include health and well-being related to workload and constant change; cyber security and resilience; management of real property; addressing the need for adequate healthcare services and supplementary health and safety measures at mission; and IT infrastructure. A new set of risks will be established for 2024–25 to 2025–26 in spring 2024.

Related government priorities

Planning for contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses

GAC is committed to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, as outlined in the Action Plan on Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, 2021–25. This includes a commitment to the awarding of 5% of domestic contracts to Indigenous businesses. Under the Action Plan, GAC procurement specialists will advocate for Indigenous-focused procurement and continued support for the implementation of the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business, which provides companies majority-owned by Indigenous Peoples with an opportunity to bid on government procurement contracts.

The department’s informal methodology is to compare expected domestic procurement in targeted areas to overall domestic procurement (with exceptions) to confirm that the 5% target will be met. GAC’s methodology is established through consultations with other government departments with similar Indigenous procurement targets. To help achieve this goal, the department will continue to provide the procurement community with information sessions and courses, including the course Indigenous Considerations in Procurement; to modify its internal domestic procurement business processes to include Indigenous suppliers for all traditional (invitational) tenders when possible; to have procurement officers engage on a daily basis with clients to identify new opportunities for Indigenous procurement; and to update internal communications to include means that all departmental employees can use to meet the target.

The department has identified temporary help services, informatics professional services and office furniture in the targeted areas for Indigenous set-asides and plans to continue outreach through the Federal Indigenous Business Directory, other directories and requests for information.

GAC operates around the globe and often in response to emergencies or crises. Due to the nature of international operations contracting and the urgency of responses required during an emergency or crisis, the ability to contract with Canadian Indigenous businesses in these situations is severely limited. As a result, GAC’s deputy head has approved exceptions in these circumstances.

Table 17: GAC Indigenous procurement results

Planned spending and human resources

This section provides an overview of GAC’s planned spending and human resources for the next three fiscal years and compares planned spending for 2024–25 with actual spending from previous years.

Actual spending summary for core responsibilities and internal services ($ dollars)

The following table shows information on spending for each of GAC’s core responsibilities and for its internal services for the previous three fiscal years. Amounts for the current fiscal year are forecasted based on spending to date.

Table 18: Actual spending for core responsibilities and internal services (dollars)

Table 19: Budgetary planning summary for core responsibilities and internal services (dollars)

The following table shows information on spending for each of GAC’s core responsibilities and for its internal services for the upcoming three fiscal years.

Funding

Figure 1: Departmental spending 2021–22 to 2026–27

The following graph presents planned spending (voted and statutory expenditures) over time.  

From 2023–24 to 2026–27, GAC’s spending profile varies from $8.5 billion in 2023–24 to $7.4 billion in 2026-27.

Significant items contributing to the decrease of $1.1 billion include the following:

• $430 million to help developing countries address the impact of climate change will end on March 31, 2026;
• $387 million for Canada’s international climate finance and biodiversity programs will end on March 31, 2026;
• $186.4 million for Refocusing government spending (see earlier section for details);
• $113.4 million in reduction for Duty of care initiative;
• $100 million for international assistance for global health investments will end on March 31, 2024;
• $69.9 million for Canada’s response to the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar and Bangladesh will end on March 31, 2024;
• $65.9 million for Canada’s Middle East Strategy will end on March 31, 2025;
• $28.6 million for support to addressing the crisis in Haiti will end on March 31, 2024;
• $24.5 million for the management of the Canada-U.S. softwood lumber issue will end on March 31, 2025.

These decreases are offset by an increase of the following:

• $100 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria;
• $86.3 million for compensation for collective bargaining agreements;
• $66.8 million to implement Canada’s Info-Pacific Strategy;
• $57 million contribution to the Strategic Priorities Fund ending on March 31, 2024.

Estimates by vote

Information on GAC’s organizational appropriations is available in the 2024–25 Main Estimates.

Future-oriented condensed statement of operations

The future-oriented condensed statement of operations provides an overview of GAC’s operations for 2023–24 to 2024–25.

The forecast and planned amounts in this statement of operations were prepared on an accrual basis. The forecast and planned amounts presented in other sections of the Departmental Plan were prepared on an expenditure basis. Amounts may therefore differ.

A more detailed future-oriented statement of operations and associated notes, including a reconciliation of the net cost of operations with the requested authorities, are available at GAC’s website.

Table 20: Future-oriented condensed statement of operations for the year ending March 31, 2025 (in thousands of dollars)

The increase of $847 million is mainly explained by a significant increase in funding of grants and contributions to support:

• Developing countries to address the impact of climate change;
• Canada’s International Biodiversity Program; and
• Implementing Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.

Human resources

Table 21: Actual human resources for core responsibilities and internal services

The following table shows a summary of human resources, in full-time equivalents (FTEs), for GAC’s core responsibilities and for its internal services for the previous three fiscal years. Human resources for the current fiscal year are forecasted based on year to date. 

Table 22: Human resources planning summary for core responsibilities and internal services

The following table shows information on human resources, in full-time equivalents (FTEs), for each of GAC’s core responsibilities and for its internal services planned for 2024–25 and future years.

From 2021–22 to 2026–27, GAC’s FTEs increased by 812 FTEs (6.6%) to deliver new programs and initiatives in support of the department’s mandate and priorities. The year-over-year variance in the number of FTEs is attributable to the following initiatives:

• Implementing Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy;
• Reinforcing and modernizing core consular capacity to assist Canadians abroad;
• Strengthening Canada’s diplomatic presence in Central and Eastern Europe and the Caucasus region;
• Strengthening Canada’s sanction capacity;
• Peace and Stabilisation Operations Program;
• Strengthening Canada’s capacity for a global China;
• Rapid Response Mechanism initiative;
• Administration of trade controls;
• CanExport;
• Foreign cyber operations to protect critical infrastructure;
• Participation at World Expo Osaka 2025; and
• Implementation of the Feminist International Assistance Agenda.

Corporate information

Supplementary information tables

The following supplementary information tables are available on GAC’s website:

• Details on transfer payment programs
• Gender-based analysis plus
• Horizontal initiatives
• Up front multiyear funding

Information on GAC’s departmental sustainable development strategy can be found on GAC’s website.

Federal tax expenditures

GAC’s Departmental Plan does not include information on tax expenditures.

Tax expenditures are the responsibility of the Minister of Finance. The Department of Finance Canada publishes cost estimates and projections for government wide tax expenditures each year in the Report on Federal Tax Expenditures.

This report provides detailed information on tax expenditures, including objectives, historical background and references to related federal spending programs, as well as evaluations, research papers and gender-based analysis plus.

Definitions