CETA Envoy Mandate Letter

Original signed version (PDF version)

Dear Mr. Pettigrew:

The Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is a top priority for the Government of Canada. Canada and the EU are committed to CETA’s implementation as soon as possible. Signature of CETA is currently planned for October 27, 2016, at a Canada-EU Summit in Brussels. Following signature, CETA will move to the Canadian and European parliaments for ratification. Provisional application of the agreement is foreseen for early 2017. Strategies have been developed to ensure that Canada can deliver a broad range of promotion and advocacy initiatives to support the timely ratification of this important agreement. 

Global Affairs Canada would be pleased to have you take on the role of a CETA Envoy. Your extensive experience and expertise in the fields of international trade and foreign affairs would be an invaluable asset to support the promotion and timely implementation of CETA both in Canada and in the EU, as well as the aftercare of the agreement.

The attached Terms of Reference include additional information regarding your proposed involvement, the scope of the work, and other pertinent information. Should you accept, please check the appropriate option below.

_X__I accept              ­­___I do not accept

 

Name:  Pierre S. Pettigrew

Signature:

Date:

Sincerely,

 

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P.

Enclosures

c.c. 

Director
Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Secretariat
Global Affairs Canada

Terms of Reference

Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Envoy

Areas of Responsibility

Serving as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) Envoy, you will be expected to support ratification, promote CETA in both Canada and the European Union (EU), and support the agreement’s aftercare efforts. 

Objectives of Work

The Envoy will undertake activities to support the promotion and timely implementation of CETA, as well as the aftercare of the agreement. This would include engaging with a range of senior officials and provinces and territories, in Canada and in Europe.

Time Frame

The timeframe for undertaking the work will be one year from the date of the signing of the agreement, inclusive, with a possibility of extension. 

Resource Requirements

Neither the Envoy nor any of his/her personnel is engaged by this agreement as an employee, servant or agent of Her Majesty. To the extent applicable, the Envoy agrees to be solely responsible for any and all statutory payments and/or deductions that may be required.

No compensation will be paid and the only consideration for services rendered will be reimbursement for travel, accommodations and incidental expenses that are incurred in fulfilling this agreement. These expenses will be reimbursed to you in accordance with the rates and conditions that are specified in the Special Travel Authorities, up to a maximum of $90,000.00 (including applicable taxes) and upon presentation of actual receipts as required. Please visit the Travel Directive at the following address for further information: www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pubs_pol/hrpubs/tbm_113/td-dv-eng.asp.

Non-disclosure

Please see Annex 1 and sign accordingly.

Conflict of Interest

Please refer to Annex 2.

Background

The creation of the position of the CETA Envoy was first considered in January 2016 to assist with promotion and aftercare of the agreement. CETA signature is currently planned for October 27, 2016, during a Canada-EU Summit in Brussels. Following signature, CETA moves to the Canadian and European parliaments. Provisional application of the agreement is foreseen for early 2017, following parliamentary ratification. The Envoy will have the opportunity to reach out to support ratification, promote the agreement in both Canada and the EU, and support the agreement aftercare efforts.

ANNEX 1 - Acknowledgement and Undertaking not to disclose in the matter of:

Information in any form relating to the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

I Pierre Pettigrew (name, title/organization), of the City of Toronto in the Province of Ontario, ACKNOWLEDGE that I will be provided in confidence with correspondence, documents, materials, and other information relating to the work of Global Affairs Canada, including advocacy and promotion strategies, draft policy papers, draft legislation, formal written briefing material, and verbal discussions (the “Confidential Information”) by officials of Global Affairs Canada for the purpose of fulfilling my role of CETA Envoy, and that all Confidential Information made available to me is non-public, confidential in nature and shall remain at all times the property of Global Affairs Canada. 

I undertake to observe the following requirements and restrictions with respect to the Confidential Information except such of it that becomes publicly available, other than through a violation of this Undertaking or disclosure by another person subject to similar restrictions:

1. Under no circumstances will I release or communicate the contents of the Confidential Information to any other person (except as may be required by statute or order of a court) or use the Confidential Information in any way for any purpose other than the purpose for which it is provided to me. I undertake not to take the Confidential Information, in any format, outside of Canada;
2. I have read and will observe all prohibitions and security measures required by section 4 of the Security of Information Act (http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/O-5/) and any further instructions as the Minister of International Trade or the representatives of the Minister may, from time to time, give in respect of the Confidential Information;
3. I undertake not to copy or reproduce the Confidential Information without express permission;
4. Any copies made of, notes taken from or summaries of the Confidential Information (whether written or in electronic form) shall be considered part of the Confidential Information and are subject to the same restrictions as the Confidential Information;
5. When requested, I undertake to return forthwith to Global Affairs Canada any Confidential Information in my possession or control.

ANNEX 2 - Conflict of Interest Guidelines

Recognizing that the activities of the position will be ad hoc and undertaken as required by the Minister of International Trade, it is understood that the CETA Envoy will continue with his current associations with companies that do business with the government or that may be impacted by government action, provided that such associations do not give rise to conflict of interest concerns as discussed below. 

The CETA Envoy is reminded that he should avoid any real, apparent or perceived conflict of interest. The CETA Envoy should act with honesty and in the public interest only, and uphold the highest ethical standards so that public confidence and trust in the integrity, objectivity and impartiality of government are conserved. In doing so, the CETA Envoy should seek guidance by referring to the spirit and principles embedded in the Conflict of Interest Act. The following are examples of conflict of interest situations: 

• Tailoring or structuring your activities so as to lead to direct benefits to, in other than a de minimis way, an organization of which you are a member or have the authority to direct its decisions or activities; or 
• Failing to recuse yourself from any discussion on any matter in respect of which you knowingly or reasonably should know that you would be in a real, apparent or perceived conflict of interest. 
• Knowingly taking advantage of, or benefiting from information that is obtained in your position as CETA Envoy and that is not available to the public to further or seek to further your private interests or those of your relatives or friends or to improperly further or to seek to improperly further another person’s private interests. (Furthering private interest means: increasing assets or reducing liabilities; acquiring a financial interest; increasing income; becoming a director, officer or partner. Furthering a private interest does not occur when the matter is: of general application; and affects the member or other person as one of a broad class of persons.) 
• Using your position as CETA Envoy to seek to influence a decision of another person so as to further your private interests or those of your relatives or friends or to improperly further another person’s private interests. 
• Accepting any gift that has a value of $200 or more or other advantage, including from a trust, that might reasonably be seen to have been given to influence you in the exercise of your duties as CETA Envoy.