ARCHIVED - RPP 2006-2007
NAFTA Secretariat

• Previous Page
• Table of Contents
• Next Page

This page has been archived.

SECTION 3: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

3.1 ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION

3.1.1 OVERVIEW

• Mandate:
  • Provide administrative assistance to Panels and Committees
  • Provide assistance to the NAFTA Free Trade Commission
    (see Section 3.1.3 for details)
• Strategic Outcome:
  • A highly efficient, impartial and rules-based international trade dispute resolution process that benefits Canadian exporters to NAFTA countries, as well as NAFTA country exporters doing business in Canada
    (see Annex B for an overview of NAFTA dispute settlement provisions)
• Size:
  • 2006-2007 Planned Spending = $2,991,000
  • Number of FTEs = 12
• Role:
  • Administration of international trade dispute settlement mechanisms by providing registry services and procedural guidance as to the Rules of Procedures, Code of Conduct and conflict of interest guidelines that apply to panels of experts who hear and decide on cases brought before them
  • Collaboration with the other involved national section(s) following an appeal of a decision made by investigating authorities such as, in Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT), and government-to-government disputes involving two or three Parties
• Reporting Relationship:
  • Reports to Parliament through the Minister of International Trade
    (see Section 3.1.5 for Accountability Structure).

3.1.2 Results Chain by Strategic Outcome

3.1.3 Mandate

The mandate of the Secretariat is set out in Article 2002.3 of the North American Free Trade Agreement  (NAFTA) and reads:

The Secretariat shall:

1. provide assistance to the Commission;
2. provide administrative assistance to:
   1. panels and committees established under Chapter Nineteen  (Review and Dispute Settlement in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Matters), in accordance with the procedures established pursuant to Article 1908; and
   2. panels established under this Chapter, in accordance with procedures established pursuant to Article 2012; and
3. as the Commission may direct:
   1. support the work of other committees and groups established under this Agreement; and
   2. otherwise facilitate the operation of this Agreement.

In 1997 and then again in 2002, the Canadian Section's mandate was expanded to include the administration of the dispute settlement processes under the following trade agreements:

• the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA);
• the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA); and
• the Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement (CCRFTA).

3.1.4 Roles

In the administration of the dispute settlement provisions of the relevant Agreements, the NAFTA Secretariat, Canadian Section provides professional and advisory support to panels and committees and coordinates all panel and financial aspects of the process.

In addition to the assistance provided in support of the dispute resolution process, the Canadian Section is also involved in facilitating the operation of these agreements through the provision of information and professional services. This is achieved through initiatives such as the establishment of an Internet Web site, the maintenance of a library and reference centre, research and analysis of trade law related issues and, through collaboration with other national sections, establishment of management, policy, and procedural frameworks.

3.1.5 Responsibility Chart

For purposes of financial accountability, the reporting structure is to Parliament through the Minister of International Trade (see figure 1).

Figure: 1 The NAFTA Secretariat, Canadian Section's Organizational Structure

* Full Time Equivalent (FTE): A full time equivalent is the unit of measurement for personnel resources and refers to the employment of one person for one full year or the equivalent thereof. FTEs are not subject to Treasury Board control but are disclosed in Part III of the Estimates in support of personnel expenditure requirements.

3.2 FINANCIAL TABLES

The following tables provide a summary of the financial resources required by the NAFTA Secretariat, Canadian Section to operate. The total planned spending for the 2006-2007 fiscal year will be $2,991,000. Over the coming three years, the funding level is expected to remain stable.

Table 1: Departmental Planned Spending and Full Time Equivalents

($ thousands)	Forecast Spending 2005-2006	Planned Spending 2006-2007	Planned Spending 2007-2008	Planned Spending 2008-2009
Administration of International Trade Dispute Settlement Mechanisms	$ 2,956	$ 2,991	$ 2,991	$ 2,991
Budgetary Main Estimates (gross)	2,956	2,991	2,991	2,991
Non-Budgetary Main Estimates (gross)	0	0	0	0
Less: Respendable revenue	0	0	0	0
Total Main Estimates	2,956	2,991	2,991	2,991
Adjustments:
Governor General Special Warrant1	42	0	0	0
Total Adjustments	42	0	0	0
Total Planned Spending	2,998	2,991	2,991	2,991
Planned Spending	2,998	2,991	2,991	2,991
Less: Non-Respendable revenue	(207)	(241)	(241)	(241)
Plus: Cost of services received without charge	207	241	241	241
Net cost of Program	2,998	2,991	2,991	2,991
Full Time Equivalents	12	12	12	12

¹ Represents the amount granted by the Treasury Board ministers to the Council of the Network of Departmental Official Languages Champions which is not affiliated to the NAFTA Secretariat, Canadian Section. The NAFTA Secretariat acts as a host organisation for the Council of the Network Secretariat and as the financial responsibility centre for this Council.

Table 2: Program by Activity

($ thousands)	2006-2007
	Budgetary
Program Activity	Operating	Gross	Revenue	Net	Total Main Estimates	Total Planned Spending
Administration of International Trade Dispute Settlement Mechanisms	2,991	2,991	0	2,991	2,991	2,991
Total	2,991	2,991	0	2,991	2,991	2,991

Table 3: Voted and Statutory Items Listed in Main Estimates

2006-2007 ($ thousands)
Vote or Statutory Item	Truncated Vote or Statutory Wording	Current Main Estimates	Previous Main Estimates
65	Program Expenditures	2,789	2,750
(S)	Contributions to employee benefit plans	202	206
	Total Department or Agency	2,991	2,956

Table 4: Services Received Without Charge

($ thousands)	Administration of International Trade Dispute Settlement Mechanisms	Total
Accommodation provided by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC)	161	161
Contributions covering employers' share of employees' insurance premiums and expenditures paid by Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (excluding revolving funds) Employer's contribution to employee's insured benefits plans and expenditures paid by TBS	80	80
2006-2007 Services received without charge	241	241

Table 5: Summary of Capital Spending by Program Activity

($ thousands)	Forecast Spending 2005-2006	Planned Spending 2006-2007	Planned Spending 2007-2008	Planned Spending 2008-2009
Administration of International Trade Dispute Settlement Mechanisms	2,998	2,991	2,991	2,991
Total	2,998	2,991	2,991	2,991

Table 6: Sources of Non-Respendable Revenue

($ thousands)	Forecast Revenue 2005-2006	Planned Revenue 2006-2007	Planned Revenue 2007-2008	Planned Revenue 2008-2009
Administration of International Trade Dispute Settlement Mechanisms	207	241	241	241
Total Non-Respendable Revenue	207	241	241	241

Table 7: Resource Requirement by Branch or Sector

($ thousands)	Administration of International Trade Dispute Settlement Mechanisms Full-time equivalent	Total Planned Spending
Corporate	3	1,220
Financial Services	1	110
Information Technology	1	210
Registry Services	7	1,451
Total	12	2,991

• Previous Page
• Table of Contents
• Next Page