Mr. Martin Fraser:

That is probably a matter that is better answered by people in the Department of Foreign Affairs. One can get into the Civil Service, including the Department of Foreign Affairs, at every level. In most Departments, one can do that all the way up to Secretary General and in most other Departments, at least up to assistant secretary level. There are opportunities. I am aware of people who had applied for jobs from outside of the Department of Foreign Affairs at a senior level who have probably got them and who will then end up being appointed as ambassadors.

The process for assigning heads of mission posts in the Department of Foreign Affairs is a very complex one which the Secretary General in the Department of Foreign Affairs carries out, not me. I was involved in this one but I am not generally involved. In fact the Chairman of the committee, as a former Minister, probably knows far more about this matter than I do.

Returning to the Deputy’s point, there are good people outside of the Civil Service and they can apply to come in at the level described. I believe I am correct in saying that our ambassadors have three or four grade levels, depending on the size of the mission and it is very possible for people to enter the Civil Service and the Department of Foreign Affairs at any of those levels. While perhaps one will not be appointed as a head of mission on one’s first day, one certainly can become a head of mission quite soon thereafter. That talent pool is in fact available to the Department.