For any change we make in this regard, we would want to be fair and balanced. The single biggest resource of the department is our people, our expertise. We have a lot of hardworking, brilliant people, and they do their best when they are working abroad representing Canada, Canadian values, and Canadian interests. I'm confident that in the expenditure reduction exercise we will continue to fulfill our mandate. No final decisions have been made, so I can't speak to specifics.
On December 1st, 2011. See this statement in context.