Thank you very much, Mr. Chair and honourable members.
We have a brief statement and then we'll be happy to take your questions.
On March 21, as part of Canada's economic action plan 2013, the government announced that it would amalgamate the Canadian International Development Agency and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to create a new department that will deliver enhanced alignment of our foreign, development, trade, and commercial policies and programs. Along with my colleagues from DFAIT and CIDA, I'm pleased to be here with you this morning to study this proposed legislation which, upon receiving royal assent, would create the new Department of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Development.
It's important to note that this legislation is only the first step in the amalgamation process started by budget 2013. While the legislation makes its way through both chambers, planning is under way on how best to bring together the corporate functions of the two departments without any interruption to business continuity. Indeed, officials from both DFAIT and CIDA are working diligently to ensure that all the required legal, administrative, and financial requirements for the new department are in place in accordance with Treasury Board regulations, when Bill C-60 receives royal assent. While this will not be an overnight process by any means, we will be prepared to hit the ground running.
As outlined in budget 2013, international development, poverty alleviation, and humanitarian assistance will remain central to Canada's foreign policy. Indeed, they will be a core function of the new department and will result in greater overall impact of our efforts.
Poverty alleviation through development assistance and the provision of humanitarian assistance in times of crises are a tangible expression of Canadian values, which the government will continue to advance on the world stage. As we move forward, both the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of International Cooperation, as is now the case, will play a key role in providing oversight and direction in the planning for and implementation of the new department, with the deputy ministers overseeing the day-to-day aspects of the amalgamation.
To help give shape to the new organization and to ensure this process unfolds as seamlessly and effectively as possible, a dedicated transition team will be put in place to work closely with and provide key guidance to all involved. We hope to have more to say on that in due course.
I will conclude my remarks, though, by indicating that while it will take some months to organize the core functions of the new department and maximize policy coherence and synergies, I can assure members of the committee that we remain committed to ensuring that this process is as seamless as possible, both for employees, and for our operations at home and abroad. Indeed, lessons learned and best practices from previous amalgamations of Canadian departments and from the experience of other countries are being considered. External stakeholders and staff will be consulted along the way. Throughout the transition, we will continue to take advantage of any opportunities to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of programs and operations.
Mr. Chair, I will now turn the floor to my colleague, Vincent Rigby, whom you've introduced as the vice-president of strategic policy and performance at the Canadian International Development Agency, to speak in more detail about the proposed legislation's impact on CIDA.
Mr. Rigby.