Evidence of meeting #52 for Status of Women in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was employees.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Inspector General and Chief Audit Executive, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
They're the same five values set by Treasury Board. We have respect, stewardship—please, help me out—democratic values, and so on.
Director, Values and Ethics, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Yes.
Inspector General and Chief Audit Executive, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
As Pat was explaining, we've tailored this to the department's reality. This is the values and ethics code book with the code of conduct for DFAIT abroad. We could leave that with the committee. The deputy minister launched this on October 31, about three weeks ago.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
That's wonderful.
In one of your responses—this is where we can pony on to somebody else's question and get more value out of it—you said that up to 2,000 people had been trained in the prevention of harassment and in respect in the workplace over the last several years. Is that right?
Director, Values and Ethics, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Actually since 2005, on average 2,000 people a year have received some form of training, either in prevention, in sensitization, or in what their rights are. That has been at headquarters, across Canada, and abroad.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
That involved everyone.
There have been 2,000 a year since 2005. How many employees does DFAIT have in total?
Director, Values and Ethics, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
We have roughly 10,000.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
You have 10,000. Therefore, you have reached everyone and then some.
Director, Values and Ethics, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Well, we have quite a rotation as well. I think the approach has evolved since 2005, and the focus is now probably far more on prevention and sensitization to appropriate behaviours and respect in the workplace. It's not that it didn't exist before, but I think it has been far more focused in the last few years.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
Yes, and the leadership has cemented the value of that respect.
Director, Values and Ethics, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Absolutely. We're very lucky in our department. The leadership is very clear on this issue.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
And that is always a must.
That's wonderful.
Is my time up, Madam Chair?
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
Oh, I still have 30 seconds.
You mentioned earlier that diversity is the key to success and that it's one of our strengths. Could you expand on that briefly?
Director, Values and Ethics, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
That's a big one.
Diversity is found across the country. It practically defines Canada.
November 29th, 2012 / 10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Director, Values and Ethics, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Certainly with us, I could say as a department writ large, it informs a lot of the policy that will develop. Certainly we learn from different cultures and from people serving abroad. I think that's a huge benefit. One of the things they treasure the most about their service abroad is that they can absorb—
NDP
The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin
Unfortunately, I have to stop you there. It is unfortunate because it was really interesting.
NDP
The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin
Thank you, Madam Bateman.
That brings us to the end of our meeting today. I am sure that people would have liked to ask more questions. There is never enough time.
My heartfelt thanks to the witnesses for joining us today. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Hon. members of the committee, I just want to give you a heads-up that, today or tomorrow this week, you are probably going to receive the RCMP report that you have been waiting for. As for the documents that were requested during the meeting, our clerk is going to forward them to you. Thank you.
Meeting adjourned.