Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08OTTAWA241
2008-02-19 13:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:  

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE WORK AT MISSION CANADA:

Tags:  ENRG SENV APER ABUD CA 
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VZCZCXRO1323
RR RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHQU RUEHVC
DE RUEHOT #0241/01 0501305
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191305Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7318
INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 OTTAWA 000241 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EB/ESC, OES, AND WHA/CAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG SENV APER ABUD CA
SUBJECT: ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE WORK AT MISSION CANADA:
INPUT FOR REPORTS TO CONGRESS

REF: STATE 10743

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 OTTAWA 000241

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EB/ESC, OES, AND WHA/CAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG SENV APER ABUD CA
SUBJECT: ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE WORK AT MISSION CANADA:
INPUT FOR REPORTS TO CONGRESS

REF: STATE 10743


1. Befitting U.S. representation in Canada, with which we
have the globe's largest bilateral energy relationship, every
post in Mission Canada devotes significant resources to
energy matters. The Ambassador regularly speaks to Canadian
audiences about climate change and the importance of our
energy relationship, fields questions on energy matters
during interviews, and meets with industry executives and
government energy policy makers. The principal officers in
our seven constituent posts address energy and climate issues
in public speaking engagements and are involved in energy
matters with provincial governments, which play a major role
in energy policy in Canada. In recent years, energy and
climate change have become fixtures in our IVP and speaker
programs. And Mission Canada posts host a range of senior
U.S. government officials and congressional representatives
visiting Canada for policy discussions and to see first hand
the Canadian energy picture, from getting the resources out
of the ground to developing the technologies that allow our
integrated energy industries to serve the energy demands of
our economies more efficiently and with less cost to the
environment.


2. This message provides information requested reftel on
where in Mission Canada posts energy and climate issues are
managed, and the resources our posts devote to managing these
issues. Amounts for "personnel costs" are direct salary
costs only.


3. Embassy Ottawa
--------------

A. For the most part, the Environment, Science and
Technology, and Health (ESTH) Section handles energy and
climate change matters, with support from Public Affairs.
The executive office (Ambassador and DCM) conducts outreach
on energy and climate matters, and the Economic
Minister-Counselor provides guidance. ESTH has two FSOs.
Two LES Economic Specialists are shared with the Economic
Section. The Public Affairs Section supports a range of
energy related programming (particularly speaker and IV
programs) and press work.


B. Econ Minister-Counselor: 5 percent.
ESTH Counselor: 60 percent.
LES Economic Specialist: 20 percent.

LES Economic/Environment Specialist: 25 percent
Public Affairs Officers and staff (11 persons): 5 percent
each.


C. The ESTH Counselor is primary action officer for all
energy and climate change issues. His duties include meeting
with government officials (largely at the federal level),
industry associations, company executives, and NGOs across
the range of energy and climate issues, to encompass oil and
gas, electricity, renewables and civilian nuclear energy.
The ESTH Counselor reports on climate and energy policy and
commercial developments in Canada and represents U.S. policy
interests to the Canadian government. He also makes
arrangements for and supports energy and climate components
of visits to Ottawa of U.S. government officials and
congressional representatives. The ESTH Counselor completed
FSI's oil and gas industry training, and has served three
assignments focusing solely on energy issues in the
Department and overseas. LES staff maintain contacts with
industry and government. PA officers and staff are involved
in planning and executing speaker and IV programs and in
responding to press inquiries on energy issues.


D. Personnel Costs: $170,690.
Program Costs: $56,600. (This figure is for IV and speaker
programs and represents a significant portion of funds
available to the Public Affairs Section for these activities.
Energy and climate IVs, for example, used 34 percent of
Q Energy and climate IVs, for example, used 34 percent of
Mission Canada's IV budget for FY07.)


4. Vancouver
--------------

A. The Political/Economic Section normally handles energy
matters, though the Consul General and Public Affairs Section
also contribute. The Political/Economic Section currently is
staffed by two officers but will be reduced to one officer in
summer 2008. The Public Affairs section provides support.


B. Consul General: 5 percent.
Pol/Econ Chief: 5 percent.
Pol/Econ Officer: 10 percent.
Public Affairs Officer and staff (2): 5 percent each.


C. The Consul General gives speeches and engages in

OTTAWA 00000241 002 OF 003


representational work on energy issues. The Pol/Econ Chief
follows environmental issues with a special focus on climate
change and non-fossil fuels. She has contact with natural
gas and wind/wave energy industries as well as British
Columbia's (BC) Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum
Resources, and BC Climate Change Secretariat. The Pol/Econ
Officer maintains contacts with BC's Ministry of Energy,
Mines, and Petroleum Resources, and BC Hydro. The Pol/Econ
Officer follows and reports on a variety of mining (coal,
natural gas) and alternative energy developments.


D. Personnel Costs: $28,540.
Program Costs: zero.


5. Calgary
--------------

A. While the bulk of the Consulate General's energy and
climate work is accomplished in the policy sections
(executive, economic, political and public diplomacy) nearly
all Consulate General personnel, including in the consular
section, have work touching on energy issues and have contact
with energy industry representatives.


B. Consul General: 33 percent.
Deputy Principal Officer (Pol/Econ Officer): 33 percent.
LES OMS: 33 percent.
LES Pol/Econ Specialist: 66 percent.
LES PA Specialist: 10 percent.
Consul: 25 percent.
Vice Consul: 25 percent.
3 LES Consular visa staff: 25 percent each.
LES Consular receptionist: 20 percent.
4 LES Consular citizen's service staff: 10 percent each.


C. The Consul General works with the Canadian, Alberta and
U.S. governments on energy policy, and maintains contacts
with industry and academia on energy issues through public
speaking and formal dialogues. The Consul General previously
served as energy officer at Embassies Ottawa and Moscow. The
Deputy Principal Officer reports on Canadian and Alberta
energy policies, and maintains contacts with industry and
academia through public speaking and formal dialogues. The
LES OMS supports contacts with government and industry. The
LES Pol/Econ Specialist reports on Canadian and Alberta
energy policies and maintains contacts with industry. She
has been working energy issues at the Consulate for 20 years,
has taken several FSI energy training courses, and was
selected WHA's FSN of the year in 2003 based on her energy
work. The LES PA Specialist maintains contacts with industry
and supports the PA aspects of visiting energy delegations.
The Consular officers and eight Consular LES staff maintain
contacts with industry on visa and citizen's services issues.


D. Personnel Costs: $261,350.
Program Costs: zero.


6. Winnipeg
--------------

A. Winnepeg is an APP post. The Consul and the LES Pol/Econ
Specialist handle all substantive work at post, including all
energy and climate work.


B. Consul (Principal Officer): 5 percent.
LES Pol/Econ Specialist: 10 percent.


C. Both maintain contacts with government officials and
company executives on energy matters, which in Manitoba
usually have a national dimension. Consul provides policy
guidance, and Pol/Econ Specialist takes the lead in actually
following and reporting on developments.


D. Personnel Costs: $12,990.
Program Costs: zero.


7. Toronto
--------------

A. The Pol/Econ Section handles energy issues, with support
from the Consul General and Public Affairs Section. Pol/Econ
has three staff members (two FSOs and one LES).


B. Consul General: 5 per cent.
Pol/Econ Chief: 10 percent.
Public Affairs Officer and staff (2): 10 percent each.


C. Both the Consul General and Pol/Econ Chief meet with
government officials and company executives; additionally the
Pol/Econ chief meets with NGOs and drafts reporting on energy
QPol/Econ chief meets with NGOs and drafts reporting on energy
issues. The Public Affairs Section provides press support
and manages speaker and IV programs on energy matters. The
Pol/Econ Chief has taken FSI's coal and power training course.

OTTAWA 00000241 003 OF 003




D. Personnel Costs: $38,620.
Program Costs: zero.


8. Montreal
--------------

A. The Econ/Pol Section handles energy matters, though the
Consul General and Public Affairs Officer are also directly
involved from time to time.


B. Econ/Pol Officer: 20 percent.
Public Affairs Officer and staff (2): 10 percent each.


C. Econ/Pol Officer reports on and maintains official and
private sector contacts within the energy sector, including
Quebec's electricity industry, and gas and petroleum sectors.
The Public Affairs Section works regularly on energy issues,
including arranging speaking engagements on energy, setting
up DVCs and other events with energy contacts, and arranging
IVLPs. Both Econ/Pol and Public Affairs Sections support
delegations and other energy and climate-focused U.S.
government visitors.


D. Personnel Costs: $33,045.
Program Costs: $1,820.


9. Quebec City
--------------

A. The Consul General handles energy and climate matters,
with the assistance of LES staff.


B. Consul General: 10 percent.
LES Specialist: 10 percent.
LES Specialist: 10 percent.


C. All three maintain contacts with government officials and
private sector executives and report on developments in the
energy sector.


D. Personnel Costs: $24,010.
Program Costs: zero.


10. Halifax
--------------

A. The Consul General and an LES Pol/Econ Specialist handle
energy and climate issues with the support of an LES Public
Affairs Representative.


B. Consul General: 10 percent.
LES Pol/Econ Specialist: 20 percent.
LES Public Affairs Representative: 15 percent.


C. The Consul General develops and maintains contacts with
senior industry and provincial government officials
(including at the political level),directs the work of the
POL/ECON Specialist who draws on working level contacts to
prepare reports on offshore energy exploration and
production, sustainable energy developments (including wind
and tidal power),and nuclear power. The Public Affairs
Representative arranges speaking programs and DVCs in the
district for U.S. energy experts and arranges IVP programs in
the U.S. for energy officials from the district. The Consul
General earlier served as Embassy Ottawa's energy officer,
and the POL/ECON Specialist has been handling energy issues
at the consulate for 25 years. Both completed FSI's oil and
gas industry course.


D. Personnel Costs: $32,995.
Program Costs: zero.


Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada

WILKINS