CANADA OPPOSES INCREASE IN IAEA BUDGET

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000441 NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/T E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2019 TAGS: PARM PREL ENRG IAEA AORC KNNP UN CA SUBJECT: CANADA OPPOSES INCREASE IN IAEA BUDGET REF: STATE 57105 Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In response to reftel demarche, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Deputy Director for International Nuclear Cooperation Shawn Caza and Senior Policy Officer Ryan Hewer told polmil officer on June 5 that current Canadian policy called for zero nominal growth in the IAEA budget. Caza observed that there was no "appetite for a change" of policy at the senior levels of the Canadian government. ¶2. (C/NF) At a follow up meeting on June 9, Hewer (protect) commented that DFAIT officials were unwilling to burn their political capital in what probably would be an unsuccessful effort to get Foreign Minister Cannon to change Canada's position. He added that senior U.S. officials would perhaps stand a better chance of convincing Canada to come around on the issue by pressing this position "at the senior political level in the G8 context." Visit Canada,s North American partnership community at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / BREESE