Gun violence and health insurance woes scare off Canadian diplomats, union says

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OTTAWA — The union that represents Canadian diplomats overseas says International Affairs Canada ought to think about boosting compensation for these posted to america as a result of they face elevated danger of gun crime and issue accessing well being care.

Pamela Isfeld, head of the Skilled Affiliation of International Service Officers, prompt that Ottawa’s value determinations of safety threats aren’t as strong for the U.S. as they’re for different nations.

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“When you have been speaking a few put up in Africa the place you had had half a dozen lockdowns due to lively shooters within the final 12 months, that will go into the safety evaluation of that put up,” she mentioned

Isfeld mentioned International Affairs Canada has confronted “main issues” getting individuals to serve south of the border, and he or she says the division is chalking this as much as the concept diplomats may need extra unique postings.

That’s a misunderstanding of the state of affairs, Isfeld mentioned, noting the federal authorities typically emphasizes the significance of the Canada-U.S. relationship and the need of getting prime performers on diplomatic missions there.

“And but there’s little or no assist,” she mentioned.

International Affairs Canada didn’t present a response when requested early final week whether or not it has issue filling these postings or wished to deal with Isfeld’s feedback.

Canadian diplomats are posted to the embassy in Washington, D.C., together with consulates and commerce places of work unfold throughout 15 different cities, from Boston to Los Angeles and Minneapolis to Houston.

Isfeld mentioned the alleged shortfall in staffing U.S. missions comes partly because of compensation that doesn’t mirror the dangers and inconveniences of residing in America.

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Throughout an look on the Canadian International Affairs Institute’s International Trade podcast earlier this month, she mentioned one diplomat presently posted at a U.S. mission is attempting to get transferred out as a result of the unnamed metropolis’s police division is underfunded and crime is spiraling.

“There was all types of lockdowns and evacuations within the workplace. The individual says they’ve personally witnessed 5 shootings, and but no person will take a look at hardship ranges or incentive packages, and even enhanced safety budgets for these missions to take care of that,” Isfeld mentioned within the episode.

In a latest interview with The Canadian Press, Isfeld mentioned American postings actually have benefits for workers, equivalent to proximity to their Canadian kinfolk and an settlement that enables spouses of diplomats to work within the U.S. — in contrast to in lots of different nations.

However she mentioned issues of safety are an growing concern for diplomats and public servants from different federal departments taking over U.S. postings.

Isfeld mentioned there’s a pattern during which Ottawa is sending extra employees from different Canadian authorities departments to the U.S. as a result of not sufficient foreign-service officers are prepared to go. She mentioned there hasn’t been any formal knowledge evaluation on the matter.

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One individual left an American posting early a number of years in the past, Isfeld mentioned, as a result of there had been a faculty capturing close by and their baby was scared to attend class.

As well as, International Affairs Canada has had a rocky transition to a brand new health-insurance supplier, and diplomats have reported delays in getting responses to claims and questions whereas overseas.

Isfeld mentioned that poses a specific drawback within the U.S., the place there may be nearly no public well being care and suppliers typically withhold remedy till an insurance coverage fee is sorted out.

Different nations, she mentioned, typically have a publicly funded plan that diplomats can fall again on, or will supply major medical companies earlier than checking out the billing.

She cited two latest circumstances during which both a Canadian posted within the U.S. or certainly one of their kinfolk in that nation skilled issues accessing medical care.

One “had a coronary heart assault and was delayed within the emergency room as a result of they may not get the data that they wanted from the insurance coverage supplier,” she mentioned. One other needed to delay most cancers remedy due to the same difficulty.

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“That form of factor simply shouldn’t be taking place. And folks hear these tales and so they don’t wish to go (to the U.S.),” Isfeld mentioned.

“All of it form of provides up.”

Isfeld famous that it might be “very politically incendiary” for Canada to formally title an American metropolis as a hardship posting.

That’s a label normally solely utilized to postings in creating nations the place there are excessive charges of crime, woeful infrastructure or rampant illness.

Former Canadian diplomat Roy Norton pushed again on Isfeld’s feedback.

He mentioned the division ought to rectify points in its insurance coverage protection, however it doesn’t owe diplomats further pay for working in a rustic the place Canadians frequently take holidays.

“The implication or inference that we’d should deal with america as successfully a hardship set of postings, and compensate in a corresponding style, strikes me as nearly ridiculous,” he mentioned.

Norton was posted in Washington, Detroit and Chicago earlier than taking up the position of protocol chief, a senior job that features overseeing the safety of international diplomatic missions inside Canada.

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Now a College of Waterloo professor, Norton mentioned postings within the U.S. are distinctive in that the job overwhelmingly entails partaking with civil society and enterprise leaders, as a substitute of simply “officialdom” within the nationwide capital.

Canadian envoys to the U.S. are positioned in the same tradition and have entry to varsities that may train the kids of diplomats a curriculum just like that of many provinces.

Norton mentioned the division might face “appreciable” public pushback if it did enhance compensation packages for American postings, on condition that the Trudeau authorities is attempting to open new embassies in additional nations whereas slicing again the division’s finances.

In actual fact, he mentioned that International Affairs ought to think about increasing guidelines that require sure varieties of diplomats to do a hardship posting early of their profession, and complement that with a posting at an American mission as effectively, given the significance of the U.S. to Canadian pursuits.

“However I acknowledge that it’s not all people’s cup of tea,” he mentioned.

“Lots of people don’t be part of International Affairs Canada to be posted someplace that you could possibly drive to.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 21, 2024.

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