ARCHIVED - RPP 2007-2008
NAFTA Secretariat

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SECTION 3: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

3.1  How We Are Organized

Each national section of the NAFTA Secretariat maintains a court-like registry relating to panel and committee proceedings.  The involved national sections provide joint administration of panel and committee proceedings and share equally all expenses related to such proceedings.  As a result, the national sections have harmonized their registry operations and records management practices.  Further, the three national sections have jointly developed and administer the Integrated Registry Information System and the NAFTA Trilateral website, which are hosted by the Canadian Section.  In light of this, the Canadian Section’s relationship with its counterpart sections in the United States and Mexico is fundamental to its effective performance.

3.2  Roles

In the administration of the dispute settlement provisions of the relevant free trade agreements (see ANNEX A for details), the NAFTA Secretariat, Canadian Section, provides professional and advisory support to panels and committees and coordinates all panel and financial aspects of the process.

In addition to the assistance provided in support of the dispute resolution process, the Canadian Section is also involved in facilitating the operation of these agreements through the provision of information and professional services.  This is achieved through initiatives such as the establishment of an Internet Web site, the maintenance of a library and reference centre, research and analysis of trade related issues and, through collaboration with other national sections, establishment of management, policy, and procedural frameworks.

3.3  Responsibility Chart

The NAFTA Secretariat, Canadian Section, has one program and one business line.  For financial purposes accountability, the reporting structure is to Parliament through the Minister of International Trade (see figure 1).

Figure: 1 - The NAFTA Secretariat, Canadian Section’s Organizational Structure

* Full Time Equivalent (FTE):  A full time equivalent is the unit of measurement for personnel resources and refers to the employment of one person for one full year or the equivalent thereof.  FTEs are not subject to Treasury Board control but are disclosed in Part III of the Estimates in support of personnel expenditure requirements.

3.4  Organization Link to Government of Canada’s Outcome Areas

One of the fundamental features of the NAFTA is its efficient trade dispute settlement processes.  These processes provide critical stability and transparency for Canadian business and investors as they continue to seek new opportunities and secure market access abroad.  Canadian businesses can export their products with the knowledge that rules exist to ensure traded products are treated fairly and that procedures are in place to settle disputes impartially on the rare occasions when they occur.  Hence, the program activity and strategic outcome of the NAFTA Secretariat contributes to the achievement of the Government of Canada’s “A Strong and Mutually Beneficial North American Partnership” outcome area.

Table 4 provides a linkage between the NAFTA Secretariat’s strategic outcome and its corresponding program activity to the “Whole of Government Framework”.

Table 4:  Departmental alignment of Strategic Outcome and Program Activity to Government of Canada’s Outcome Areas

WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT FRAMEWORK
Government of Canada’s Policy areas	Government of Canada’s Outcome Areas	NAFTA Secretariat’s Strategic Outcome	NAFTA Secretariat’s Program Activity
International Affairs	A Strong and Mutually Beneficial North American Partnership	A highly efficient, impartial and rules-based international trade dispute resolution process that benefits Canadian exporters to NAFTA countries, as well as NAFTA country exporters doing business in Canada	Administration of International Dispute Settlement Mechanisms

3.5  FINANCIAL TABLES

The following tables 1 – 5 provide a summary of the financial resources required by the NAFTA Secretariat, Canadian Section to operate.  The total planned spending for the 2007-2008 fiscal year will be $3,001,000.  Over the coming three years, the funding level is expected to remain stable.

Table 1: Departmental Planned Spending and Full Time Equivalents

($ thousands)	Forecast Spending 2006-2007	Planned Spending 2007-2008	Planned Spending 2008-2009	Planned Spending 2009-2010
Administration of International Trade Dispute Settlement Mechanisms	$ 2,991	$ 3,001	$ 3,001	$ 3,001
Budgetary Main Estimates (gross)	2,991	3,001	3,001	3,001
Non-Budgetary Main Estimates (gross)	0	0	0	0
Less: Respendable revenue	0	0	0	0
Total Main Estimates	2,991	3,001	3,001	3,001
Adjustment: Treasury Board  Vote 15	13	0	0	0
Total Adjustment	13	0	0	0
Total Planned Spending	3,004	3,001	3,001	3,001
Total Planned Spending	3,004	3,001	3,001	3,001
Less: Non-Respendablerevenue	0	0	0	0
Plus: Cost of services received without charge	241	236	236	236
Total Departmental Spending	3,245	3,237	3,237	3,237
Full Time Equivalents	13	13	13	13

Table 2:  Voted and Statutory Items Listed in Main Estimates

2007-2008 ($ thousands)
Vote or Statutory Item	Truncated Vote or Statutory Wording	2007-2008 Main Estimates	2006-2007 Main Estimates
55	Program Expenditures	2,802	2,802
(S)	Contributions to employee benefit plans	199	202
	Total	3,001	3,004

Table 3: Services Received Without Charge

($ thousands)	Administration of International Trade Dispute Settlement Mechanisms	Total
Accommodation provided by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC)	161	161
Contributions covering employers' share of employees’ insurance premiums and expenditures paid by Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (excluding revolving funds)	75	75
Total 2007-2008 Services received without charge	236	236

Table 4: Summary of Capital Spending by Program Activity

($ thousands)	Forecast Spending 2006-2007	Planned Spending 2007-2008	Planned Spending 2008-2009	Planned Spending 2009-2010
Administration of International Trade Dispute Settlement Mechanisms	3,004	3,001	3,001	3,001
Total	3,004	3,001	3,001	3,001

Table 5: Resource Requirement by Branch or Sector

($ thousands)	Administration of International Trade Dispute Settlement Mechanisms Full-time equivalent	Total Planned Spending
Corporate	5	1,220
Financial Services	1	120
Information Technology	1	210
Registry Services	6	1,451
Total	13	3,001

 

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