Vol. 149, No. 8 — April 22, 2015

Registration

SOR/2015-80 April 1, 2015

FOREIGN MISSIONS AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ACT

Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting 2015 — Privileges and Immunities Order

P.C. 2015-404 April 1, 2015

His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, pursuant to paragraph 5(1)(c) (see footnote a) of the Foreign Missions and International Organizations Act (see footnote b), makes the annexed Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting 2015 — Privileges and Immunities Order.

ARCTIC COUNCIL MINISTERIAL MEETING 2015 — PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES ORDER

INTERPRETATION

1. In this Order, “Meeting” means the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting to be held in Iqaluit, Nunavut on April 24 and 25, 2015.

PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

2. On April 24 and 25, 2015, representatives of foreign states that participate in the Meeting are to have in Canada, to the extent required for the exercise of their functions in Canada in relation to the Meeting, the privileges and immunities set out in sections 11(b) and (e) and sections 14 to 16 of Article IV of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations set out in Schedule III to the Foreign Missions and International Organizations Act.

COMING INTO FORCE

3. This Order comes into force on the day on which it is registered.

REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT

(This statement is not part of the Order.)

Background

The Arctic Council is the leading forum for international cooperation in the Arctic region and works to promote the environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainable development in the Arctic. It was established in Ottawa in 1996 by the Declaration on the Establishment of the Arctic Council. In May 2013, Canada assumed the chairmanship of the Arctic Council for a two-year period, from 2013 to 2015.

Building on this Canadian leadership and highlighting the end of Canada’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council, the Minister for the Arctic Council will be hosting the 2015 Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting to be held in Iqaluit, Nunavut, on April 24 and 25, 2015. The event will bring together the eight foreign affairs ministers from the Arctic Council.

Issues

The Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting 2015 — Privileges and Immunities Order (the Order), made pursuant to section 5 of the Foreign Missions and International Organizations Act, will grant limited privileges and immunities to foreign state representatives attending the meeting. In so doing, the Order will also give the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) primary responsibility to ensure the security for the proper functioning of this international meeting, under section 10.1 of the Act.

Objectives

The Order grants limited privileges to foreign state representatives not otherwise protected under customary international law during their attendance at the 2015 Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Iqaluit, Nunavut, on April 24 and 25, 2015. The Order also has the effect of giving the RCMP primary responsibility to ensure the security for the proper functioning of the international meeting under section 10.1 of the Foreign Mission and International Organizational Act.

Description

The Order grants, to foreign state representatives not otherwise protected under customary international law, the privileges and immunities set out in sections 11(b) and (e) and sections 14 to 16 of Article IV of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations to the extent required for the exercise of their functions, namely the inviolability of their papers and documents and facilities in respect of currency or exchange restrictions. Under the provisions of the Foreign Missions and International Organizations Act, the Order will also give the RCMP the primary responsibility for ensuring the security of the meeting.

“One-for-One” Rule

The “One-for-One” Rule does not apply to this proposal, as there is no change in administrative costs to business.

Small business lens

The small business lens does not apply to this proposal, as there are no costs on small business, and small businesses would not be disproportionately affected.

Consultation

Consultations were held between the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD), the Department of Citizenship and Immigration (CIC), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Department of Public Safety (PS) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). All consulted departments agreed with the proposed submission.

Rationale

The Order grants limited privileges and immunities to foreign state representatives who are otherwise not protected under customary international law during their attendance at the 2015 Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting. The Order also has the effect of giving the RCMP primary responsibility to ensure the security for the proper functioning of the international meeting under section 10.1 of the Foreign Mission and International Organizational Act.

Implementation, enforcement and service standards

N/A

Contact

Daniel Desfossés
Director
Major Event Management Office
Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G2
Telephone: 343-203-0803
Email: daniel.desfosses@international.gc.ca