Question Period Note: Procurement of Furniture by Global Affairs Canada

Global Affairs Canada is responsible for the purchase of furniture in support of its operations. This includes furniture for office accommodations as well as residences for staff posted abroad.

• Global Affairs Canada (GAC) manages an extensive network of 182 missions in 112 countries worldwide, 9 offices in the National Capital Region and 7 in our regional offices.
• GAC purchases furniture regularly as part of its standard replacement cycle, ensuring our missions and offices are adequately equipped to carry out their mandates.
• Orders are placed throughout the year at a regular pace, with often several months between order date, date received, and invoice or payment date. Goods received are generally paid within 30 days of receipt.
• Of the invoices paid at end of fiscal year, each decision to buy, and each order, was placed several months earlier, as part of the ongoing review and standard furniture replacement cycle. Furniture paid for at fiscal year-end would have been ordered much earlier.
• Because the Government of Canada uses the accrual accounting method for its financial reports, any invoices received and paid after March 31 are accounted for on March 31 if the goods were received during the previous fiscal year.

GAC is responsible for advancing Canada's international relations, including developing and implementing foreign policy; fostering the development of international law, international trade and commerce, providing international assistance; providing consular services for Canadians; and overseeing the Government of Canada's global network of missions abroad. Our foreign service composed of diplomats are our eyes and ears on the ground and the heart and soul of our diplomacy. It does this, in part, through an extensive network of 182 missions in 112 countries worldwide, 9 offices in the National Capital Region and 7 in our regional offices.

GAC acquires and manages furniture in an effective and economical way to support our operational and program requirements domestically and abroad. Furniture is purchased on a regular basis as part of GAC's standard furniture replacement cycle. In addition to provide furniture in offices, Canadian-based staff working abroad, in some countries, are also provided with furniture in their assigned Staff Quarters in order to carry out their work and life abroad in an efficient, economic, productive and safe manner.

As outlined in Part IV of the National Joint Council website, GAC (the employer) is committed to a policy of average comparability for housing provided to Canada-based staff (CBS) working abroad in our network of missions. This policy ensures that CBS are provided with housing that is generally comparable to typical, fully-serviced rental accommodations for individuals with similar salary levels and family sizes in the Ottawa/Gatineau region, while taking local conditions and practicality into account. In return, CBS pay a shelter cost to the employer that reflects the average rental cost in Ottawa/Gatineau.

This policy is not exclusive to GAC employees; it also applies to CBS assigned abroad from partner organizations, including other federal and provincial government departments and agencies. GAC is responsible to manage these policies and provide services to the partners under his responsibility.

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