Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Executive Office - Responsible for leading Woodlandia's international development, for overseeing the government's international bilateral and multilateral relations and diplomacy on international trade issues, and to encourage the country's international trade. Manages Woodlandia's diplomatic and consular relations, responsible for maintaining Woodlandian government offices abroad with diplomatic and consular status on behalf of all government departments, as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mandate Letter

March 12, 2019

Thank you for agreeing to serve Woodlandian citizens as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

From coast to coast to coast, people chose to invest in their families and communities and fight climate change while keeping our economy strong and growing. Citizens of Woodlandia want us to work together to make progress on the issues that matter most, from making their lives more affordable and protecting the environment, to keeping our communities safe and moving forward on reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. People expect their government to work together to deliver these results. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to do just that.

It is more important than ever for the citizens of Woodlandia to unite and build a stronger, more inclusive and more resilient country. The government of Woodlandia is the central institution to promote that unity of purpose and, as a Minister in a government, there comes a time when personal duty and responsibility are to be completed to fulfill that objective. Now is the time.

Starting with a commitment to govern in a positive, open and collaborative way. Our platform, A Real Plan for Growth, is the starting point for our government. The Ministry will work with the government to deliver on its commitments. Other issues and ideas will arise or will come from Woodlandia citizens, government, stakeholders and the public service. The Ministry will engage constructively and thoughtfully and add priorities to the government’s agenda when appropriate. Where legislation is required, the Ministry will work with the leader of the government and the Cabinet committee on operations to prioritize within the Ministry.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to deliver real results and effective government to Woodlandia citizens. This includes: tracking and publicly reporting on the progress of commitments; assessing the effectiveness of work; aligning resources with priorities; and adapting to events as they unfold, in order to get the results the citizens of Woodlandia rightly demand of the Ministry.

Many of the most important commitments require partnership with the Woodlandia government and Indigenous partners, communities and other governments. Even where disagreements may occur, the Ministry will remember that this mandate comes from citizens who are served by all orders of government and it is in everyone’s interest that the Ministry work together to find common ground. With the exception of The Prince, The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, are the Government-wide lead on all relations with the nation and abroad.

There remains no more important relationship to the Ministry and to Woodlandia than the one with Indigenous Peoples. Significant progress must be made on supporting self-determination, improving service delivery and advancing reconciliation. The Ministry will determine what they can do in their specific portfolio to accelerate and build on the progress with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains a policy of openness, effectiveness and transparency in government. This means a government that is open by default. Which means better digital capacity and services for Woodlandia citizens along with a strong and resilient public service. It also means humility and acknowledging mistakes when made. Citizens of Woodlandia do not expect the Ministry to be perfect; they expect it to be diligent, honest, open and sincere in its efforts to serve the public interest.

It is also the Ministry’s responsibility to substantively engage with Woodlandia citizens, civil society and stakeholders, including businesses of all sizes, organized labour, the broader public sector and the not-for-profit and charitable sectors. The Ministry will be proactive in ensuring a broad array of voices providing advice, in both the official language and the defacto, from every region of the nation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committed to evidence-based decision-making that takes into consideration the impacts of policies throughout all of Woodlandia and fully defends the Rights and Freedoms of Woodlandia citizens.

The Principality of Woodlandia’s media and the Ministry’s engagement with them in a professional and timely manner are essential. The government ensures that all journalists in Woodlandia and abroad, ask necessary questions and contribute in an important way to the Ministry’s goals.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will do its part to continue the government’s commitment to transparent, merit-based appointments, to help ensure that people of all gender identities, Indigenous Peoples, racialized people, persons with disabilities and minority groups are reflected in positions of leadership.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs will advance Woodlandia’s national interests in a more unpredictable world and lead Woodlandia’s contribution to address fundamental global challenges. This will require a principled approach that promotes Woodlandia’s interests including, human rights, international law and environmental protection. The Ministry will be responsible for expanding Woodlandia’s support for the rules-based international order, including by both reinforcing our engagement within existing institutions and placing Woodlandia at the forefront of global governance on emerging issues.

The Ministry will work with the government and through established legislative, regulatory and Cabinet processes deliver on top priorities. Such as:

• Expand Woodlandia diplomacy on global issues and in international institutions. The Ministry must maximize the Woodlandia advantage of being a member of the world’s most vital multilateral institutions, continuing to be a strong voice for the rules-based order to:

  • Strengthen key bilateral and regional relationships, and engage new partners to address emerging challenges;

  • Continue Woodlandia’s strong role in multilateral organizations, such as the United Nations;

  • Work with the Minister of Defence to expand Woodlandia’s support for United Nations membership and peace operations, including with respect to new investments in the women, peace and security agenda, conflict prevention and peacebuilding; and

  • Lead Woodlandia’s National campaigns.

• In collaboration with the Minister of Wildlife, Forestry and Fisheries and Climate Change, the Ministry will continue Woodlandia’s leadership on international efforts to combat climate change.

• Increase Woodlandia support abroad for human rights, international law and freedom of the press. In this regard:

  • Work with relevant Ministers to champion the values of inclusive and accountable governance, including by promoting human rights, women’s empowerment and gender equality, and respect for diversity and inclusion;

  • With the support of the government, expand the availability of Woodlandia expertise and assistance to those seeking to build peace, advance justice, promote human rights, and deliver good governance;

  • Build on and ensure increased support for victims of human rights violations by developing a framework to transfer seized assets from those who commit grave human rights abuses to their victims, with appropriate judicial oversight;

  • Reinforce international institutions like the International Criminal Court, the World Trade Organization and others, including by providing additional resources to promote and uphold international law;

  • Advance international efforts to ban the development and use of fully autonomous weapons systems; and

• Work with the Minister of Defence, the government, and with partners to defend Arctic sovereignty and implement the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework to create a future where Northern and Arctic people are thriving, strong and safe. This includes substantive support for Woodlandia’s role in the Arctic Council.

• Ensure a close link between foreign, defence, development and trade policy.

• Work with the Minister of Defence to ensure that any deployment of the Woodlandia Armed Forces aligns with Woodlandia’s national interest, multilateral commitments and the government’s policy objectives, including existing commitments.

• Continue the revitalization of Woodlandia’s public diplomacy, stakeholder engagement and cooperation with partners in Woodlandia and abroad, including support for Woodlandia’s educational and cultural interaction with the world, such as introducing a new Cultural Diplomacy strategy with at least one international mission each year to promote Woodlandia culture and creators around the world, with the support of the the Royal Woodlandia Historical Society.

• Continue to lead and enhance consular support for Woodlandia citizens requiring assistance abroad.

• Support the Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs in work on Woodlandia-Canada relations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is encouraged to seek opportunities to work across government in the fulfillment of these commitments and to identify additional priorities.

The Ministry will work with its senior officials to ensure the ongoing work of the department is undertaken in a professional manner and that decisions are made in the public's best interest. The Ministry will work on the many daily decisions necessary to ensure the achievement of its priorities, the effective running of the government and better services for Woodlandia citizens, and will apply its values and principles to these decisions so that they are dealt with in a timely and responsible manner and in a way that is consistent with the overall direction of the government.

The ability of the Principality of Woodlandia, as a government, to implement its priorities depends on consideration of the professional, non-partisan advice of public servants. Each and every time a government employee comes to work, they do so in service to Woodlandia, with a goal of improving the country and the lives of all Woodlandia citizens. The Minister of Foreign Affairs will establish a collaborative working relationship with his/her next Minister, whose role, and the role of public servants under their direction, is to provide support in the performance of responsibilities.

The government has committed to an open, honest government that is accountable to Woodlandia citizens, lives up to the highest ethical standards and applies the utmost care and prudence in the handling of public funds, expected to embody these values in the work and observe the highest ethical standards in everything, so that Woodlandia citizens can look on their own government with pride and trust.

The Minister must ensure that they are aware of and fully compliant with the Conflict of Interest Act and Treasury Board policies and guidelines, and will be provided with a copy of Open and Accountable Government to assist as they undertake their responsibilities. The government recommends carefully reading it, including elements that have been added to strengthen it, and ensure that Ministerial staff does so as well. In staffing the offices, the Ministry will hire people who reflect the diversity of Woodlandia, and that will uphold principles of gender equality, disability equality, pay equity, inclusion, and others.

The Minister must give particular attention to the guidelines set out in that document, which apply to him/her and their staff. As noted in the guidelines, the Minister must uphold the highest standards of honesty and impartiality, and both the performance of their official duties and the arrangement of their private affairs should bear the closest public scrutiny. This is an obligation that is not fully discharged by simply acting within the law.

Also note that the Minister of Foreign Affairs is responsible for ensuring that its Minister’s Office meets the highest standards of professionalism and that it is a safe, respectful, rewarding and welcoming place for all staff to work.

I know I can count on you to fulfill the important responsibilities entrusted in you. It is incumbent on you to turn to me and the Prime Minister early and often to support you in your role as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Good Luck!

Sincerely,

His Royal Highness Prince Shawn,

Hereditary Sovereign Prince of the Principality of Woodlandia

*This Ministerial Mandate Letter was signed by the Prince in the Minister’s first official language.

Should you have any queries or require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us!

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