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Global Affairs Canada Fees Report - Fiscal year 2020–21
Table of contents
- Ministers’ message
- About this report
- Remissions
- Overall totals, by fee-setting mechanism
- Totals, by fee grouping, for fees set by act, regulation or fees notice
- Details on each fee set by act, regulation or fees notice
Ministers’ message
On behalf of Global Affairs Canada, we are pleased to present our report on fees for 2020–21.
Departmental efforts to review service fees continued during the reporting period, most notably in relation to the Consular Service Fee but also in relation to Export and Import Permit Fees. As this work is brought to completion the department will proceed with implementation plans.
More broadly the department assesses its programming, on an ongoing basis, for circumstances where the implementation of a service fee would be appropriate.
We will continue to lead the department’s transition to the reporting regime provided under the Service Fees Act.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development
About this report
This report, which is tabled under section 20 of the Service Fees ActEndnote ii, including the Low‑Materiality Fees RegulationsEndnote iii and subsection 4.2.8 of the Directive on Charging and Special Financial AuthoritiesEndnote iv, contains information about the fees that Global Affairs Canada had the authority to set in 2020–21Footnote 1.
Government of Canada departments may set fees for services, licences, permits, products, the use of facilities, for other authorizations of rights or privileges, or to recover, in whole or in part, costs incurred in relation to a regulatory scheme.
For reporting purposes, fees must be categorized under the following three fee-setting mechanisms:
- Act, regulation or fees notice
- An act of Parliament delegates the fee-setting authority to a department, minister or Governor in Council.
- Contract
- Ministers have the authority to enter into contracts, which are usually negotiated between the minister and an individual or organization, and which cover fees and other terms and conditions. In some cases, that authority may also be provided by an act of Parliament.
- Market rate or auction
- The authority to set these fees is pursuant to an act of Parliament or regulation, and the minister, department or Governor in Council has no control over the fee amount.
This report contains information about all fees that are under Global Affairs Canada’s authority, including any fees that are collected by another department.
The information covers fees subject to the Service Fees Act and exempted from the Service Fees Act.
For fees set by contract and fees set by market rate or auction, the report provides totals only. For fees set by act, regulation or fees notice, the report provides totals for fee groupings, as well as detailed information for each fee.
Although the fees that Global Affairs Canada charges under the Access to Information Act were subject to the Service Fees Act, they are not included in this report. Information on Global Affairs Canada’s access to information fees for 2020–21 can be found in our access to information report, which is posted on the Global Affairs Canada web pageEndnote v.
Remissions
This report does not include remissions issued under the authority of the Service Fees Act, since this requirement took effect on April 1, 2021. Remissions issued under the Service Fees Act will be reported for the first time, as applicable, in the 2021–22 Fees Report, which will be published in 2022–23.
The Service Fees Act requires departments to remit a fee, in part or in full, to a fee payer when a service standard is deemed not met. Under the Service Fees Act and the Directive on Charging and Special Financial Authorities, departments had to develop policies and procedures for determining:
- whether a service standard has been met
- how much of a fee will be remitted to a fee payer if a service standard is deemed not met
No other remissions related to fees were issued by Global Affairs Canada since it did not have or seek other authorities to remit.
Overall totals, by fee-setting mechanism
The following table presents the total revenue, cost and remissions for all fees that Global Affairs Canada had the authority to set in 2020–21, by fee-setting mechanism.
| Fee-setting mechanism | Revenue ($) | Cost ($) | Remissions ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees set by contract | 42,070,069 | 42,070,069 | Remissions do not apply to fees set by contract. |
| Fees set by either market rate or auction | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fees set by act, regulation or fees notice | 9,855,417 | 187,445,402 | 0 |
| Total | 51,925,486 | 229,515,471 | 0 |
Totals, by fee grouping, for fees set by act, regulation or fees notice
The following section presents, for each fee grouping, the total revenue, cost and remissions for all fees that Global Affairs Canada had the authority to set in 2020–21 that are set by any of the following:
- act
- regulation
- fees notice
A fee grouping is a set of fees relating to a single business line, directorate or program that a department had the authority to set for those activities.
| Revenue ($) | Cost ($) | Remissions ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 5,726,309 | 176,277,978 | 0 |
| Revenue ($) | Cost ($) | Remissions ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 1,099,035 | 2,115,806 | 0 |
| Revenue ($) | Cost ($) | Remissions ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 3,030,073 | 9,051,618 | 0 |
Details on each fee set by act, regulation or fees notice
This section provides detailed information on each fee that Global Affairs Canada had the authority to set in 2020–21 and that was set by any of the following:
- act
- regulation
- fees notice
Consular Service Fee
Fee grouping
Consular Service Fee.
Fee
Consular Service Fee.
Fee-setting authority
Consular Service Fees RegulationsEndnote vi pursuant to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development ActEndnote vii
Year fee-setting authority was introduced
1995
Last year fee‑setting authority was amended
2010
Service standard
The consular service standards were updated in 2019 to focus on key issues important to consular clients, to facilitate tracking of outcomes and to align with a revised Consular Strategy. Particular attention was given to services to Canadians who have been arrested or detained, with a focus on those who may be at greater risk because of who or where they are.
The new standards took effect on April 1, 2019 and set out what to expect from consular services.
Every effort is made to adhere to these standards, which apply to services delivered under normal circumstances. Global Affairs Canada is committed to maintaining a global consular infrastructure to provide consular services and be accessible to Canadians 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at approximately 260 points of service around the world. After-hours emergency services are accessible 24 hours per day, seven days a week via the Emergency Watch and Response Centre (EWRC) located in Ottawa.
Consular services provided to Canadians are detailed in the Canadian Consular Services CharterEndnote viii and assessed based on written service standards (updated as of April 1st 2019) with qualitative and quantitative indicators. The service standards are available online at Consular Services: Service StandardsEndnote ix and written copies are posted in public view at our offices overseas and can be requested from consular employees. Clients are invited to comment if they did not receive the level of service they expected or if they wish to make suggestions.
Consular services are grouped under the following service standards categories:
- Consular assistance
- Contact with arrested or detained Canadian citizens abroad
Global Affairs Canada considers all consular clients important and aims to deliver consular services in a consistent, fair and non-discriminatory manner. Each consular case has unique facts and circumstances, however, so a tailored approach to intervention is required. The intensity and duration of our involvement varies with the type and complexity of the consular case. Even where situations appear similar, different outcomes may result. When consular services are requested abroad, consular officials will assess the situation and inform the client as to how and when they can provide assistance or whether another organization is better placed to help. In emergency circumstances, every effort will be made to provide assistance. However, there are limits to the assistance consular officials can provide.
The Government of Canada’s ability and success in resolving consular cases are constrained, in many instances, by the laws and regulations of other countries as well as by the quality of service and level of cooperation offered by persons and organizations outside the Government of Canada. For further details, please refer to the Canadian Consular Services Charter.
Service standards will be reviewed at least every five years.
Performance result
Consular service standards for all consular cases were revised in 2019 as follows: “Upon notification, consular official will provide an initial response within one working day.” In 2020-21, this service standard was met in 97% of cases *.
For arrest and detention cases, separate service standards apply: “Upon initial notification of arrest or detention, within one working day, consular officials will take steps to initiate contact with the arrested or detained Canadian citizens and offer consular assistance. Subsequent efforts to contact the detained Canadian will be made: 1) Within one month of detention; 2) within one month after receiving notification of sentencing, if applicable; 3) within three months of notification of transfer to a subsequent detention centre; and, 4) annually thereafter.” In this context, contact was initiated with 97% of clients within one working day of notification of detention, with 89% of clients within one month of detention and 91% within one month of sentencing. Regarding transfer to new locations of detention, the service standard was met in 100% of cases. For subsequent contacts, the annual standard was met 97% of the time.
* In light of the Covid-19 pandemic that impacted regular operations and service delivery at missions abroad beginning in early 2020, performance results for 2020-21 are limited to the July 1, 2020 to March 3, 2021 reporting period.
Application of Low-Materiality Fees Regulations
- Low-materiality (<$51)
| Fee | 2020–21 fee amount ($) | 2020–21 total fee revenue ($) | Fee adjustment date in 2022–23 | 2022–23 fee amount ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consular Service Fee | 25 | 5,726,309 | Not Applicable | 25 |
Specialized Consular Service Fees
Fee grouping
Specialized Consular Service Fees.
Fee
- Administering an oath, receiving an affidavit, declaration or affirmation or attesting any document bearing a signature
- Attesting the execution of a document, other than a certificate of origin or a document in support of a consignment of goods
- Authenticating the signature and seal of a foreign authority, including an officially authorized translator
- Obtaining a legalization or other certification from a foreign authority in respect of any document (in addition to costs charged by the foreign authority, if any)
- Executing a document or preparing an exhibit or a parcel not otherwise provided for in this schedule
- Initialling alterations in any document not prepared by a consular officer
- Uniting documents and sealing their fastening
- Preparing in English or French any certificate, affidavit, declaration or other document not otherwise provided for in this schedule, excluding any printed words where printed forms are used (in addition to the fee set out in item 1, 2 or 5, if applicable)
- Making a copy of a document not otherwise provided for in this schedule
- Certifying a copy of a document
- Preparing, signing and sealing a declaration of existence
- Signing and sealing a declaration of existence
- Making an unofficial translation of a document, from one to the other of Canada’s official languages, from a foreign language to English or French, or from English or French to a foreign language
- Issuing a letter addressed to a foreign authority for the granting of a visa, a residence permit, an exit permit or any other similar service
- Obtaining a copy of a document in the registers or records of the local authorities
- Distributing the personal effects of a deceased Canadian citizen and administering their estate in full or in part
- Transmitting of documents in private legal matters by formal note to the local authorities, including any necessary certification
- Service of documents in private legal matters performed at the mission, if an affidavit of service is provided
- Service of documents in private legal matters performed where the mission must prepare or provide an affidavit of service
- Where a Canadian consular officer is authorized by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development to be named as a Commissioner by a Canadian court to take testimony from witnesses abroad for use in Canadian court proceedings
- Preparing and sending a communication for the primary benefit of non-government persons, organizations and groups
- Setting up and maintaining a trust account to transfer funds to, or on behalf of, a Canadian citizen in need in a foreign country
- Arranging for and effecting the transfer of private or public funds from Canada or elsewhere to the mission
Fee-setting authority
Consular Fees (Specialized Services) RegulationsEndnote x, pursuant to paragraph 19 (1) (a) of the Financial Administration ActEndnote xi
Year fee-setting authority was introduced
1988
Last year fee‑setting authority was amended
2010
Service standard
All services requiring the payment of a fee have been grouped under the specialized consular services category (mainly notarial services and transfer of private funds through departmental facilities). Specialized services are not available at all locations; clients are invited to consult Ask TravelEndnote xii to confirm if the desired service is available. Notarial services are provided by consular officials only when no local alternatives are available and adequate consular resources are available.
Performance result
Percentage of services that met the established service standards. *
Performance target established at 90%
- Specialized services - Private financial transfers:100% (where data was available)
- Specialized services - Notarial services: 96% (where data was available)
* In light of the Covid-19 pandemic that impacted regular operations and service delivery at missions abroad beginning in early 2020, performance results for 2020-21 are limited to the July 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021 reporting period.
Application of Low-Materiality Fees Regulations
- Low-materiality (Schedule 1)
| Fee | 2020-21 fee amount ($) | 2020–21 total fee revenue ($) | Fee adjustment date in 2022-23 | 2022–23 fee amount ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1) Administering an oath, receiving an affidavit, declaration or affirmation or attesting any document bearing a signature | 50 per document | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | 50 per document |
| 2) Attesting the execution of a document, other than a certificate of origin or a document in support of a consignment of goods | 50 per document | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | 50 per document |
| 3) Authenticating the signature and seal of a foreign authority, including an officially authorized translator | 50 per document | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | 50 per document |
| 4) Obtaining a legalization or other certification from a foreign authority in respect of any document (in addition to costs charged by the foreign authority, if any) | 50 per document | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | 50 per document |
| 5) Executing a document or preparing an exhibit or a parcel not otherwise provided for in this schedule | 50 per document | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | 50 per document |
| 6) Initialling alterations in any document not prepared by a consular officer | 25 per page | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | 25 per page |
| 7) Uniting documents and sealing their fastening | 30 | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | 30 |
| 8) Preparing in English or French any certificate, affidavit, declaration or other document not otherwise provided for in this schedule, excluding any printed words where printed forms are used (in addition to the fee set out in item 1, 2 or 5, if applicable) | a) 30 per document for less than 200 words b) 60 per document for 200 words or more and less than 500 words c) 80 per document for 500 words or more and less than 1,000 words d) 0.10 per word for 1,000 words or more | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | a) 30 per document for less than 200 words b) 60 per document for 200 words or more and less than 500 words c) 80 per document for 500 words or more and less than 1,000 words d) 0.10 per word for 1,000 words or more |
| 9) Making a copy of a document not otherwise provided for in this schedule | a) 30 per page by word processing, for 100 words or less b) 3 per copy by photographic process | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | a) 30 per page by word processing, for 100 words or less b) 3 per copy by photographic process |
| 10) Certifying a copy of a document | 20 per page | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | 20 per page |
| 11) Preparing, signing and sealing a declaration of existence | 30 per document | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | 30 per document |
| 12) Signing and sealing a declaration of existence | 20 per document | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | 20 per document |
| 13) Making an unofficial translation of a document, from one to the other of Canada’s official languages, from a foreign language to English or French, or from English or French to a foreign language | a) 15 for 100 words or less b) 0.22 per word for over 100 words or $60 per letter size page, whichever is the lesser | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | a) 15 for 100 words or less b) 0.22 per word for over 100 words or $60 per letter size page, whichever is the lesser |
| 14) Issuing a letter addressed to a foreign authority for the granting of a visa, a residence permit, an exit permit or any other similar service | 50 per letter | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | 50 per letter |
| 15) Obtaining a copy of a document in the registers or records of the local authorities | 125 per document | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | 125 per document |
| 16) Distributing the personal effects of a deceased Canadian citizen and administering their estate in full or in part | a) 100 where the total current market value of the personal effects and the estate or part of the estate is CAN500 or more and less than CAN3,000 b) 200 where the total current market value of the personal effects and the estate or part of the estate is CAN3,000 or more | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | a) 100 where the total current market value of the personal effects and the estate or part of the estate is CAN500 or more and less than CAN3,000 b) 200 where the total current market value of the personal effects and the estate or part of the estate is CAN3,000 or more |
| 17) Transmitting of documents in private legal matters by formal note to the local authorities, including any necessary certification | 50 per document | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | 50 per document |
| 18) Service of documents in private legal matters performed at the mission, if an affidavit of service is provided | 50 per document | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | 50 per document |
| 19) Service of documents in private legal matters performed where the mission must prepare or provide an affidavit of service | 50 per document | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | 50 per document |
| 20) Where a Canadian consular officer is authorized by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development to be named as a Commissioner by a Canadian court to take testimony from witnesses abroad for use in Canadian court proceedings | a) 150 per person per hour or part of an hour for services of a consular officer acting as a Commissioner, within the consular premises b) 50 per notice for sending a notice to appear, in the language of the country concerned c) 50 per person for the swearing of witnesses, court stenographers, translators, legal counsel or any other person d) 60 for certifying a transcript as correct, including uniting documents and sealing their fastening e) 60 per person per hour or part of an hour for the services of an employee of the mission as an interpreter f) 60 per person per hour or part of an hour for the services of a stenographer or typist supplied by the mission | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | a) 150 per person per hour or part of an hour for services of a consular officer acting as a Commissioner, within the consular premises b) 50 per notice for sending a notice to appear, in the language of the country concerned c) 50 per person for the swearing of witnesses, court stenographers, translators, legal counsel or any other person d) 60 for certifying a transcript as correct, including uniting documents and sealing their fastening e) 60 per person per hour or part of an hour for the services of an employee of the mission as an interpreter f) 60 per person per hour or part of an hour for the services of a stenographer or typist supplied by the mission |
| 21) Preparing and sending a communication for the primary benefit of non-government persons, organizations and groups | a) 30 per document for less than 200 words b) 60 per document for 200 words or more and less than 500 words c) 80 per document for 500 words or more and less than 1,000 words d) 0.10 per word for 1,000 words or more | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | a) 30 per document for less than 200 words b) 60 per document for 200 words or more and less than 500 words c) 80 per document for 500 words or more and less than 1,000 words d) 0.10 per word for 1,000 words or more |
| 22) Setting up and maintaining a trust account to transfer funds to, or on behalf of, a Canadian citizen in need in a foreign country | 70 per account, per year or part of a year | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | 70 per account, per year or part of a year |
| 23) Arranging for and effecting the transfer of private or public funds from Canada or elsewhere to the mission | 75 per transfer | The department was not able to capture the revenue at the fee level, however, it was able to track revenue at the fee grouping level. | Not Applicable | 75 per transfer |
Export/Import Permit Fees
Fee grouping
Export/Import Permit Fees - Other Products and Services.
Fee
- Export permit or certificate delivered by the Trade Controls Bureau of Global Affairs Canada.
- Export permit or certificate delivered by a customs broker's office authorized by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to make such delivery. The $9 fee does not include any fees for services incidental to the delivery of the permit or certificate.
- Where the import permit is delivered by a person who is not employed in the public service of Canada but who is authorized by the Minister to make the delivery, the fee varies depending on the total value of the goods in respect of which the import permit is issued.
- Where the import permit is delivered by the department’s Trade Controls Bureau, the fee varies depending on the total value of the goods in respect of which the import permit is issued.
Fee-setting authority
- Export & Import Permits ActEndnote xiii;
- Export and Import Permits and Certificates Fees OrderEndnote xiv; and
- Softwood Lumber Products Export Permit Fees RegulationsEndnote xv
Year fee-setting authority was introduced
1995 (Export & Import Permits Act and Export and Import Permits and Certificates Fees Order)
1996 (Softwood Lumber Products Export Permit Fees Regulations)
Last year fee‑setting authority was amended
2020 (Export & Import Permits Act and Export and Import Permits and Certificates Fees Order)
Service standard
Deliver non-strategic, non-routed import and export permits within 15 minutes of the time of application; process within four business hours permit applications that are automatically redirected (routed) to departmental officers; process within three business days permit applications for B.C. logs that are reviewed by an export controls officer; process applications for permits to export controlled military and strategic goods and technology from eligible exporters who have provided all required supporting documentation within 10 working days where consultation outside the bureau is not required and within 40 business days where consultation is required.
Performance result
The service standards were met 98.5% of the time.
Application of Low-Materiality Fees Regulations
- Low-materiality (<$51)
| Fee | 2020-21 fee amount ($) | 2020–21 total fee revenue ($) | Fee adjustment date in 2022-23 | 2022–23 fee amount ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1) Export permit or certificate issued by the Trade Controls Bureau of Global Affairs Canada | 14 | 90,580 | Not Applicable | 14 |
| 2) Export permit or certificate delivered by a customs broker's office that is authorized by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to make such delivery. The $9 fee does not include any fees for services incidental to the delivery of the permit or certificate. | 9 | 2,180,668 | Not Applicable | 9 |
| 3) Where the import permit is delivered by a person who is not employed in the public service of Canada but who is authorized by the Minister to make the delivery, the fee varies depending on the total value of the goods in respect of which the import permit is issued. |
| 741,636 | Not Applicable |
|
| 4) Where the import permit is delivered by the departments Trade Controls Bureau, the fee varies depending on the total value of the goods in respect of which the import permit is issued. |
| 17,189 | Not Applicable |
|
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