‘We are here to do more’

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This article was published 11/03/2024 (759 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When the government of Morocco decided it wanted to increase its trade and general level of exposure in Manitoba, it appointed Philip Houde as honorary consul.

If you’re surprised Houde, a former chief of staff to Tory premier Brian Pallister, would receive such a posting, you’re not alone. Houde was surprised, too.

“It’s not something I ever thought would be possible,” he said.

However, being an ex-pat or even a subject matter expert is not a crucial prerequisite for the (unpaid) job.

Instead, like many countries, Morocco was simply looking for credible people, established in their home community in Canada, preferably with contacts in business and government, to be honorary consuls regardless of their connections to the country they are to represent.

While Houde had no prior connection to the kingdom of Morocco, he is passionate about Manitoba and keen to contribute to trade and commercial relations with a country inclined to increase its exposure in Canada.

There are 28 honorary consuls based in Winnipeg.

While each of them may have slightly different mandates, after a group decision to rejuvenate the organization a little while ago, there is agreement they all share a focus on culture, trade and tourism.

There are also three professional consuls based in Winnipeg — the U.S., Iceland and Portugal — who are authorized to handle visa and passport matters for their foreign nationals in Manitoba. (Honorary consuls have no such authority.)

They are appointed by the country they represent and are vetted by Global Affairs Canada.

Marilyne Guèvremont, a spokesperson for Global Affairs, said the respective roles and expectations for foreign honorary consuls will differ from region to region and the number — there are currently 330 accredited — fluctuates over time.

Houde is one of a handful of relatively new honorary consuls in Winnipeg, along with former Manitoba chief of protocol Dwight MacAulay (representing the United Kingdom) and John Bockstael (representing Belgium), chairman and former CEO of Bockstael Construction Ltd.

There is no pay and few perks associated with the title. (They do, however, receive consular licence plates, allowing them to park on the street without getting ticketed.)

Houde was flown to Morocco for a bit of an indoctrination into the North African country’s heritage.

Bockstael, whose family is of Belgian heritage, was flown to Ottawa to meet with the ambassador and the other recent Belgian honorary consuls in Canada.

“My wife said I shouldn’t have accepted the appointment because I’ve never been to Belgium,” he said.

Manitoba chief of protocol Brad Robertson said the province plays no role in the appointments, other than recommending individuals to foreign governments when asked.

Despite the lack of remuneration, the positions are not without influence and prestige, he added.

“They do engage with the ambassadors or high commissioner who represents the president or prime minister in their countries,” said Robertson. “To be the foreign government’s contact in a province can be of interest to business people, especially if they also have interests in international relations.”

While they represent foreign governments in Manitoba they are still subject to Canadian laws and regulations (unlike the professional diplomatic corps who have some level of immunity).

Barry Rempel, former CEO of Winnipeg Airports Authority, has been the honorary consul for South Korea for six years, and is current chairperson of the Consular Corps of Manitoba.

Rempel has no familial ties with South Korea; he had visited the East Asia country several times before he took up the honorary post.

“We’re fortunate in Manitoba in that the province has really been supportive over the years,” said Rempel.

For instance, when a group of Scandinavian diplomats were in the province recently (a visit that included a trip to Churchill), all the honorary consuls were invited to a reception — something that would regularly occur when foreign diplomats visit the province.

As chief of protocol, Robertson is an ex officio member of the honorary consul corps and attended its last annual meeting, where a determination was made to attempt to increase the profile of the consuls.

While the province may supportive, Houde said, “We are here to do more.”

In conversation with Houde, Rempel, MacAulay and Bockstael, there was a consensus, for instance, that travel by the Manitoba premier and/or cabinet ministers to foreign countries was a tried-and-true means to increase bilateral interest. They agreed it is especially true, as neighbouring provinces have lately become more aggressive on foreign trade matters.

For instance, Rempel said, he tries to get the message to the premier’s office to encourage the first minister to do an “Asian swing” that would include a stop in South Korea.

“It’s important that Manitoba be seen in other markets,” he said.

MacAulay believes Greg Selinger was the last Manitoba premier to travel overseas on a trade mission, when the NDP leader went to China more than 10 years ago.

“We are responsible to our (honorary) nation, but we are not going to recommend something that Manitoba is not going to benefit from,” said Houde. “And we know for a fact that Manitoba will benefit (from official international travel).”

Diplomatic travel is back on the rise after being disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Robertson said it’s rare a week or two goes by without a visit to Winnipeg from a high commissioner, ambassador or trade official from a consular office.

The days of visiting diplomats touring cities in a limo are over, however, and the honorary consuls have stepped in, ferrying their country’s representative around when they visit.

martin.cash @freepress.mb.ca