Smith co-chairs new Canada Corps

Prime Minister Paul Martin has named Dr. Gordon Smith, director of UVic's centre for global studies, as co-chairperson of the newly created Canada Corps.

The Canada Corps will harness the energy and experience of Canadian experts, volunteers and young professionals to deliver international assistance in the areas of governance and institution-building. The initiative will consolidate and increase the co-ordination of existing Canadian efforts and will also explore new partnerships with other levels of government and the private sector.

Smith will share his duties with fellow co-chairperson, astronaut Julie Payette.

Smith joined UVic in 1998 following a distinguished career as a Canadian diplomat, which included posts as deputy minister of foreign affairs from 1994-1997, ambassador to the European Union in Brussels from 1991-1994, and ambassador to the Canadian delegation to NATO, from 1985-1990.

Smith and Payette have a mandate to consult with other federal departments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to further define the scope, participation and structure of the Canada Corps. They'll work with a new Canada Corps secretariat to be based at Foreign Affairs Canada in Ottawa.

Smith and Payette will also contribute to the analysis of the consultative findings and participate in the development of a three to five-year agenda for the Canada Corps. It has a budget of $15 million over the next two years.