PERSONAL RISK
and the services and assistance available from the
Canadian government
http://www.voyage.gc.ca
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compilation of  lectures notes by Prof. Richardson for use in his various international business classes
last updated 2008 Feb 13
see also    www.witiger.com/internationalbusiness/politicalrisk.htm
and  www.witiger.com/internationalbusiness/geographicenvironment.htm
and  www.witiger.com/internationalbusiness/alanbell.htm
 
This web page has many audio clips - just click on the icon (like the one to the left) and you can hear Prof. Richardson's voice adding additional information to topics on the page. turn on your speakers to hear audio clips
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INTRODUCTION , Unfortunately, Canadians (of all ethnic backgrounds) sometimes think that because we are all nice and friendly to each other here, and we treat each other with respect here, that somehow other people around the world will also love Canadians and things will be great for us when we travel.

Alan Bell calls this the "deny and repress syndrome" and it can cost us our life unless we become more diligent about our affairs when outside Canada.

Wearing a maple leaf flag pin might get you a smile from a taxi driver in New York, but it won't be recognized in some of the places around the world where Canadian companies are launching businesses in high risk and threat environments.
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Why This UNIT is Important In 2004 and 2005 we have seen a rapid rise in the number, and intensity, of situations outside Canada where Canadians get in to serious trouble.
  • terrorist bombings
  • earthquakes
  • tsumani
  • hurricanes and flooding
  • riots and urban warfare
It is increasingly important that Canadians travelling on international business make serious contingencies and take better precautions in order to conduct their business in a safe way so that no harm comes to them, their equipment and company resources.
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contingency 
planning 
& business 
continuity 
solutions
preventive measures		 There are some preventive measures that can be taken to reduce the effect of threat and risk.
One of the most obvious preventive measure is to tell your own government where you are so if there is a disaster, people can contact you, or get help for you.
Register with the local Canadian embassy or consulate in the region.
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http://www.mcteague.ca Dan McTeague, a hard working MP from the very multi-cultural riding of Pickering-Ajax-Uxbridge, (and friend for many years of Prof. Tim Richardson) serves as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs with special emphasis on Canadians Abroad.

McTeague recommends registering with the Embassy or local Consulate. Registering means going to the Embassy, or Consulate and filling out a card listing your next of kin to be in contact if something bad happens to you and you are not in a position to make contact to relatives in Canada yourself. McTeague also explains that you can register online simply by going to  www.voyage.gc.ca .
Reasons 
to 
register
  • you could be falsely arrested and in jail
  • you could be unconscious in a hospital
  • you could be lost in the jungle or mountains
  • you could be a victim in a hurricane, earthquake, or flood
  • somebody back in Canada may need to find you for a family emergency
  • many things could happen that might require people to come look for you 
McTeague noted in a newspaper article Oct 31st, 2005
"While the responsibility to help Canadians is one your government takes seriously, the traveller too must take certain measures to assess risk and carefully plan ahead.... Consulate help works, but it is up to individual travellers to make themselves count in the first place"
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preventive measures

 
www.voyage.gc.ca

At www.voyage.gc.ca you can also find information on 

  • travel updates
  • extreme weather warnings
  • information about regulations for bring items back in to Canada
  • emergency contact telephone numbers and email addresses
  • new regulations about  travel documentation
  • health considerations related to particular diseases in some countries
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preventive measures

cautions and warnings about danger in particular regions and countries

 
www.voyage.gc.ca

cautions and warnings about danger in particular regions and countries

  • Example: voyage.gc.ca reported "...October 29, 2005, a series of explosions took place in popular markets in New Delhi (Paharganj, Sarojini Nagar, and Govindpuri). Security has been heightened across the city and countrywide. A "red alert" has been declared in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. Markets have been closed, and citizens have been told to stay at home."
  • "Canadians in the region should exercise caution and maintain a high level of personal security awareness at all times and in all places. ...Canadians seeking emergency consular assistance in the area should contact the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi, or the Emergency Operations Centre in Ottawa, collect at (613) 996-8885."
  • "Canadians with good reason to believe that Canadian relatives are in the affected areas may contact the Emergency Operations Centre at 1 800 387-3124; (613) 943-1055 in Ottawa; or by e-mail at sos@international.gc.ca."
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preventive measures

Problems if you do not register

 
Problems if you do not register
  • One of the biggest problems faced by the Canadian Embassy in Thailand in early January 2005, is that they did not know the names of all the Canadians that were in the country when the tsunami struck Dec 26th - so when relatives call from Canada, they cannot answer many questions
  • When the hurricane caused flooding in New Orleans and evacuation happened quickly, many people in Canada tried to call Ottawa to see if there relatives were safe in New Orleans - but very few Canadians in New Orleans would ever have thought to register at a Canadian consulate
    • Canada has opened a new Consulate in Houston in 2005, which is the closest one to New Orleans, but many people visiting New Orleans from Canada would have never thought to make sure someone knew precise details about their trip since such a massive flood was never anticipated
  • In October 2005 Canadians on vacation in Mexico were in danger due to the damage cause by the Hurricane Wilma
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preventive measures

If you get in trouble
If you get in trouble
  • One of the situations faced by Canadians that do register at the Canadian Embassy is that if you "get in to trouble" the Embassy sometimes has limited resources to help you, and they are bound by the local laws of the host country
  • It is also true that the limited budget of the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs means that we DO NOT have embassies and consulates in all countries around the world so there may be no direct Canadian government help available
  • Sometimes, it is possible for Canadians to get help from the British Embassy since Canadians are still considered members of the British Commonwealth
  • A list of British Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates is available at
 www.fco.gov.uk
 
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examples
of
problems
dealing
with border 
crossings
Canadian Saul Itzhayek 
- held prisoner in a jail in a remote part of northern India		  Paul Workman, South Asia Bureau Chief for CTV news and  Christian Cotroneo of the Globe and Mail have written stories in January and February 2008 about Canadian Saul Itzhayek who has been held prisoner in a jail in the city of Motiharia in the state of Bihar, which has the distinction as India's poorest, most backward, and most lawless.
The story that Itzhayek tells to the Canadian media is that he was in Nepal on a business trip "...and sent a driver into India to pick up a money transfer. The Indian police stopped the driver at the border, and in turn asked Itzhayek to come into India and explain what was going on. He knew he didn't have a valid visa, but says the police offered him safe passage. When he arrived in the country, he was questioned and then charged with "violating India's sovereignty."

Journalist Paul Workman explains "In a sworn statement, Itzhayek says the police demanded a bribe. He offered them 50,000 rupees, which is about $1,200, but says they wanted 500,000 rupees, and wouldn't give him time to raise the money." The Indian police then put him in jail.

Apparently the Canadian High Commission in India is not able to affect his release [as of Feb 2008]. When the Canadian High Commissioner was challenged that this is a simple case of corruption, he was quoted as saying "There is in India a degree of corruption that is widely publicized here, the government itself discusses it. Whether that's at play in this case or not, and how, I simply don't know"
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