News >> FAQ

What is the news section?

The News section acts as a central location for all new information related to the Foreign Policy Dialogue site. Visitors should bookmark this page for quick access to the most current site information and to send letters to the Editor. Visitors to this section will find frequently updated summaries of the public's response to the minister's questions and of discussions occurring in the forums. Participants in this electronic consultation can find the weekly summaries in this section.

How can I find out what is going on in this dialogue?

Participants should check here for progress reports on this on-line consultation and to keep abreast of upcoming events related to the dialogue on foreign policy.

How can I find information from earlier in this dialogue?

Periodically, news items will be removed from the main News page and listed in the Archive section. News items will not be removed from the site, but their currency will determine whether or not they remain in the News or What's New sections. Site visitors can click on the Archive link to read older news items.

Can I view a composite of recent summaries?

Bulletins provide an overview of this dialogue by summarizing the contributions which citizens have made through their responses to the minister's questions and in the discussion forum. This is a useful tool for people without a great deal of time to devote to this dialogue, but with an interest in participating in and following this discussion. Click on the Bulletin link to access these documents.

Do I need to register in order to subscribe?

No.

What are bulletins?

The bulletins are summaries of the messages on the electronic consultation and of the summaries prepared daily.

How often will they be sent out?

Weekly.

How can I Subscribe to the Bulletin?

Interested participants can receive the bulletin by subscribing on this page.

Who prepares the bulletins?

The writers on this site (known as "scribes") prepare daily summaries. They are members of the public, who are trained to present unbiased and fair-minded highlights and trends in the consultations. They do not represent nor speak for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The summaries are sent to editors at the Canadian Centre for Foreign Policy Development (at DFAIT). The editors review this material, and prepare the bulletins. All of these facilitators of this electronic consultation are members of the public. They do not represent nor speak for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

What if I disagree with a summary in the Bulletin?

You may write a letter to the editors. All letters are read and considered.

What is a notice?

The notice is an occasional e-mail alert that calls attention to special events, such as the Minister's Town Halls, or appearance of new features on the consultation web site.

Can I comment on the summaries and Bulletins?

Click on the link in this section to express (via email) any concerns that you may have regarding these elements of this dialogue. By sending feedback to the editors, participants can take an active role in ensuring that the summaries and bulletins remain fair and unbiased. This commentary will assist in the preparation of the final report to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

How will the final report be prepared?

The web site team conducted an analysis of all answers received, in conjunction with the McLuhan global research network and the Knowledge Media Design Institute at the University of Toronto. Trained analysts used quantitative and qualitative software and techniques to prepare a report for the Canadian Centre for Foreign Policy Development (CCFPD). The CCFPD coordinated the final report from the electronic consultation to the Minister. The Minister then reported to the public and government in June, 2003. The report is available here.