Prime Minister Stephen Harper: Foreign Affairs Department

Harper Dept: Prime Minister Stephen Harper first promised the new branch, to be housed within the Foreign Affairs department, during the 2011 federal election campaign, though officials have been unable to find a commissioner to take the job, according to CTV. Opposition critics and human rights groups have said the office is a misguided attempt to inject religion into foreign policy. They also questioned what exactly the new office can accomplish with a modest $5-million budget and details about the long-awaited federal Office of Religious Freedom are expected to be announced at a mosque north of Toronto this afternoon. On Tuesday afternoon, Harper, along with Minister of International Co-operation Julian Fantino and Citizenship Minister Jason Kenny, are scheduled to make the announced in Maple, Ont. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.