Canada to close consulates in US

The Canadian government is expected to announce next week the closing of some consulates in the US as well as domestic trade offices, CBC News has learned. Canada has 21 consular and trade offices across the US, in addition to the embassy in Washington, D.C. CBC News has learned at least four of those consulates will close. Foreign Affairs also operates 18 domestic trade offices across Canada, which are intended to help businesses sell abroad and to attract foreign investment; seven of those offices are expected to close. The Foreign Affairs Department received a six per cent cut to its spending in the March 29 federal budget, but until now there have been few details about where the cuts would be made. Larger cuts are expected to affect Foreign Affairs trade operations in Europe, as resources are redirected to the more rapidly expanding economies in China, India and South America.