Ambassador to the Republic of Poland

Stephen de Boer presented his credentials as Canada’s Ambassador to the Republic of Poland on December 2, 2015.  Mr. de Boer worked for 11 years for the Government of Ontario advising on trade and investment policy issues before beginning work with Global Affairs Canada in 2003.  He has held various positions in the department including as Director General for Trade Controls, Director of the Oceans and Environmental Law Division and Director of the Softwood Lumber Division.  From 2010-2013, he was the Deputy Chief Negotiator for Climate Change and Director General at Environment Canada promoting Canada’s environmental and economic interests in the development of a new agreement on climate change under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and advancing Canada’s interests in the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants.  Mr. de Boer also represented Canada during meetings of States Parties to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, during NAFTA negotiations concerning the clarification of various investor-state provisions and at the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.

Mr. de Boer received an award from the Minister of International Trade for his contribution to the conclusion and ratification of the Canada-U.S. Softwood Lumber Agreement  (2007) and received a Commendation from  the Deputy Minister of Environment Canada for his work during the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference (2010).

Mr. de Boer has published   and lectured on international trade and environmental issues including at the Faculty of Law at Western University, Ryerson University and at the School of Law at Case Western Reserve University.  Mr. de Boer is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Canada-U.S. Law Institute.

Mr. de Boer has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from Western University and a Master of Laws in International and Comparative Law from Georgetown University