Foreign Affairs to close at least 4 consulates in U.S.

The federal government is expected to announce next week the closing of some of Canadas consulates in the U.S. as well as domestic trade offices, CBC News has learned.

Canada has 21 consular and trade offices across the U.S., in addition to the embassy in Washington, D.C.

CBC News has learned at least four of those consulates will close, Greg Weston reports, and their operations consolidated with other consulates.

Foreign Affairs also operates 18domestic trade offices across Canada, which are intended to help businesses sell abroad and to attract foreign investment; seven of those officesare expected toclose.

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 redirectedto themore rapidly expanding economies in China, India and South America.