Advisor To Carlyle Group to serve as Canadian Ambassador to the US
Date: Friday, January 07 2005
Topic: Canadian News
Advisor to Carlyle group to serve as Canadian ambassador to the US
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THE CITIZEN
Latest News
McKenna tackles top diplomatic job
Bush family friend entrusted with patching up tattered ties with U.S.
Anne Dawson, with files from Sheldon Alberts in Washington
The Ottawa Citizen; with files from The Canadian press
Thursday, January 06, 2005
CREDIT: Kevin Van Paassen, National Post
A trusted friend and ally of Prime Minister Paul Martin, Frank McKenna is also closely associated with many Washington insiders.
Former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna, a friend of President George W. Bush's family and other influential Washington power brokers, will accept the post of ambassador to the United States, pending U.S. approval.
Reports that Mr. McKenna has already accepted the job are "pretty accurate," said a U.S. source who added "an official notice within the next few weeks is expected."
Another senior U.S. official said the Canadian government informed the Bush administration before Christmas that Mr. McKenna will be the next ambassador to Washington, D.C.
Mr. McKenna, 56, is out of the country and unavailable for interviews until his return next week and his executive assistant would only say he is considering the offer.
"Yes, he has been offered the job. Yes, he is considering it," said Ruth McCrea, who works with Mr. McKenna at his Moncton law office, McInnes Cooper.
Friends in New Brunswick said they have been told he has accepted the four- to five-year posting as ambassador.
Prime Minister Paul Martin praised his friend and political ally during a Montreal news conference yesterday.
"Frank McKenna is a Canadian who has great qualities and if he decides that he wants to serve his country, then I'm sure that we would all benefit from it," said Mr. Martin.
The prime minister has spoken repeatedly of his desire to strengthen Canada's tattered relationship with its closest neighbour and largest trading partner and of the need to appoint more politicians to key diplomatic posts.
Traditionally, such a position as this would go to a career diplomat like Michael Kergin, who is the current envoy to Washington.
But Mr. Martin believes the skills of a politician would better serve Canada when it comes to resolving contentious issues between countries. Mr. McKenna would be the first former politician to head the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Mr. McKenna is on the advisory board of the powerful Carlyle Group, a private, $18.9-billion equity firm that boasts some of Washington's most influential players, including former U.S. treasury secretary James Baker, former U.S. defence secretary Frank Carlucci, and former British prime minister John Major.
Former president George Bush Sr. has worked for the Carlyle Group and is a friend of Mr. McKenna. The two have golfed together and this friendship will undoubtedly help open doors to the White House. His friendship with Mr. Baker, who is considered the ultimate Washington insider, will also pay huge dividends for Mr. McKenna on Capitol Hill in reaching the top ranks of government departments.
Donald Savoie, a close friend of Mr. McKenna and a professor at the University of Moncton, said the former premier would bring a "can-do attitude" to the critical but sensitive arena of Canada-U.S. relations.
"He inspired New Brunswickers with his can-do attitude, the belief that you can do anything you want to," Mr. Savoie said.
"He would go to Washington with a burst of energy and commitment that would take the U.S. capital by storm."
Mr. McKenna currently holds seats on nine corporate boards, including chairman at CanWest Global Communications Corp., which owns the Citizen and several major newspapers across the country.
He is expected to have to resign those posts upon formally accepting the job.
Mr. McKenna was New Brunswick premier for a decade from 1987 to 1997 and seriously considered taking a run at the federal Liberal leadership in 2003 before deciding to endorse Mr. Martin. He also considered running in the last election and was touted as a possible cabinet minister, but decided against that, too, when the Liberal incumbents in the New Brunswick seats he was interested in declined to make way for him.
Former foreign affairs minister John Manley, who ran against Mr. Martin for the Liberal leadership, was first offered the ambassadorship last year, but he turned it down and took a job at a law practice in Ottawa. Mr. Manley is expected to seek the Liberal leadership in the future.
Our New Man in Washington
© The Ottawa Citizen 2005
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