Canada recently announced full ambassadors to Cambodia and Laos, following through on a Liberal pledge from last fall to upgrade our diplomatic missions in those countries to full embassies.

Erstwhile head of the Indo-Pacific Strategy Secretariat Christian DesRoches is Canada’s new envoy to Cambodia, and current chargé d’affaires in Laos Kent Vachon becomes ambassador.

Then-prime minister Justin Trudeau had announced in October during a visit to Laos that Canada would open a full mission there and in Cambodia. Global Affairs Canada’s website confirms our missions in both Vientiane, Laos, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia, were upgraded to full embassies back in March “as part of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.” Prior to this, Canada’s ambassador to Thailand, Ping Kitnikone, was concurrently accredited to Laos and Cambodia. She remains as ambassador to Thailand.

Desrochers and Vachon’s appointments are just two on a slate of 24 head-of-mission postings that Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand announced on July 3.

In other head-of-mission appointments in Asia, Tarik Khan succeeds Leslie Scanlon as high commissioner to Pakistan; Philippe Lafortune becomes ambassador to Korea, replacing Tamara Mawhinney; and James Nickel takes over from Shawn Steil as ambassador to Vietnam. Vicky Singmin hands over the keys to our mission to ASEAN in Jakarta to Ambra Dickie; Isabelle Martin arrives from leading Canada’s mission in Qatar to be the new high commissioner in Sri Lanka, replacing Eric Walsh; and Stephen Doust is the new ambassador to Mongolia, taking over from Sandra Choufani who is headed to Côte d’Ivoire to replace Anderson Blanc.

Honing in on Africa, Blanc leaves Côte d’Ivoire to replace Sara Nicholls in Mozambique. Nicolas Simard becomes ambassador to Ethiopia, replacing Joshua Tabah who is heading to Kenya to be our high commissioner and permanent representative to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme and to the UN Environment Programme, succeeding Christopher Thornley. Alexandre Bilodeau takes over from Lorraine Diguer as ambassador to Tunisia, while Marie-Claude Harvey becomes high commissioner to Cameroon, replacing Lorraine Anderson. 

Looking over to the Middle East, the aforementioned Martin’s post in Qatar will be filled by new ambassador Karim Morcos. Meanwhile, Gregory Galligan succeeds Stefanie McCollum as ambassador to Lebanon, and Natalie Britton will become consul general in Istanbul, Turkey, replacing Tara Scheurwater who is headed to Kuwait to take over from Aliya Mawani as ambassador.

In Europe, Alison Grant is Canada’s new ambassador to Austria and permanent representative to the International Organizations in Vienna, replacing Troy Lulashnyk; Patrick Hébert replaces Jeanette Stovel as ambassador to Finland; and Patrick Wittmann passes the head-of-mission portfolio in Switzerland to Jean-Paul Lemieux.

And in South America, Jean-Dominique Ieraci will become ambassador to Peru, replacing Louis Marcotte; and Craig Kowalik succeeds Stephen Potter as ambassador to Ecuador.

NDP leadership hopefuls start lining up

A pair of potential candidates have signalled their entry into the race to succeed Jagmeet Singh as the New Democratic Party’s permanent leader. Ontario farmer Tony McQuail launched his bid on June 23, and Quebec author Yves Engler was put forward as the NDP Socialist Caucus’ pick on July 7.

McQuail has been a regular Huron–Bruce, Ont., NDP candidate since the 1980s. He told CTV News that his bid will aim to create a union between the Greens and New Democrats. “The two parties need to figure out what they can agree on, not what they need to fight about, so that we can start having a political party that has a strong progressive and environmental policy to deal with the crisis we’re in,” he said.

The Montreal-based Engler is founder of the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute.

“Forty years of neo-liberal capitalist policies has led to radically increased inequality and homelessness as well as a weakened working class and social welfare system,” Engler said in a press release. “It’s time for the NDP to take on unmitigated corporate power and fight for a democratic economy that puts workers first. We stand for the billions, not the billionaires.” 

NDP MP Don Davies was named as the party’s interim leader on May 5.

Dhanraj out at CBC

CBC journalist Travis Dhanraj has exited the public broadcaster more than 18 months after taking over the helm of the CBC News Network’s primetime Canada Tonight program. In an email sent to CBC colleauges, Dhanraj said he was “forced to resign,” and that this “was not a voluntary decision.” Canada Tonight has since been replaced by Hanomansing Tonight, anchored by Ian Hanomansing.

Dhanraj had been missing from the airwaves for months, and his letter says his departure “comes after trying to navigate a workplace culture defined by retaliation, exclusion, and psychological harm. A place where asking hard questions—about tokenism masquerading as diversity, problematic political coverage protocols, and the erosion of editorial independence—became a career-ending move.”

In February, the network confirmed Dhanraj was on leave following a statement by Dhanraj’s lawyer Kathryn Marshall, which said “due to ongoing systemic issues” her client “has been compelled to step away for a time.”

Prior to his most recent stint at the CBC, Dhanraj was co-host of investigative consumer affairs program Marketplace, and has previously worked for the CBC as a senior parliamentary reporter, and a general assignment reporter in Edmonton and Toronto. The Calgary-born reporter also worked at CP24 and CTV News, and became the Queen’s Park bureau chief for Global News before returning to CBC in 2021.

Politicos converge on Calgary Stampede grounds

The 113^th annual Calgary Stampede is like catnip to politicians, with the federal types turning up in their best jeans and cowboy hats to eat pancakes and rub elbows.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre took a break from byelection campaigning in the Alberta riding of Battle River–Crowfoot to show off his horse-riding skills in the Stampede’s opening parade on July 4. “Thrilled to kick off the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth for 2025 in my hometown with [wife] Anaida. A celebration of enterprise, family, and rugged hard work,” he posted on X that day. 

Prime Minister Mark Carney starred at a Stampede-themed reception for big Liberal Party donors on July 5 in downtown Calgary. He was joined by Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski, Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson, and Tourism Minister Rechie Valdez. Carney showed off what Canadian Press reporter Bill Graveland described as less-than-stellar pancake-flipping skills the following day at a United Brotherhood of Carpenters event.

Meanwhile, Conservative MPs Blake Richards and Greg McLean documented their less-critiqued pancake-flipping skills at the many mandatory carb-loaded breakfasts on July 3. The Conservative Party also hosted a more protein-filled event on July 6 with a barbecue.

NDP interim Leader Don Davies popped over from his neighbouring province to take part on July 6, attending an Alberta NDP breakfast and an Equal Voice reception. Green Leader Elizabeth May was also in Calgary on July 5 to take in the sights and sounds.

The Stampede runs until July 13.

Kurek swims Upstream

Recently resigned Conservative MP Damien Kurek has found his next post as a principal with Upstream Strategy Group.

Kurek vacated his Battle River–Crowfoot, Alta., seat last month—shortly after securing it for a third time with 82 per cent of the vote—to allow party leader Pierre Poilievre to take a shot at returning to the House of Commons.

The government and public relations firm’s July 4 announcement says Kurek will “provide tailored government relations, public affairs, and stakeholder engagement solutions for Upstream’s clients in Alberta and beyond.”

“His deep roots in Alberta paired with his legislative expertise make him the perfect fit to deliver strategic value to our clients in Western Canada,” Upstream managing principal Chris Chapin said in the announcement.

Restored Victoria Gates return to Parliament Hill

Regular commuters along Wellington Street might have noticed something familiar is back on Parliament Hill. The Queen’s Gates have returned to their rightful place across from the Centennial flame after a year of restoration work in Montreal.

“We’re excited to welcome the Queen’s Gates back to Parliament Hill! This iconic landmark, first installed in 1876, was carefully restored over a year and visitors can enjoy its ornate craftsmanship once again,” the House of Commons posted on X on June 26.

Named in honour of Queen Victoria, the 2,000-lb cast iron and forged wrought iron gates were designed by Canadian architect Frederick J. Alexander, according to the Government of Canada’s website. While they were in Montreal, the gates had their paint stripped, their rust removed, and any missing decorative details were replaced with replicas crafted by restoration professionals. The budget for the restoration of the gates is listed as $2.4-million.

July 15 webinar asks about ‘mission-driven’ government work in Canada

The Institute for Research on Public Policy is hosting a webinar next week featuring two governance gurus from the United Kingdom.

Titled “What is ‘mission-driven’ government, and can it work here?” the July 15 webinar looks to unpack the U.K.’s experience with this governance approach, and to ponder whether there are any lessons from it for Canada to learn.

Jack Pannell of the U.K.’s Institute for Government and Dan Honig of University College London’s School of Public Policy will share their insights into the U.K. experience, and whether this approach can “work with the structure and culture of our federal public service.”

The event’s premise is inspired by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s mandate letter to cabinet in which he described “new approaches to governing,” referring to how ministers “should identify how specifically you can contribute to these missions.”

cleadlay@hilltimes.com

The Hill Times