Another 'pegger makes the big time

[imec]

The Premier of our province resigned Thursday and, on Friday, was named the next Canadian Ambassador to the U.S.


Doer named Canada's next U.S. ambassador
Last Updated: Friday, August 28, 2009 | 5:00 PM ET Comments589Recommend179
CBC News

Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets with Gary Doer, Canada's new ambassador-designate to the United States, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday. Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets with Gary Doer, Canada's new ambassador-designate to the United States, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)Gary Doer was introduced Friday in Ottawa as Canada's next ambassador to the United States, a day after surprising many political observers by announcing he was stepping down as premier of Manitoba.

"I was really honoured to have the offer, and I really appreciate being the ambassador-designate," he told reporters shortly after a morning meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

"So this will be the first time in my life I have to be diplomatic," said Doer, a 61-year-old Winnipegger.

full story: www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/08/28/doer-ambassador-washington.html

[bixaorellana]

Ha-ha ~~ goodbye voters who supported and depended on me! I'm off to greener pastures!

Imec, isn't that out of the ordinary? It would seem simple justice to his constituency for him to remain in office long enough for an election to be held.

[imec]

He's been the premier for 10 years and he led the party for 10 years as opposition leader prior to that. The consensus is he don't owe nobody nothin'.

[bixaorellana]

Are you in agreement with that? What happens now? Will someone be appointed in the interim, is there a vice-premier, or what?

[Deleted]

Being Canadian ambassador to the US must be about as exciting as ambassador to the Vatican, i.e. cushy nothing job, unlike Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, etc.

[imec]

Aug 29, 2009 20:53:22 GMT bixaorellana said:

Are you in agreement with that? What happens now? Will someone be appointed in the interim, is there a vice-premier, or what?

I'm happy to see him go as his government has done virtually nothing - and they will have less chance of winning without him. The party will elect a new leader who will assume the role until the next election. We don't elect a leader - we elect a governing party by voting for the candidate who we most prefer to run our own riding - the party with the most elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA's) governs.

[imec]

Aug 29, 2009 21:14:30 GMT kerouac2 said:

Being Canadian ambassador to the US must be about as exciting as ambassador to the Vatican, i.e. cushy nothing job, unlike Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, etc.

It's a plum job, to be sure - but there are sticky issues of trade to deal with. The so called "free trade agreement" (NAFTA) is far from free.

[Deleted]

I thought everything was fine as long as everything was to the advantage of the United States.

[lagatta]

bixa, a parliamentary system is very different from a presidential system (Mexico, like the USA, has a presidential system). Someone else in Doer's party caucus will take over until the next provincial elections. You might remember Tony Blair standing down and Gordon Brown becoming PM, and earlier, Margaret Thatcher standing down. It isn't at all rare in parliamentary systems.

[bixaorellana]

I have Canadian friends who have tried to explain the whole process to me. One thing I really admire about Canadians is how passionate and involved you all get in the politics of your country.