Prime Minister Mark Carney has selected former Liberal cabinet minister Jonathan Wilkinson to serve as Canada’s next ambassador to the European Union.
Wilkinson held senior cabinet roles as environment minister and natural resources minister under Justin Trudeau’s government but was not named to Carney’s cabinet following last year’s election.
Wilkinson has held his North Vancouver-Capilano riding for the Liberals throughout the past four elections. His appointment will spark a byelection in his riding when he steps down.
Wilkinson, in a statement, said he’ll quit his seat “in the coming months” and his departure will leave the Liberals with 173 seats in the House of Commons, where 172 is needed for a majority.
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But Toronto Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith has said he too will quit his seat this summer to focus on provincial politics and that will put the Liberals at 172.
That 172 includes Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia who, by tradition, does not vote unless there is a tie. So the departure of Wilkinson and Erskine-Smith would mean the Liberals could only muster 171 voting MPs versus the opposition’s 172 votes.
Montreal MP Alexandre Boulerice, now sitting as an independent MP after leaving the NDP caucus, will also quit the House of Commons for provincial politics, leaving the opposition with a combined 171 votes.
However, if those three MPs quit after the House rises for the summer in June and Prime Minister Mark Carney calls byelections before the House returns in September — and the Liberals win at least two of three byelections — those impacts on voting numbers would be avoided.
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The Prime Minister’s Office said in a news release that Wilkinson has “proven experience, judgment and leadership to advance Canada’s partnership with the EU.”
“With his vast experience as a minister, entrepreneur, and businessperson, Jonathan Wilkinson will drive this mission to help create greater security, prosperity, and sustainability on both sides of the Atlantic,” Carney stated in the news release.
Carney is expected to become the first non-European leader to partake in the European Political Community summit when he heads to Armenia this weekend.
The Prime Minister’s Office stated that Wilkinson will begin his new role this summer.
another plum job, and we DO NOT want to join the EU
Sadly, this is the best they have to choose from. I see that Gladu’s constituents are suing her for fraud. The same should be happening in all the floor crossers ridings.
When will our vaunted corporate media start questioning Carney’s leadership?
Oh dear, now the majority is even slimmer. They’ll have to bribe another MP from one of the opposition parties to get their cushion back.
Another Liberal getting a golden handshake for past service. The EU is only interested in Canada to get its control over its natural resources and Carney is naive enough to hand them over. The EU has destroyed the UK with their rules and regulations of quotas of everything and throw food away rather than let people go over those quotas
Wow, another no talent, failure Liberal gets a golden handshake at your expense, frankly I am shocked…..so no one…ever
Another pig at slop trough…
I thought Carney was an EU prince? Why inflict them with this dim-bulb, tie-flopping toadie? I guess he’s so hated he needs to be out of the spotlight. man I have zero use for these Liberals.