Gary Doer new top envoy to U.S.

OTTAWA – Outgoing Manitoba Premier Gary Doer was named Canada’s new ambassador to the U.S. on Friday.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Doer will be taking over the role from current ambassador Michael Wilson, a former Conservative cabinet minister.

"You have always had great relations with all your first ministers but also you have always been a strong advocate of both good and assertive relations with the U.S.," said Harper, while meeting with Doer in his Parliament Hill office Friday.

"We are delighted you accepted the position of ambassador-designate to the U.S. We look forward to seeing you in Washington."

Doer responded by thanking the prime minister for the appointment.

"Thank you very much for the honour, prime minister, of representing Canada in Washington," he said.

Doer announced he was stepping down as premier Thursday, immediately triggering speculation about his plans and the Washington posting featured prominently in the mix.

Doer, however, refused to discuss his plans.

"I’m not going to speculate on what I’m going to be doing next," he told reporters, during a hastily called news conference announcing he would not run in the next provincial election.

Doer had been the longest-serving premier in the country.

Doer was elected premier in 1999 and had led the NDP to three consecutive majorities.

"We’ve tried to govern in a different way. We’ve tried to govern for all the people in this province. We have tried to be builders in this province," he said Thursday.

He was first elected to the provincial legislature in 1986.

Wilson’s predecessor, Frank McKenna, was also a former premier, in New Brunswick.

Fact Box

Canada’s chief representatives to the United States:

Michael Wilson

2006 –

Frank McKenna

2005 – 2006

Michael Kergin

2000 – 2005

Raymond Chretien

1994 – 2000

John de Chastelain

1993 – 1994

Derek Burney

1989 – 1993

Allan Gotlieb

1981 – 1989

Peter Towe

1977 – 1981

Jake Warren

1975 – 1977

Marcel Cadieux

1970 – 1975

A.E. Ritchie

1966 – 1970

C.S.A. Ritchie

1962 – 1966

A.D.P. Heeney

1959 – 1962

Norman Robertson

1957 – 1958

A.D.P. Heeney

1953 – 1957

H.H. Wrong

1946 – 1953

L.B. Pearson

1944 – 1946

Leighton McCarthy

1941 – 1944

Loring Christie

1939 – 1941

Sir Herbert Marler

1936 – 1939

W.D. Herridge

1931 – 1935

Vincent Massey

1927 – 1930