The appointment of Jonathan Wilkinson as the ambassador to the European Union will not affect the recent Liberal majority.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
Prime Minister Mark Carney appointed member of Parliament and former Trudeau cabinet minister Jonathan Wilkinson as ambassador to the European Union on Thursday
The Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that Mr. Wilkinson “brings three decades of experience at the intersection of public policy, technology, and international economic engagement.”
The appointment will not affect the recent Liberal majority, which was achieved after five opposition MPs crossed the floor and the government won three by-elections.
The Liberals will have 173 seats when Mr. Wilkinson leaves compared with 140 Conservatives, 22 Bloc Québécois, 5 NDP and one Green MP. There is one vacancy after Quebec New Democrat Alexandre Boulerice announced this week that he was leaving to enter provincial politics.
The governing Liberals stand a good chance of holding on to Mr. Wilkinson’s North Vancouver-Capilano riding. He has held the riding since 2015.
Mr. Wilkinson was regarded as a competent minister as Justin Trudeau’s natural resources minister. But he was dropped along with former defence minister Bill Blair, now serving as high commissioner in London.
Former cabinet minister Jonathan Wilkinson speaks about his appointment as Canada's ambassador to the European Union.
The Canadian Press
In a statement Thursday, Mr. Wilkinson said he is looking forward to the challenge of serving in Brussels and expanding trade ties in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff war.
“The world has changed in fundamental ways, and Canada faces new economic, geopolitical and environmental tests. Our closest trading relationship has become less predictable, and we are being called to build greater resilience in our economy and alliances,” he said.
The EU envoy’s role takes on greater weight as Mr. Carney seeks closer diplomatic, economic and military ties to Europe.
The Prime Minister accepted a rare invitation to attend this weekend’s summit of the European Political Community in Armenia.
He will be in the country’s capital of Yerevan from Saturday to Monday. It is the first time a non-European leader has taken part in this summit.
Europe created the twice annual summits after Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022.
In a press release, Mr. Carney’s office said the European talks will focus on Ukraine and collective defence but also “Canada as a premier destination for global capital and investments – including critical minerals, energy, defence and advanced technologies.”
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the NDP will have four seats upon the departure of Alexandre Boulerice. The party will have five seats.