Latest news with #MarcoMendicino
National Post
15 hours ago
- Business
- National Post
Prime Minister Mark Carney names former United Nations ambassador as chief of staff
TORONTO — Prime Minister Mark Carney has named Canada's former ambassador to the United Nations as his chief of staff. Article content Article content Carney announced on Sunday that Marc-André Blanchard would begin his post in July, taking over from Marco Mendicino, the former Liberal cabinet minister who had been doing the job on an interim basis. Article content 'Marc-André has a long and distinguished career as one of Canada's most accomplished builders, legal experts, executives, public servants, and diplomats serving as Canada's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations,' Carney wrote on X. Article content Blanchard currently serves as an executive at CDPQ Global, a Quebec-based investment firm responsible for managing pension funds and insurance plans. Article content In his post on X, Carney confirmed that Mendicino would remain his interim chief of staff into 'early summer.' Article content I am pleased to announce that Marc-André Blanchard will serve as my Chief of Staff beginning in July. Marc-André has a long and distinguished career as one of Canada's most accomplished builders, legal experts, executives, public servants, and diplomats including serving as… — Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) June 1, 2025 Article content He said Mendicino would be in the job as the Liberal government prepared to introduce its first legislation of the new session of Parliament and host G7 leaders when they meet in Alberta later this month, including U.S. President Donald Trump. Article content Article content Carney has named growing Canada's economy in the face of the president's trade war by knocking down interprovincial trade barriers and fast-tracking approvals for new energy and infrastructure projects as his top priorities. Article content Carney announced Blanchard as his chief of staff as he was set to meet with energy leaders in Calgary on Sunday and then travel to Saskatoon, where he will spend Monday meeting with the premiers for a First Ministers' Meeting. Article content National Post Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
CBC
16 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Mark Carney chooses former UN ambassador Marc-André Blanchard as his chief of staff
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Sunday afternoon he's selected former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations Marc-André Blanchard as his chief of staff. Blanchard will begin the job in July, replacing former cabinet minister Marco Mendicino. "Marc-André has a long and distinguished career as one of Canada's most accomplished builders, legal experts, executives, public servants, and diplomats including serving as Canada's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations," Carney said in a social media post. Blanchard served as Canada's ambassador to the UN from 2016 to 2020. He currently works as executive vice-president of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, which manages public pension plans and insurance programs in the province. He'll replace former cabinet minister Marco Mendicino, who took on the role after Carney won the Liberal leadership race in March. Sources told CBC News at the time that the former Liberal MP would be in his new role only temporarily. Opposition parties heavily scrutinized Carney's choice to hire Mendicino at the time, both for his time in cabinet and his stance on the Middle East.
CTV News
16 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
PM Carney taps former UN ambassador Marc-André Blanchard as chief of staff
Canada's former ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations Marc-André Blanchard will serve as Marc Carney's chief of staff beginning in July, the prime minister announced in a post on X Sunday. 'Marc-André has a long and distinguished career as one of Canada's most accomplished builders, legal experts, executives, public servants, and diplomats,' said Carney in the post. Sources have also confirmed with CTV News former justice minister David Lametti will also become the prime minister's principal secretary. Former minister of public safety Marco Mendicino has been serving as Carney's interim chief of staff. 'Marco Mendicino has my continued appreciation for his service as my Chief of Staff into the early summer,' said the Prime Minister in a post on X. With files from CTV's Colton Praill and Mike LeCouteur. This is a breaking news story. More details to come.
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Halting spy operation placed CSIS team in unnecessary danger, watchdog report says
A new spy watchdog report says an overseas Canadian Security Intelligence Service operation was suddenly halted by government officials, "creating unnecessary danger for the CSIS team" and raising questions about ministerial accountability. The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency found no written records indicating the decision to suspend the operation had been made by the CSIS director or the minister of public safety. The review agency says that unlike typical operational matters, the case involved senior political-level actors from across the federal government. The heavily redacted review agency report provides few clues about the actors in question or the nature of the overseas CSIS operation. However, it says the decision to halt the activities abroad in mid-operation caused harm to Canada's reputation, needlessly placed spies in danger and "raises serious concerns regarding CSIS's accountability mechanisms." In September 2022, the episode prompted Marco Mendicino, the public safety minister at the time, to ask the review agency to look at whether CSIS and the Public Safety Department were effectively supporting ministerial responsibility. Ultimately the sensitive operation in question was allowed to proceed after a delay. But the review reveals that senior CSIS officials had difficulty grappling with its temporary suspension. At one point, the CSIS director sent an email to senior officials within key security and intelligence portfolios stating, "time is quickly running out and the situation is getting much more tense on the ground. We need a decision tomorrow." The report indicates there was also uncertainty over who had authority to resume the operation. The review agency found that CSIS and the Public Safety Department failed in their responsibilities to "provide timely and accurate information" to the public safety minister about elements of the operation. The report concludes the system of ministerial accountability for CSIS "is in need of serious attention." Building a stronger system now will help prepare for future operations and reduce the likelihood of a repeat of past confusion and risk, the report adds. It recommends that when a decision affecting an active CSIS operation is not made by the spy service's director or delegates, it must come as a direction from the public safety minister and should be accompanied by a written record. It also urges the public safety minister to ensure the deputy minister obtains any information required to fulfil their responsibility to provide independent advice to the minister about CSIS activities and operations.
Global News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Global News
Halting CSIS operation put team in unnecessary danger: report
A new spy watchdog report says an overseas Canadian Security Intelligence Service operation was suddenly halted by government officials, 'creating unnecessary danger for the CSIS team' and raising questions about ministerial accountability. The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency found no written records indicating the decision to suspend the operation had been made by the CSIS director or the minister of public safety. The review agency says that unlike typical operational matters, the case involved senior political-level actors from across the federal government. The heavily redacted review agency report provides few clues about the actors in question or the nature of the overseas CSIS operation. However, it says the decision to halt the activities abroad in mid-operation caused harm to Canada's reputation, needlessly placed spies in danger and 'raises serious concerns regarding CSIS's accountability mechanisms.' Story continues below advertisement In September 2022, the episode prompted Marco Mendicino, the public safety minister at the time, to ask the review agency to look at whether CSIS and the Public Safety Department were effectively supporting ministerial responsibility. 2:11 CSIS watchdog flags 'gaps' in flow of information Ultimately the sensitive operation in question was allowed to proceed after a delay. But the review reveals that senior CSIS officials had difficulty grappling with its temporary suspension. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy At one point the CSIS director sent an email to senior officials within key security and intelligence portfolios stating, 'time is quickly running out and the situation is getting much more tense on the ground. We need a decision tomorrow.' The report indicates there was also uncertainty over who had authority to resume the operation. The review agency found that CSIS and the Public Safety Department failed in their responsibilities to 'provide timely and accurate information' to the public safety minister about elements of the operation. Story continues below advertisement The report concludes the system of ministerial accountability for CSIS 'is in need of serious attention.' Building a stronger system now will help prepare for future operations and reduce the likelihood of a repeat of past confusion and risk, the report adds. It recommends that when a decision affecting an active CSIS operation is not made by the spy service's director or delegates, it must come as a direction from the public safety minister and should be accompanied by a written record. It also urges the public safety minister to ensure the deputy minister obtains any information required to fulfil their responsibility to provide independent advice to the minister about CSIS activities and operations.
