While there’s no fast rule, the job of Canada’s ambassador to Washington often goes to a former politician or a high-profile Canadian who comes from outside of the ranks of career diplomats. But Kirsten Hillman, who took the post just over a year ago after serving as deputy ambassador, is very much from the public service side of Global Affairs Canada. A lawyer who grew up in southern Winnipeg and Calgary, she’s held various senior trade positions within the department.
“I spoke with her this week about the changes in the relationship between Canada and the United States now with Joseph R. Biden as president. Our conversation has been edited for clarity and length.” Ian Austen. Since Joseph R. Biden Jr. became president of the United States, the rhetoric from the White House about Canada has changed. Have you seen similar changes in your working relationship with the administration.
“At the meeting between the president and the prime minister, we set up with the Americans what we are calling a road map. Often, statements at the leaders’ level are quite aspirational. They’re ‘we really believe in this, and we’re hoping to go that direction.'” This is very different. This is very action oriented. It’s “we’re going to set up this group of people, and they are going to achieve this.” The president and his National Security Council are now getting biweekly updates on what we are doing to advance the 30-some objectives that we’ve made, and our government is doing the same.
This administration has given some very clear signals with respect to its trade policy, and those signals are that it’s going to approach trade policy as a tool for achieving its overall economic policy, which is recovery. What’s really important is to keep a close eye on is that as these policies are translated into concrete action, they achieve those goals and don’t unintentionally do what they’re not designed to do.