Emails reveal the Canadian government pushed Denmark to expedite the appointment of former cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett as ambassador, raising questions about the urgency behind the move.
Longtime Liberal cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett was appointed as the Canadian ambassador to Denmark in a move that raised eyebrows due to its unusual speed. Emails obtained through an access-to-information request revealed that the Canadian government pressure d Denmark to expedite Bennett's approval, pushing for her installation months ahead of schedule.
The emails show a series of requests from the Privy Council Office (PCO), which supports the prime minister, to Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to have Bennett accepted by Denmark as quickly as possible. GAC staff, in turn, urged the Canadian ambassador to Denmark, Denis Robert, to push for the expedited approval. Bennett announced her retirement from politics in July 2023 and was shuffled out of cabinet days later. The Liberal party lost her former seat of Toronto-St. Paul's in a byelection the previous year. The emails show that Robert repeatedly pressed for a quicker timeline for Bennett's appointment, even suggesting that she could start in the spring. However, he also noted that, to his knowledge, there was no pressing national interest or personal urgency that warranted such an expedited transition. Another GAC official responded to Robert, stating that the government was keen to have the posting filled as soon as possible and that waiting until the end of the fiscal year was not feasible.Despite the government's efforts, Denmark initially indicated that the process would take three to four months, a standard timeline called 'agrément'. However, Denmark eventually approved Bennett's appointment in early 2024, significantly faster than the original timeframe. The documents also reveal that staff at the embassy in Copenhagen learned of Bennett's appointment through an accidental email from a GAC manager, who apologized for the oversight. Shortly after this email was circulated, Radio-Canada reported on Bennett's pending appointment, highlighting the unusual circumstances surrounding her diplomatic posting. The PCO declined to comment on the reasons behind the expedited timeline for Bennett's appointment. GAC also declined to grant an interview with Bennett.
Carolyn Bennett Denmark Canada Ambassador Appointment Government Pressure Diplomatic Posting Privy Council Office Global Affairs Canada Expedited Approval Political Appointments
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