Canada’s Prime Minister Carney names financier Mark Wiseman as the next ambassador to Washington

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed prominent financier Mark Wiseman as the country’s next ambassador to the United States, a decision announced Monday that comes at a pivotal moment in Canada-U.S. relations.

Wiseman, who will assume the role on February 15, joins the diplomatic corps as Canada prepares for crucial negotiations regarding the review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) set for 2026. This appointment signals Canada’s prioritization of economic expertise in its diplomatic strategy with its largest trading partner.

“Mark Wiseman brings immense experience, contacts, and deep commitment at this crucial time of transformation of our relationship with the United States,” Carney said in a statement. “As a core member of our negotiating team, he will help advance the interests of Canadian workers, businesses, and institutions.”

Wiseman replaces outgoing ambassador Kirsten Hillman, who announced her resignation earlier this month after guiding bilateral relations through the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition between the Trump and Biden administrations.

With a storied career in finance, the 55-year-old Wiseman previously led the investment fund of the Canada Pension Plan and managed equity funds at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. His international profile expanded significantly in 2016 when he joined BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, as senior managing director and global head of active equities.

At BlackRock, Wiseman was considered a potential successor to CEO Larry Fink before his departure in 2019 following his failure to disclose a consensual relationship with a colleague, violating company policy. He subsequently chaired the Alberta Investment Management Corp.

Notably, Wiseman has personal ties to Prime Minister Carney, who himself brings significant financial experience as the former head of both the Bank of Canada (2008-2013) and the Bank of England (2013-2020). This connection underscores what appears to be a strategy of leveraging financial expertise to navigate complex trade relationships.

“Mark Wiseman is a business type with Wall Street connections whose profile is in sync with the current focus on trade and economic investment of both the Carney government and the Trump administration. Yet, Wiseman has no prior diplomatic experience,” observed Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal.

The appointment comes against a backdrop of periodic tensions in the bilateral relationship. In October, former President Donald Trump abruptly halted tariff negotiations with Canada after the Ontario provincial government published an anti-tariff advertisement in the United States. This followed earlier friction when Trump suggested Canada should become “the 51st U.S. state,” a comment that sparked considerable controversy north of the border.

Despite these occasional diplomatic flare-ups, the economic integration between the two nations remains profound. Canada stands as the top export destination for 36 U.S. states, with approximately CAD$3.6 billion (USD$2.7 billion) in goods and services crossing the border daily. The energy relationship is particularly significant, with Canada supplying about 60% of U.S. crude oil imports and 85% of U.S. electricity imports.

Canada also maintains strategic importance as the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum, and uranium to the United States. Additionally, the country possesses 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon considers vital for national security, making the relationship strategically important beyond just commercial considerations.

As Wiseman prepares to take up his diplomatic post, he will face the complex task of maintaining Canada’s economic interests while navigating the political landscape of Washington. The upcoming review of the USMCA in 2026 will likely be among his most significant challenges, especially given the inclusion of a potential renegotiation clause that was inserted at the insistence of the Trump administration during the original negotiations.

This high-profile appointment reflects Canada’s recognition that economic diplomacy will be central to maintaining its most important bilateral relationship in the years ahead.