Canadian ambassador to U.S. apologizes to MPs for English-only invite

OTTAWA — Canadian ambassador to the U.S. Mark Wiseman has apologized for sending an invitation to members of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee for a reception at the embassy in Washington D.C. on May 12 — in English only.

Speaking at the committee on Thursday, Wiseman recognized that the invitation that went out was an “unacceptable error” and new invitations have now been issued in both official languages.

“I want to apologize on behalf of the embassy and personally,” he said.

Wiseman’s apology came after a stern public rebuke by Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said during an unrelated press conference that the situation was “unacceptable.”

“I’m disappointed. I’m disappointed in him, disappointed in his office,” he said.

Wiseman, a financier and close friend of the prime minister, became Canada’s top diplomat in Washington D.C. in February. His nomination was criticized in Quebec because of past comments about immigration and the supply management system.

His invite caused further consternation among MPs of all stripes that Wiseman may be completely disconnected from a province he has to defend in trade talks.

“Mr. Wiseman is not a wise man,” said Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. “It’s a lack of respect for the French language and it puts into question Mr. Carney’s commitment to protect the interests of Quebec and francophones in negotiations with the U.S.”

Liberal MP Steven Guilbeault even tabled a motion to reaffirm the committee’s concerns that the Canadian Embassy had not respected both official languages.

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said the least Wiseman could do is apologize for his “lack of consideration” for Quebecers and francophones in general.

Blanchet also offered to help the new ambassador better grasp the cultural differences in Quebec, and said his team is already busy with setting up a meeting.

In 2023, Wiseman retweeted a Globe and Mail column calling for the Century Initiative’s aim of increasing Canada’s population to 100 million by 2100 to become federal policy “even if it makes Quebec howl.” Wiseman has since deleted his publication on X.

Wiseman has also penned opinion pieces calling for Canada to increase its productivity, and, in one of them, took aim at the “sacred cow of supply management.” Quebec is home to many dairy farms and could be vulnerable to any further breaches in future trade talks.

Asked by Bloc MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe on Thursday how he can reconcile his personal views on the issue with the public stance he has to take, the ambassador said his role will be to support and implement the policies of the federal government.

“Whatever my views may have been or may be today, it’s completely irrelevant to the job that I have to carry out … in protecting supply management,” said Wiseman.

On Thursday, Carney said his government has been very clear that it intends to protect supply management and the cultural exemptions in Quebec in trade talks with the U.S.

While he reiterated his trust in his ambassador, he said he does not have the final say.

“I have tremendous respect for Mr. Wiseman, and he’s the right person for the job, because he’s very good at strategy deals,” he said.

“But he’s a diplomat, not a decider, and the decider is the Government of Canada.”

It is not the first time that Carney has lambasting a prominent Canadian business executive for failing to use both official languages.

Last month, Carney used similar words regarding Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau’s unilingual English video after the loss of two pilots in a tragic crash at the LaGuardia airport, including one who was a francophone living in Quebec.

“I’m very disappointed as others are, rightly so,” said Carney of the situation.

Days later, it was announced that Rousseau would retire as Air Canada CEO in the fall.

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