Mélanie Joly denies rumours she plans to leave Carney’s cabinet to become ambassador to France

Then prime minister Justin Trudeau, centre, and Mélanie Joly, right, speak with French President Emmanuel Macron before a meeting on Parliament Hill on Sept. 26, 2024 in Ottawa. Photo by Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press

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Mélanie Joly, the federal industry minister, is denying rumours that she is set to be named Canada’s ambassador to France in a coming cabinet shuffle.

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Citing “multiple sources, Liberal and otherwise,” the Toronto Sun reported this week that Joly is “looking to be appointed” to the role.

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But a few hours later, asked if she had any interest in the job, Joly said “absolutely not.”

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“I’m focused on my job right now, which is to be the minister of industry, and to fight for every single job in this country at a time of trade tensions, and so I’ll continue to do that,” she told Mackenzie Gray, a journalist with Global News, during a video press conference from Japan on Wednesday.

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The posting to Paris, with its official residence next to the embassy in the chic 8th arrondissement, is among Canada’s most prestigious diplomatic jobs. It can be a reward for distinguished service in domestic politics, and also a safe place to quietly unload big names who have overstayed their time in federal cabinet.

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It tends to be the francophone counterpart to the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in London, a job now held by former senior Liberal cabinet minister Ralph Goodale. Bill Blair, who was minister of national defence until this past May, is reportedly being considered to replace Goodale.

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The present ambassador to France is Stéphane Dion, a former leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Previous holders include Lawrence Cannon, who was Quebec lieutenant to former prime minister Stephen Harper.

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Joly said she is keen to continue with her industry portfolio at a time of grave economic threats to Canadian industry.

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“I have a very strong sense of duty towards my country, and I’m very much aware that we have to be able to engage with the private sector and also with governments, so two of my expertises, which is business and at the same time geopolitics, are actually very useful for Canada right now,” she said.

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