Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent diplomatic appointment has ignited a fresh wave of criticism in Quebec, with political opponents accusing the federal government of sidelining the province's interests. The source of the controversy is Carney's decision to name his close friend and investment banker, Mark Wiseman, as Canada's next ambassador to the United States.
Controversial Ties and Criticisms Fuel Discontent
The nomination is leaving a sour taste for many Quebecers due to Wiseman's past affiliations and public statements. Notably, he has been associated with the Century Initiative, a group that lobbies for a significant increase in Canada's population, aiming for 100 million people by the year 2100. In 2023, Wiseman retweeted a Globe and Mail column that argued this goal should become federal policy "even if it makes Quebec howl." Although the words were columnist Andrew Coyne's and Wiseman has since deleted the post, the association remains a potent symbol for critics.
Further stoking the flames, Wiseman has previously taken aim at Canada's agricultural supply management system, describing it as a "sacred cow" in opinion pieces calling for improved productivity. This position is particularly sensitive in Quebec, which is home to a significant number of dairy farms and is protective of the supply management framework.
A Pattern of Perceived Insensitivity?
Political observers suggest this appointment may be compounding existing tensions. Michel Breau, a former aide to Liberal ministers Mélanie Joly and Pablo Rodriguez, noted that while the decision alone might not severely damage Carney's standing, it adds to a growing list of federal actions viewed as insensitive to Quebec.
"You add this on top of the Alberta MOU and Steven Guilbeault’s departure from cabinet, on top of Marc Miller’s comments on the state of French in Quebec, and you start to have a little bit of a drip, drip, drip," Breau said. This accumulation, he argues, feeds into a narrative questioning whether Carney truly understands the province's concerns.
The recent comments by now-Culture Minister Marc Miller, who said he was "fed up" with the identity-based debate on French in Quebec, drew a fierce rebuke from Premier François Legault, who called Miller a "disgrace to all Quebecers."
Political Reactions and the Silence from Quebec City
While Legault's Coalition Avenir Québec government has remained conspicuously quiet on Wiseman's nomination, sovereignist parties have seized the opportunity. Parti Québécois MNA Pascal Paradis issued a sharp condemnation, framing the appointment as part of a longstanding federal disregard for Quebec.
"Mark Carney is proving once more that he is adhering to the good old federal tradition of not caring about Quebec," Paradis stated. "As long as Quebec will not be independent, we will not have our own voice in the concert of nations and we will be forced to submit to Ottawa’s choices that are against our own interests." The Bloc Québécois has similarly criticized the choice.
The political fallout raises questions about the potential impact on Carney's relationship with a province that delivered 44 MPs to his party in the last election, nearly granting him a majority government. Whether this controversy represents a minor stumble or the beginning of a more significant rift between Ottawa and Quebec remains a key point of watch for Canadian political analysts.
