Sacking of the Canadian Ambassador

[HK_Katherine]

So the Canadian ambassador sacked for pro-China comments in the Huawei case.

I wonder what China had on him?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47015700

[hullexile]

So the Canadian ambassador sacked for pro-China comments in the Huawei case.

I wonder what China had on him?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47015700

Had on him or had offered him? By stepping down I assume he keeps his future pension?

[shri]

Or may be he honestly thought that there was some amount of scapegoating going on?

[hullexile]

Or may be he honestly thought that there was some amount of scapegoating going on?

But as a diplomat he should know how to keep his gob shut whatever the truth

[cookie09]

It's a really weird case indeed. Very very unprofessional for a diplomat. And not just once but twice he overstepped.

Probably some stories with a few ladies or something

[civil_servant]

But as a diplomat he should know how to keep his gob shut whatever the truth

Unless he got the nod to proceed.

[freeier]

Frustrated that he has to manage a broken relationship that is not all his fault ?

What he said obviously has some sense that's why they are unhappy ?

[HK_Katherine]

Frustrated that he has to manage a broken relationship that is not all his fault ?

What he said obviously has some sense that's why they are unhappy ?

As noted in one of the articles I read on this, the role of an Ambassador is to reflect the policy of the Government he is employed by. He's not a politician with his own constituency and thus not allowed to have his own views. What he says is what the Government of Canada says. So if he says something that the Government of Canada does not agree with, the only way to make it clear to the international community that it was not GoC speaking, is to sack him.

Thus - he said something out of line. The question is why?

[hullexile]

As noted in one of the articles I read on this, the role of an Ambassador is to reflect the policy of the Government he is employed by. He's not a politician with his own constituency and thus not allowed to have his own views. What he says is what the Government of Canada says. So if he says something that the Government of Canada does not agree with, the only way to make it clear to the international community that it was not GoC speaking, is to sack him.

Thus - he said something out of line. The question is why?

I half heard on the tv that he is not a career diplomat but an ex politician.

[HK_Katherine]

I half heard on the tv that he is not a career diplomat but an ex politician.

Well that might certainly explain the lapse in judgement. I had not realised it before reading the article, but Ambassadors are quite a different kettle of fish.