Foreign Affairs Committee on April 23rd, 2026

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

I'll ask again: Why hasn't that meeting taken place, then? The Americans have said they're ready, willing and able as well.

[Mark Wiseman]

It takes two sides to have a meeting.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Right, but if both sides are saying they're ready and willing to negotiate, and they're not meeting, obviously something else is going on. I might not be the smartest man, but I can certainly figure that out. What's going on?

[Mark Wiseman]

I believe I've answered the question to the best of my ability.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Is it because, as was reported in The Wall Street Journal, that the Prime Minister is waiting for the U.S. to address some of his concerns? Is that why there are no meetings taking place?

[Mark Wiseman]

I can't speculate as to why meetings are or are not taking place.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

You're the ambassador, and you say you're ready and willing to have meetings, yet somehow you don't know why there are no meetings. I think that's deeply troubling. You should know why there are no meetings taking place.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you very much.

We'll go next to MP Vandenbeld.

You have five minutes.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Ambassador Wiseman, for being here. I note that earlier you talked about how well supported you feel. I think all Canadians feel that we all, parliamentarians included, need to have your back because it is extremely important that we're all pushing in the same direction on these important files. Thank you so much for answering our questions.

To switch a little, you mentioned in your opening remarks that you have, of course, 600 diplomatic and professional staff. Nobody today has asked you about the consular work that is done by those professionals and diplomats. Perhaps you could comment a bit about some of the work that we're doing on the consular side.

[Mark Wiseman]

Thank you.

I know that we and all Canadians are very focused on the tariffs situation, particularly the section 232s. I know that we are all very interested in the CUSMA review that will take place. However, I think it's also important to remember the breadth and depth of both the relationship with the United States and also the scope of work, as the question indicated, that takes place in the embassy and consulates.

There is a tremendous amount of consular work that goes on: protecting and ensuring that the rights of Canadians in the United States are respected to the fullest extent of the law, and assisting Canadians in need, particularly when tragedies take place. As you saw, our consulate in New York got involved immediately after the horrible events at LaGuardia about a month ago. The job of our embassy and consulates is to support Canadians when in need and also to promote Canadians.

For example, we're working hand-in-hand with our friends in the United States and Mexico on the upcoming FIFA World Cup—I was briefed on that today by Secretary van Koeverden—because it's a very important part of our relationship with both the United States and Mexico. It's a great opportunity for us to share and to celebrate together, while also making sure that we can do so in a way that Canadians, Americans, Mexicans and those from around the world who come to experience the World Cup on our continent will be protected and be able to do so in a safe way.

We have cultural and art connectivity as well. Some of that takes place in our embassy.

Of course, this is also a very important year in the United States. We will help and celebrate, with our American friends, the 250th anniversary of their nation.

I think it's a very good point: We're very focused, and we should be focused on economic matters, trade, unjustified tariffs and the CUSMA review. However, each and every day those 600 people—whether they are from law enforcement, consular services, cultural attachés, our Canadian military, the RCMP, etc.—are working hand-in-hand with Americans and their agencies to ensure our mutual interests.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

You said earlier that part of your job is to talk to Americans about how important the Canada-U.S. relationship is to them.

I think we have only about a minute left, but could you comment on what some of those things are?

[Mark Wiseman]

Part of the job—and unfortunately, Mr. Chair, it is true that a lot of it seems to involve eating—is to interact socially with Americans, in due course. I've only been there for two months, and I've made the decision that I'm not yet in the position to engage with American media. At some point, we may decide that it makes sense strategically.

I am the representative of Canada in the United States, in every part of that. It is a critical part of my job. I recognize that I am a public figure. That means I have to be front and centre as our representative, and that's not just on economic matters.

I'll give one more example. In July, there will be a game between the Washington Nationals and the Toronto Blue Jays in Washington, D.C. It's on Canada Day, so I'm going to be practising because I think I'm going to get to throw out the first pitch.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

That's excellent. We look forward to that.

Next, our final questions will come from Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.

You have two and a half minutes.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ambassador, as my party's critic for foreign affairs, I have the opportunity to meet a number of ambassadors from various countries. Part of an ambassador's role is to have a thorough understanding of the history of the country they represent. I have often had the opportunity to meet ambassadors who walk me through the history of their country in detail, which helps us better understand it.

Since that is part of your mandate, you will be called upon to speak with your interlocutors to help them understand Canadian history.

For example, if someone were to ask you, in your role as ambassador, to describe what the Quiet Revolution was in Quebec, how would you summarize it?

[Mark Wiseman]

One thing that I'm quite proud of—and I described my education at the beginning—is that I indeed have a degree in history from Queen's University. That was my first degree. I spent a tremendous amount of time studying Canadian history, broadly speaking, from coast to coast. I will say that was a number of years ago, so some of it is a bit rusty.

I agree with the question. My job is to represent Canada and to explain Canada.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

My question was specifically this: How would you describe the Quiet Revolution, in broad strokes, to someone who asked about it?

[Mark Wiseman]

I don't think it's my role or this committee's role to talk about the Quiet Revolution. However, I will agree with the question. I do have to broadly know, as part of my role, the nuances of Canadian history, including the history of Quebec. I spend quite a bit of time explaining to Americans the nature of Canada's formation—

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I'm waiting for my answer on the Quiet Revolution, Ambassador. Actually, I thought you were going to tell me right away. It wasn't even a trick question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

We're out of time, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe, unfortunately. You've had the opportunity to ask the same question a number of times.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

It's very disappointing, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

We will conclude the meeting by thanking both Ambassador Wiseman and Glen Linder for appearing before the committee and for their testimony.

Please note, colleagues, that there will be no meeting on Tuesday, April 28, due to the 2026 spring economic statement, as we agreed.

Our next meeting will take place on Thursday, April 30, regarding private member's bill, Bill C-219. The sponsor of the bill has confirmed his appearance for the first hour, and the departments have been invited to appear during the second hour. A second meeting will be scheduled to hear additional witnesses on Bill C-219. Members are invited to submit their witness proposals to the clerk. An email will be sent in this regard.

I also want to announce to colleagues that the informal meeting with the Kosovo deputy minister of foreign affairs is still on for Tuesday morning. You have the details from the clerk. The Kosovo friendship group is also meeting with the deputy minister on Monday at 6:30.

Thank you very much. The meeting is adjourned.