Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has always been very clear. All ambassadorial appointments abroad are “at the pleasure of the government”, as we say. In the case of the ambassador to Denmark, the pleasure of the government had reached its limit. Accordingly, given the allegations and that the country's reputation was at risk of being affected in the time it would take for the Gomery inquiry to clarify the facts, the ambassador was recalled. Such is the reality.
In the House of Commons on April 22nd, 2005. See this statement in context.