OTTAWA—The Liberals ran on a promise to reset Canada’s image on the world scene, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has selected the party’s former leader Stéphane Dion to do it.

Dion is Canada’s new foreign minister, one of the highest-profile jobs in Trudeau’s new cabinet.

The Montreal MP takes over the top diplomatic job as the Liberals attempt to bring a new tone not only in Ottawa, but to Canada’s international voice.

“Through the campaign we have heard Canadians say we want to be proud of the role that Canada is playing in the world,” Dion told reporters after the new government’s first cabinet meeting. “We have a country that is blessed to the point that we may protect our national interest while fighting for democracy, freedom, security and sustainability.”

Dion won’t have a lot of time to get comfortable. A number of high-profile international summits — including climate talks in Paris, a G20 meeting in Turkey, and a Pacific nations summit in the Philippines — loom large in the coming months.

The new foreign minister will also be responsible for repairing relations with the United States, which chilled under the Obama administration and Stephen Harper’s Conservatives.

In that task he’ll have help from a new cabinet committee, chaired by International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland, focusing on advancing “mutual interests” between the two countries.

Dion was a surprise pick for most Ottawa observers, who had pegged him for the environment portfolio. He previously served as environment minister from 2004-06, and has long been an outspoken advocate on the file.

But while he will be kept busy in foreign affairs, he will also chair a cabinet committee on the environment, climate change and energy. It’s likely a signal that climate change will play a key role in Canada’s foreign policy for the next four years.

Dion told reporters that the question of sustainable development is the “most important of the century.”

Canada-U.S. Relations: Improving the relationship with Canada’s largest trading partner, both during the dying days of the Obama administration and with whoever succeeds him, Democrat or Republican, will be a key issue in the foreign affairs file.

Immediate Concerns: A series of high-profile international summits are coming up before the end of the year, including climate talks in Paris and the G20 in Ankara, Turkey. If the Liberals are looking to make big changes in Canada’s foreign relations, they’ll need to send the message early.

Canada’s new foreign affairs minister was also the first MP sworn into the 42nd Parliament. https://twitter.com/HonStephaneDion/status/660180932633239553

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Read more about: