Prime Minister Mark Carney has tapped Mark Wiseman as Canada’s next ambassador in Washington.

Carney’s office says Wiseman will take the role on Feb. 15, and he will be tasked with leading negotiations with the United States on the review of the continental free trade deal.

Some observers had urged the prime minister to separate the two roles, and allow the new ambassador to focus solely on the broader Canada-U.S. relationship.

Wiseman, an investment banker and pension fund manager, is a longtime friend of Carney who was among the first to contribute to Carney’s leadership bid, donating the maximum $1,750 to that as well as an additional $1,750 to the Liberal party during last April’s election campaign.

He will replace Kirsten Hillman, who announced this month she would end her posting, saying that a new team would be able to focus on next year’s review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement. Hillman was also acting as Canada’s top negotiator on the trade pact.

Wiseman is a member of the Prime Minister’s Council on Canada-U.S. Relations, a body first created by former prime minister Justin Trudeau just as Donald Trump was about to be sworn in as president for the second time.

Trudeau did not include Wiseman on the council, but Carney added him to it just days after being sworn in as prime minister in March.

Wiseman, who was heavily rumoured as Hillman’s successor, is also the co-founder of the Century Initiative, a non-profit group that calls for Canada to increase its population to 100 million by 2100, largely through immigration.

With Hillman set to leave, Carney says Canada has a ‘window’ before CUSMA talks pick up in 2026

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has accused the Century Initiative of encouraging the Liberal government’s massive increase in immigration in the post-COVID period, which he has blamed for driving up housing costs and straining social services.

Since taking office, Carney has slashed Canada’s immigration targets, and planned further reductions to the number of temporary residents in the country.

When Hillman announced her departure earlier this month, Carney said there was a “window” to bring in a new ambassador before the start of CUSMA renegotiations in 2026.

“The review process will gather force in the new year,” Carney said in response to a question from iPolitics, adding that Hillman has done a “fantastic job” representing Canada.

Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, told iPolitics earlier in December that choosing Wiseman would be a clear indication from the prime minister that he wants to send a signal to the White House that “Canada can bring a globally respected deal maker to help form the new trade relationship between the two countries.”

with files from the Canadian Press