Carney names former UN ambassador Blanchard as chief of staff

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his permanent chief of staff on Sunday, appointing Marc-André Blanchard, Canada's former ambassador to the United Nations, to one of the most powerful posts in Canadian politics. 

Meanwhile, two sources not authorized to speak publicly about the appointments before they are formally announced say that former attorney general David Lametti has been hired as Carney's principal secretary — the top political aide position in the PMO.

Blanchard served as Canada's permanent representative at the UN between 2016 and 2020.

He most recently served as the executive vice-president for CDPQ Global, a Quebec-based investment firm.

"Marc-André has a long and distinguished career as one of Canada’s most accomplished builders, legal experts, executives, public servants, and diplomats," Carney said in a statement announcing the appointment. 

Carney made the announcement on social media and said Blanchard will start in July once former cabinet minister Marco Mendicino's time as interim chief of staff comes to an end.

The prime minister said Mendicino has his "continued appreciation" for his service.

Carney said last month that Mendicino originally agreed to stay on through the new government's transition period, but that term extended into the summer.

Lametti was first elected in 2015, when the Liberals last formed a majority government, and was appointed justice minister and attorney general in 2019. 

While in that role, Lametti introduced legislation to expand the eligibility for medical assistance in dying and was a key figure during the government's response to the convoy protests and implementation of the Emergencies Act.

Lametti was shuffled out of cabinet in July 2023 and resigned as an MP in January 2024.

More recently, Lametti became a political ally of Carney — even attending the prime minister's first swearing in back in March alongside Mendicino.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mike Sudoma