John Horgan, the former premier of British Columbia, has been appointed as Canada's next ambassador to Germany.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the appointment Wednesday, calling the former New Democratic Party premier a "passionate public servant and an experienced leader."
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that John Horgan has been appointed as Canada’s next Ambassador to Germany.
Mr. Horgan has a proven track record of dedicated public service. As Premier of British Columbia, he navigated the provincial government’s response to the COVID‑19 pandemic and advanced clean economic growth to create good jobs. He was first elected in 2005 and was re-elected four consecutive times.
Canada and Germany are close friends on the world stage. As we continue to strengthen our ties, particularly in clean energy, Mr. Horgan will provide strategic advice to the Prime Minister in his new role as Ambassador to Germany. In the face of complex global challenges, ranging from food and energy insecurity to attacks on the rules-based international order, Canada and Germany will continue to work side-by-side to advance our shared priorities and make life better for people on both sides of the Atlantic.
CBC reported, "Horgan, who has twice battled cancer, stepped down as premier in November 2022 and resigned his seat in the B.C. legislature in March, ending a 30-year career in politics that included five terms as a Vancouver Island MLA and eight years as leader of the B.C. New Democrats."
Biographical Note
Know more about John Horgan
John Horgan is a dedicated, lifelong public servant and the former Premier of British Columbia.
As Premier of British Columbia, Mr. Horgan led his province through the COVID-19 pandemic, advocated for clean economic growth to create jobs in British Columbia and beyond, worked to advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, and navigated the province through a number of extreme weather events, including floods and wildfires.
Mr. Horgan was first elected to the British Columbia Legislature in 2005, representing the constituency of Malahat—Juan de Fuca. He was re-elected four times, held numerous critic portfolios, and served as the opposition House Leader. In 2014, he was elected Leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party (BC NDP), and in 2017, became Premier. In 2020, he led the BC NDP to a historic win with more seats in the legislature than it had ever won before. In 2021, he became Chair of the Council of the Federation, working with Premiers from all political stipes and regional perspectives.
Johan Horgan in Surrey with Jagrup Brar and Baljit Balli-2016
Prior to his election, Mr. Horgan worked in the House of Commons in Ottawa and for the Government of British Columbia. He served as lead negotiator on the Columbia Basin Trust and helped negotiate the Columbia River Treaty, a water management agreement with the United States of America. He also served as Chief of Staff to the Premier of British Columbia, Dan Miller, and worked as an Associate Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Finance, with a specific focus on energy projects. Mr. Horgan worked at Columbia Power, advancing clean energy initiatives such as the repowering of the Keenleyside and Brilliant dams. Mr. Horgan then co-founded Ideaworks, a consulting company that helped community groups, not-for-profit organizations, and small businesses manage government processes.
Mr. Horgan was born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Trent University in 1983 and a Master of Arts from the University of Sydney in 1986.
Mr. Horgan is a two-time cancer survivor. He and his wife, Ellie, have two sons.
Quote
“I congratulate John Horgan on his appointment as Canada’s Ambassador to Germany. He is a passionate public servant and an experienced leader, and I am confident that he will continue to serve Canada well and help advance our two countries’ common interests in this new role, including our shared commitment to building a clean future with good middle-class jobs and a strong economy that benefits everyone.”
The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
Quick Facts
- The Embassy of Canada to Germany is located in Berlin. Canada also has consulates in Munich and Düsseldorf as well as an Honorary Consul in Stuttgart. Those consulates focus on assistance to Canadians and the promotion of trade and investment relations. Germany maintains an embassy in Ottawa as well as consulates in Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver.
- Almost 10 per cent of Canadians claim at least partial German ancestry, and about 400,000 Canadians travel to Germany each year. A similar number of Germans travel to Canada annually.
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