Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Dec 24: Cameron Mackay, a former diplomat, has been named as Canada’s new High Commissioner to India. Since Nadir Patel’s departure this summer, that position has been vacant.
Changes to Canada’s consulates in India were also announced by Foreign Minister Melanie Joly’s office, with new consul general’s taking over in Bengaluru, Chandigarh, and Mumbai.
Cameron Mackay, who is leaving his post as ambassador to Indonesia and Timor-Leste, has experience in trade negotiations, pointing to a renewed emphasis on such discussions this year. Mackay is also familiar with Indo-Pacific issues, having served in Jakarta as Ottawa develops a comprehensive new strategy for the region.
Cameron Mackay joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1995 and has worked as the director of regional trade policy from 2008 to 2010, the director general for China trade policy from 2012 to 2013, the director general of the Trade Negotiations Bureau from 2013 to 2015, and the director general of the Trade Sectors Bureau from 2015 to 2017.
Changes were also announced at Canada’s three consulate generals in India at the same time. Annie Dubé’s successor as consul general in Mumbai is Diedrah Kelly. Patrick Hébert will replace Mia Yen as consul general in Chandigarh, and Benoit Préfontaine will succeed Nicole Girard as consul general in Bengaluru.
These new appointments come as Canada and India continue to negotiate a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA), both of which have been discussed for more than a decade but have recently stalled.
According to a press release from Global Affairs Canada, the two ministers “welcomed a re-engagement on negotiations toward a Canada-India comprehensive economic partnership agreement and a Canada-India foreign investment promotion and protection agreement, and committed to working closely together in the coming months to reach agreements.”
