David MacNaughton

David MacNaughton
Canadian Ambassador to the United States
Assumed office
March 3, 2016
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Preceded by Gary Doer
Personal details
Nationality Canadian
Occupation Canadian Ambassador to the United States of America

David MacNaughton is a Canadian diplomat, business leader, political strategist, and strategy consultant who most recently was the Chairman of StrategyCorp, a communications, public affairs, and management consulting firm. He is currently Canada's ambassador to the United States, succeeding Gary Doer. [1] MacNaughton presented his diplomatic papers to US President Barack Obama on March 2, 2016.

MacNaugton is credited by Canadian Business with "changing the face of public affairs in Canada" through the co-creation of the firm Public Affairs Resource Group (PARG), which in 1987 brought the services of public affairs and the polling firm Decima Research under one roof.[2]

Background

MacNaughton previously served as Canadian and North American president of Hill and Knowlton,[3] and president of Public Affairs International, which purchased Decima Research to create Public Affairs Resource Group.[4]

Politics

MacNaughton’s public sector experience includes work at both the federal and provincial levels of government. At the federal level he spent six years as a senior advisor to Don Jamieson,[5] successively Minister for the Government of Canada's Departments of Transport, Industry and Foreign Affairs.[6] A longtime Liberal Party of Canada activist, MacNaughton has been involved federally in numerous election and political campaigns.

In Ontario, he co-chaired David Peterson's successful 1987 election campaign,[7] and was a senior advisor to Dalton McGuinty in the 2003 election.[8] Following that election, from October 2003 until May 2005 MacNaughton served as principal secretary to McGuinty.[9]

In 2015, MacNaughton served as Ontario co-chair for the federal Liberal campaign that was successful in electing Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister.[10]

Opinions

MacNaughton has been an outspoken advocate of government using asset sales in order to invest in new infrastructure.[11] He has also urged government to adopt a program of fundamental change in how it operates in order to more efficiently provide services.[12]

Other activities

MacNaughton has served on the boards of the North York General Hospital, the Toronto International Film Festival,[13] the Stratford Festival, TVOntario and the Toronto French School.

References

  1. "Trudeau picks close allies as ambassadors to U.S. and UN". The Globe and Mail, January 16, 2016.
  2. Curtis, Jennifer (1 October 1995). "Hill and Knowlton Canada". Canadian Business. Rogers Media. p. 53.
  3. Richard, Mackie (1 October 2003). "Candidates for McGuinty inner circle If Liberals win, former Peterson confidant expected to play principal role as adviser; If Liberals win, former Peterson confidant expected to play principal role as adviser". The Globe and Mail. p. A10.
  4. McIntosh, Gord (8 February 1989). "Approval is granted for takeover of Decima". Toronto Star. Canadian Press. p. F3.
  5. Burney, Derek (2005). Getting it Done: A Memoir. McGill-Queen's University Press. p. 43. ISBN 0773529268. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  6. "Public offices held: DAVID MACNAUGHTON". Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada. Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  7. Fox, Brian (22 July 1987). "There's Joy in Ontario". Windsor Star.
  8. "The Liberal team that dethroned the Tories". Ottawa Citizen. 16 November 2004.
  9. "Katie Telford: 'Hard-working, tough, honest and wicked smart'". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  10. Warnica, Richard. "The Liberal Resurrection". National Post. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  11. MacNaughton, David (24 October 2014). "David MacNaughton: Build infrastructure through sales, not debt". National Post.
  12. MacNaughton, David (6 November 2013). "Ontario needs fundamental change, not a fight over austerity vs. stimulus". The Globe and Mail.
  13. "Lisa de Wilde to chair TIFF board". Playback. 19 September 2013.
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