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Canada names new envoy to Washington

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-29 04:24

TORONTO: Canada's prime minister has named a provincial premier from a leftist opposition party as the country's new ambassador to the United States.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Friday appointed Manitoba Premier Gary Doer as ambassador-designate of Canada to Washington.

The appointment must be formally accepted by the US.

Doer is known for being a pragmatic leader of Manitoba's leftist New Democrats, a union-backed party with socialist roots. Harper is the leader of Canada's Conservative party.

Former Conservative finance minister Michael Wilson, the current US envoy, had given no indication he was leaving the post.