The U.S. Senate has confirmed David Cohen, a tech govt who as soon as served as chief of workers to the mayor of Philadelphia, to be the subsequent U.S. ambassador to Canada.
Cohen, a lawyer, lobbyist and fundraiser who served as a senior adviser and chief variety officer at U.S. communications big Comcast, was nominated in July by U.S. President Joe Biden.
He’s no stranger to political circles: along with serving because the Comcast’s major lobbyist, Cohen spent 5 years as chief of workers to Philadelphia mayor Ed Rendell within the Nineties.
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He additionally hosted the primary fundraising occasion of Biden’s profitable 2020 presidential election marketing campaign.
Throughout his affirmation listening to in September, Cohen sang the praises of the Canada-U.S. relationship.
However he additionally advised the Biden administration was rising impatient with Ottawa’s long-term China coverage.
“We’re all ready for Canada to launch its framework for its general China coverage,” he advised members of the Senate International Relations Committee, describing the autocratic regime’s ambitions as an “existential menace” to the U.S.
He additionally stated he can be concerned in discussions to “guarantee that Canada’s insurance policies replicate its phrases when it comes to the remedy of China.”
Simply days later, the connection between the 2 international locations — strained to breaking by China’s arbitrary detention of two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, following Canada’s arrest of Huawei govt Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant — took a dramatic flip.
The U.S. Division of Justice agreed to a deferred prosecution settlement for Wanzhou, who was accused of circumventing American sanctions on Iran. Her launch from custody in Vancouver was adopted inside hours by the discharge of the 2 Canadians.
Canada has but to formally say whether or not it plans to dam Huawei gear from getting used within the nation’s ever-expanding 5G community, though all 4 of its 5 Eyes intelligence companions, together with the U.S., the U.Ok., New Zealand and Australia, have already executed so.
© 2021 The Canadian Press
