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The North Monaghan ancestry of Canada’s newly appointed Ambassador to the United States, Frank McKenna, has been borne as a proud badge of identity throughout the course of a meteoric career in political and public life by a man now taking up one of his country’s key international posts.
The news of Mr McKenna’s appointment to Washington by Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin will evoke feelings of pride and pleasure among the many Monaghan people who made acquaintance with the charismatic politician and lawyer when he visited the county in 1997 when Premier of the Canadian province of New Brunswick.
On that occasion, he was afforded a civic reception by Monaghan Co Council and presented with the county’s coat of arms by the then Council Chairman Patsy Treanor. Mr McKenna’s visit to Co Monaghan on that occasion was at the behest of Willie McKenna, and was part of the efforts made to foster and develop the links enjoyed by the North Monaghan area with those locations in Canada where emigrants from this county settled during the mid-nineteenth century.
Willie McKenna has kept up a constant correspondence with his high-flying Canadian political namesake since then, and this week expressed both delight at Frank McKenna’s elevation to this important posting, and confidence that he would discharge its onerous duties more than competently.
“I have maintained close and constant contact with him since the early 1980s, and I was extremely pleased when his private secretary Ruth McCrea contacted me to inform me of the ambassadorial appointment,” Willie told us this week.
“This is one of the most importantant positions that Canada can allocate in light of its proximity to the United States and the major links between the two nations.
“The size of the Canadian embassy inWashington and the importance the country attaches to its diplomatic relations with its superpower neighbour is evident from the fact that Frank McKenna will have in the region of 250 staff working under him.”
POIGNANT VISIT
On his visit to Monaghan in 1997, Frank McKenna remarked to The Northern Standard that visiting North Monaghan, where his ancestors had been born, was “a very poignant” experience.
“You have no idea how emotional it can be to drive past places or visit cemeteries where your ancestors may have worked or are buried.”
We are indebted to the Canadian provincial daily newspaper The Moncton Times, and the Miramichi Leader in Frank McKenna’s New Brunswick, for articles received this week which focus upon details of the 57-year-old’s prestigious appointment. A
Former executive assistant of the new Ambassaor, Maura McCluskey, told the Miramichi Leader of Tuesday, January 18: “I have no hesitation about how hard he will work and how devoted he will be. He’s more than capable. He’ll give 110%.”
Frank McKenna takes up the appointment on March 1, and he told a press conference in Ottawa: “The chance to serve your country doesn’t come along very often and, at a level as high as this, it comes along very rarely. So I feel very, very privileged.”
Announcing the appointment, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin said Mr McKenna’s experience and skill would be great assets as Canada and the United States began to implement an agenda of shared security, prosperity and quality of life for their two peoples. The Miramichi Leader reflected upon Mr McKenna’s “distinguished career”: “He was first elected to the provinvicial [Government] in 1992 and served as Premier from 1987 to 1997, leading the Liberals to three majority governments. Most notable was the first win in 1987 when the Liberals took all 58 seats from Richard Hatfield’s ruling Conservatives.” Current New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord told the newspaper: “I commend the Prime Minister for his choice of Ambassador. I wish Frank McKenna the best in his new position. This is a good choice for Canada and for New Brunswick.”
Reproduced from ‘Northern Standard’, of Thursday 27th January 2005
