Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the appointment of Dominic Barton sa国际传媒� who grew up in Chilliwack sa国际传媒� as Canadasa国际传媒檚 Ambassador to China.
The PMO announcement cited Bartonsa国际传媒檚 experience in Asia, his mastery of global economics, and stint advising cabinet as relevant background for the appointment.
Those were some of the reasons why hesa国际传媒檒l make sa国际传媒渁 great choice to represent Canada sa国际传媒� and Canadian interests sa国际传媒� in China,sa国际传媒� PM Trudeau was quoted as saying in the Sept. 4 release.
Barton will advise the PM directly on China, with the delicate goal of mending the relationship between the two countries, since his predecessor, John McCallum was forced to step down in January after key missteps.
Barton said he looks forward to the new challenge.
sa国际传媒淚t is an honour to be appointed as Canadasa国际传媒檚 Ambassador to China. The relationship between Canada and China is an important one, and I will work hard to represent our great country and to resolve the challenges that currently exist,sa国际传媒� Barton said.
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Some folks remember when Barton was a teenager in Chilliwack.
Barry Penner, a former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister and long-time MLA for Chilliwack-Kent, remembers the Barton family moving to Chilliwack in the mid-1970s. They lived on Edson Drive near Sardis secondary, and thatsa国际传媒檚 where Penner met Anthony, Dominicsa国际传媒檚 younger brother.
One day, Anthony brought an election sign and stickers into the classroom, which was not appreciated one bit by the teacher of a different political persuasion, Penner remembered. The lawn sign was for Alexander Patterson, the sitting Tory MP.
sa国际传媒淚 remember that Dominic was quite active politically as a member of the Fraser Valley Young Progressive Conservatives,sa国际传媒� Penner said.
His dad, Rev. John Barton was the rector at St. Johnsa国际传媒檚 Anglican, where the Tory MP at the time, Alexander Patterson, attended church.
MP Patterson represented the PCs from 1972 to 1984 for Fraser Valley East.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 interesting that he (Barton) seems pretty close these days to the Prime Minister and (Foreign Affairs Minister) Chrystia Freeland,sa国际传媒� Penner said.
Itsa国际传媒檚 clear Barton had a taste for politics from quite early on.
An excellent student, Barton was a scholarship winner and a champion debater while at Sardis Secondary.
He enjoyed the privilege of attending the Forum for Young Canadians in Ottawa in 1980, where he toured the House of Commons and participated in mock Parliament as the leader of the Opposition.
sa国际传媒淚t was a great opportunity to meet people and see how Canada is run,sa国际传媒� Barton is quoted as saying in an April 9, 1980 story in the Chilliwack Progress, maybe foreshadowing a tad.
He raised $400 on his own to attend the forum in the nationsa国际传媒檚 capital.
Barton was also mentioned in The Progress, for his valedictorian speech of June 18, 1980, where he waxes eloquent on the shining potential of his classmates:
sa国际传媒淏arton exhorted the gathering of parents and friends to recognize the abilities and eagerness of the graduating class in tackling the problems that lie ahead for us all,sa国际传媒� according to The Progress article.
sa国际传媒淗e pressed his point saying, sa国际传媒楢nd those of you who donsa国际传媒檛 think there are problems and an energy crisis sa国际传媒� wake up!sa国际传媒檚a国际传媒�
Barton eventually graduated from the University of British Columbia with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Economics, and studied as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, where he obtained his Master of Philosophy in Economics.
He also holds eight honourary doctorates from academic institutions around the world.
But itsa国际传媒檚 Bartonsa国际传媒檚 expertise in Asia that will serve him particularly well in the new role.
He is a Senior Trustee of the Brookings Institution, a member of the Singapore Economic Development Boardsa国际传媒檚 International Advisory Council, and a member of the boards of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.
He is one of the founders of FCLTGlobal (Focusing Capital on the Long Term), has co-authored four books, and is an Adjunct Professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing. He chaired Trudeausa国际传媒檚 Economic Growth advisory council, and became chair of Teck Resources last October. From 2009 to 2018, Barton was the global managing partner at McKinsey & Co., gaining prodigious experience in international business and trade.
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jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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