Trade minister Day shuffled as talks loom Experts have high hopes for Peter Van Loan, though they say he has his work cut out for him. By Carl Meyer Published January 20, 2010

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Despite juggling almost a dozen significant negotiations, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has shaken up the Trade department by moving Stockwell Day out of the portfolio in favour of public safety minister Peter Van Loan.

While the move is seen as a positive development for Canada-US issues, experts and private sector representatives are bidding a fond farewell to Mr. Day as he becomes president of the Treasury Board, and warning Mr. Van Loan will be playing catch up.

Mr. Day, a former Alberta finance minister, served as public safety minister from February 2006 to October 2008, during which time he built up strong relations with US officials as the minister responsible for the border. His appointment to trade minister after the last election was seen as a positive development because of those connections. However, he also undertook dozens of trips around the world, including to such places as China, which he'd publicly criticized while in opposition.

"Stockwell Day has been a very accessible minister, he's brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the responsibility, and we'll miss him," said Canadian Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Perrin Beatty, a former minister in the Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney governments.

It's widely believed Mr. Day was moved over to Treasury Board to implement budget cuts in the aftermath of the economic recession and the phasing out of the government's economic action plan.

The Trade department is currently in various stages of negotiating free trade deals with Panama, South Korea, Singapore, the Caribbean Community and Common Market, Colombia and the Central American Four. The second round of the European Union free trade talks are being held this week, while feasibility studies for talks with Ukraine, Morocco, India and Japan are being undertaken.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's press secretary, Dimitri Soudas, told Embassy that the government doesn't expect any major changes in the portfolio, with the focus being kept on finalizing bilateral and multilateral trade deals, and Mr. Beatty said the shift means Mr. Van Loan will have to do his homework quickly.

"Mr. Van Loan takes over at a time when there are major issues," he said. "I know he'll find it a very interesting, very challenging portfolio.

"My experience in changing portfolios back in my day was you feel for the first while as if you're cramming for final examinations."

An Ontario MP and lawyer, Mr. Van Loan has a master's degree in international relations. He was president of the Ontario and federal Progressive Conservative parties, and has been public safety minister since October 2008.

Canadian-American Business Council executive director Maryscott Greenwood said she has high hopes for Mr. Van Loan given his experience as a public safety minister.

"I think [Mr. Van Loan] did a spectacular job in forging a close working relationship with his counterpart, [Homeland Security] Secretary [Janet] Napolitano, in what was a pretty challenging time early in their tenure," she said.

"His instinct in the way he dealt with her will serve him extraordinarily well in the trade portfolio, particularly vis-à-vis the US."

Taking over as public safety minister is former Treasury Board president Vic Toews, of Manitoba. He served as justice minister during the first Conservative minority government starting in February 2006.

Canada is hosting several major financial and security-focused international events in the coming months, including the Olympics in Vancouver and the G7 finance ministers meeting in Iqaluit in February, as well as the G20 summit in Toronto this June.

Although questions initially arose over the government's decision to shuffle the international trade and public safety portfolios during this period, experts didn't think it was a risky move.

"I don't think you can criticize [Mr. Van Loan] on the grounds that he hasn't got any experience," said Carleton University professor William A. Dymond.

"He's got influence in the Cabinet. That's what public servants like. That's what the business community, which depends on the trade ministry, likes to see, a minister who has clout."

Ms. Greenwood also did not see the Olympics as a reason for the government to hold off on shuffling ministers.

"I think the Olympics are pretty well underway. I trust the government's judgment to do things when it sees the need to do things," she said.

editor@embassymag.ca