Gordon Campbell's Hospitality Tab Tops Other Diplomats

Wining and dining at Canada’s embassies abroad escaped the axe as the federal government grappled with across-the-board cuts in this year’s budget.

Former British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell is racking up the biggest hospitality tab so far this year.

Canada poised for success on world stage: Campbell

Canada stands at a historic crossroads as an economic facilitator and powerhouse, former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell, now Canada's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, said Friday.

But it must act swiftly and strategically to secure an inter-national advantage.

The Harper government is on the cusp of concluding a broad-ranging trade agreement with the European Union that would give Canadian companies preferential access to the European market. However, if Canada fails to close negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement with the EU this year, repercussions will be felt through all of Canada's trading partners, Campbell said in an address to the Vancouver Board of Trade.

"The whole world will watch whether we are successful in that negotiation or not. Canada right now is in the midst of a major advance in terms of trade," Campbell said.

"We are not just looking to complete the Comprehensive Trade Agreement with the European Union in 2012, we are looking to revitalize the trade agreement with Korea, we are looking by 2013 to have a trade agreement with India."

New Democrats challenge Campbell’s appointment to Order of British Columbia

B.C.’s New Democratic Party is challenging the appointment of former premier Gordon Campbell to the Order of British Columbia, saying the honour has been tainted by his investiture.

“The body is not cold, as they say,” NDP house leader John Horgan told reporters Tuesday, releasing a letter to the Speaker of the House demanding a clarification of the appointment.

Mr. Horgan said the committee that selects recipients erred by adding Mr. Campbell to the list of prominent British Columbians who have received the Order for their extraordinary contributions to the province. Previous recipients include rocker Brian Adams, artist Robert Bateman, environmentalist Vicky Husband and former Canucks captain Trevor Linden.

Although a number of former politicians have received the order, those still holding public office are ineligible for appointment, according to the law that governs the process.

Campbell confirmed as next envoy to U.K., Davidson appointed ambassador to Afghanistan

OTTAWA — Former British Columbia premier Gordon Campbell is headed for a plum diplomatic post in the United Kingdom and, in a somewhat unusual move, Canada's current ambassador to Syria will be posted to Afghanistan.

The government confirmed the appointments on Monday along with nine other new diplomatic postings.

The appointment of Campbell as high commissioner to the U.K. comes after a lengthy political career, including nine years as Liberal premier of B.C. — until his retirement this year — and three terms as mayor of Vancouver.

The diplomatic post has historically oscillated between career politicians and diplomats and is considered by experts to be a symbolically important position.

Ex-B.C. premier Campbell appointed as Harper’s envoy in U.K.

OTTAWA Former British Columbia premier Gordon Campbell is off to London.

The Harper government formally announced his appointment as the new high commissioner to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland on Monday.

The Canadian Press first reported Campbell’s new job in June.

Campbell resigned as premier earlier this year after the controversial introduction of the 12 per cent harmonized sales tax.

While a Liberal, he was responsible for reinvigorating the relationship between B.C. and the Conservative government.