Alvin Curling, a long-serving MPP and Speaker of the Ontario Legislature, is leaving Queen's Park to become one of Canada's 10 newest ambassadors in a diplomatic shakeup announced by the federal government yesterday.
"I feel quite honoured. A bit surprised, but quite honoured because I think to serve Canada is the best position anyone could have," Mr. Curling told reporters shortly after Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew informed him that he had been appointed ambassador to the Dominican Republic.
Mr. Curling, 65, resigned as both Speaker and MPP for the riding of Scarborough-Rouge River, a seat he has held for 20 years. He was first elected as an MPP in May, 1985, and won five subsequent elections. He held two cabinet posts in former Liberal premier David Peterson's government and then spent 13 years in opposition. When the Liberals were returned to office, he made history in 2003 as Ontario's first black Speaker.
"I have no doubt that Alvin will make an excellent representative for Canada, but we will miss him in the legislature and as a member of our government," Premier Dalton McGuinty said in a statement.
Mr. Curling said the thing he will miss most when he takes up his new diplomatic duties is running for re-election. "I think that's the way you really embrace and interact with people," he said.
But he said he did not hesitate about accepting the diplomatic posting, which is a three-year term.
Mr. Curling has never visited the Dominican Republic. But he has maintained close ties to the Caribbean since leaving his home town of Kingston, Jamaica, when he was in his 20s. The Jamaican government has honoured him with an order of distinction and the University of Technology there recently gave him an honorary doctorate.
During his time in the Speaker's chair, he endured a rocky ride, with both the Progressive Conservatives and New Democrats often criticizing him for rulings that they said favoured the governing Liberals. Yesterday, however, they had nothing but praise for him and his commitment to public service.
"He is a person that is deserving of a change if he wants to make one, and I think he'll do a very good job for Canada in the Dominican Republic," Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory said.
He said Mr. Curling did his best as Speaker in challenging circumstances. "We had a legislature that was very unruly in terms of its behaviour." NDP leader Howard Hampton congratulated Mr. Curling, saying: "I think this is the kind of appointment that Alvin wanted to go on to and I wish him well."
Other diplomatic changes announced yesterday:
Robert Wright, ambassador in Tokyo since 2001, will move to Beijing, replacing Joseph Caron, who moves to Japan. Mr. Caron has been ambassador to China for four years.
Louis-Robert Daigle, high commissioner to Mozambique, becomes envoy to Burkina Faso.
Abina Dann, a former ministerial and departmental spokesperson, becomes ambassador to Ukraine.
Roxanne Dubé, a former aide to Lloyd Axworthy, becomes ambassador to Zimbabwe, with accreditation to Angola as well.
Michael Leir, now ambassador to Turkey, becomes high commissioner to Australia.
Gabriel-M. Lessard, a former ambassador to Ethiopia now working with the Privy Council Office, becomes ambassador to Vietnam.
Robert McDougall, director of the Foreign Affairs disarmament division, becomes ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro.
David Summers, a trade specialist, becomes high commissioner to Malaysia.
Renata Wielgosz, who has experience working with the Organization of American States and the Summit of the Americas, becomes ambassador to Venezuela.
Timothy Coughlin, a senior bureaucrat with the Canada Revenue Agency, becomes consul general in Guangzhou, China.
Karen Howlett