Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., resigning next year

Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., said Tuesday she will end her tenure in Washington, D.C., in the new year.

In a statement posted to social media, Hillman said it’s the right to put in place a team to see through the negotiations on renewing the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade.

The ambassador said she will remain available to Canada’s negotiating team in the months ahead.

“It has been the greatest privilege of my professional life to have served and represented Canada and Canadians during this critical period in Canada-U.S. relations,” Hillman said.

As deputy ambassador, Hillman helped lead the renegotiation of the continental free trade agreement during U.S. President Donald Trump’s first term in 2017.

She was appointed ambassador in 2019 and began the job in March 2020.

Hillman took on the role of top negotiator for Canada earlier this year as the country seeks a new trade and security pact with the U.S.

In her statement, Hillman said she plans to help the new ambassador learn the ropes.

Hillman said she looks forward to “coming home and sharing more” about her next steps.

“I am grateful for the friendship and partnership of Americans from across the country and from all walks of life and political perspectives, who are devoted to the Canada-U.S. relationship and who continue to work hard to keep it strong,” she said.

“The work of strengthening Canada’s relationship with the United States is never finished, and I know that our team will continue to approach it with dedication, integrity, and creativity.”

Prime Minister Mark Carney thanked Hillman in a media statement, saying she has resolutely defended Canadian values and interests during a period of transformation in the Canada-U.S. relationship.

“As one of the longest-serving Ambassadors to the United States in our history, her wide-ranging and constructive engagement with all branches of the U.S. Government as well as with leaders across America and Canada have yielded crucial results for Canadians,” Carney said in a social media post.

“As she prepares to step down from her role in the new year, I am grateful to Ambassador Hillman for her invaluable counsel and thank her for her long record of dedicated service to all Canadians.”

Former prime minister Justin Trudeau, who named Hillman to the role, said in a statement Hillman “is a real patriot.” He said he first worked with her on his first official trip as prime minister, when she was heading Canada’s negotiations for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, Canada’s trade deal with 10 countries in the Indo-Pacific.

“As ambassador, Kirsten worked tirelessly to build up our economy and resolve multiple trade disputes,” Trudeau said. “She promoted North American security, helped fight against climate change, navigated COVID-19, and quietly and effectively contributed to the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.”

Kovrig and Spavor were detained by China after Canada arrested a Huawei executive at the request of the United States.