PM Carney replaces controversial New York envoy with oil executive

Susannah L. Pierce (left) is seen in this undated photo (LinkedIn); and Consul General of Canada in New York Tom Clark arrives to listen to Prime Minister Mark Carney deliver a speech and take part in an armchair discussion at the The Economic Club of New York on Thursday, May 28, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA — The Carney government is replacing former broadcast journalist Tom Clark as consul general to New York City with an oil executive, and naming a former cabinet minister as Canada’s envoy in Los Angeles.

The Trudeau government appointed Clark, a former CTV and Global journalist, to the post in 2023. The consul general promotes Canada’s economic and cultural interests in the Big Apple and engages in regional outreach in states like Pennsylvania and New York as well as Bermuda.

The Conservatives criticized Clark’s appointment and leader Pierre Poilievre called him a “Liberal media hack” but Clark’s tenure got the most attention over the purchase of a new luxury condominium for the official residence.

The Tories had Clark called in to a House of Commons committee to answer questions about Ottawa’s decision to buy the $9-million property in Manhattan. Clark said he had nothing to do with the purchase of the new apartment or with the sale of the old residence.

Global Affairs Canada said at the time it needed to replace an aging residence with something more appropriate for hosting guests.

It said the government ultimately collected a net financial benefit from the transaction — the old condo sold earlier this year for more than $11 million.

Clark will be replaced by former oil and gas executive Susannah Pierce. Pierce oversaw the LNG Canada project and was the Canadian head of energy giant Shell.

At a May conference held by the Public Policy Forum, Pierce said Prime Minister Mark Carney is focused on providing opportunities for foreign investment in Canada.

“The prime minister is really helping to show that Canada actually does care about investment, Canada actually has a portfolio of opportunities for investors, and that there’s an opportunity to come into Canada to talk about what those are,” she told the Canada Growth Summit.

“Our challenge has not been, in my opinion, about lack of capital,” she added. “We have to create the actual projects that are investment-worthy.”

The Carney government is also appointing former health minister Kamal Khera, who lost her seat in last year’s election, as envoy to Los Angeles. That job often involves engagement with cultural industries, while other Canadian missions in California oversee tech sector collaboration.

Andrea Clements, a longtime diplomat, will become the consul general in Detroit, and Claire Kennedy, who was the lead director of the board at the Bank of Canada until last year, will take over the consul general role in Chicago.

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press