Overview

• The appointment replaces the Europe-wide special envoy role previously held by Stéphane Dion.
• Dion will complete his ambassadorial and envoy duties by January 2026.
• The EU ambassador post has been vacant since last month, and the PMO says new envoys and ambassadors will be named after Dion’s departure.
• Hannaford, a former Privy Council clerk and career diplomat, is tasked with boosting trade, investment and strengthening security ties with EU countries.
• The shift narrows Canada’s focus to the EU, raising questions about coverage of non‑EU European partners as Ottawa advances new EU–Canada security and economic initiatives.