Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08OTTAWA712, BIOGRAPHY OF NEW FOREIGN MINISTER DAVID EMERSON

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08OTTAWA712.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08OTTAWA712 2008-05-28 19:06 2011-04-28 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Ottawa
VZCZCXRO5321
PP RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHQU RUEHVC
DE RUEHOT #0712/01 1491906
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281906Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7925
INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000712 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR CA
SUBJECT: BIOGRAPHY OF NEW FOREIGN MINISTER DAVID EMERSON 
 
REF:  07 OTTAWA 0921 
 
1. (SBU) Summary. PM Harper appointed Vancouver Member of Parliament 
David Emerson on May 26 as interim Foreign Minister, replacing 
Maxime Bernier.  Emerson will retain his existing ministerial 
portfolios of International Trade as well as the Pacific Gateway and 
the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics, in addition to chairmanship of two 
key Cabinet committees, including a new one on Afghanistan.  Emerson 
has a reputation as very smart, honest, yet low key, and has won 
wide respect for his integrity and consistent competence.  He 
appears to have extremely favorable views of the U.S., with special 
support for the North American Free Trade Agreement, despite some 
concerns about the border and softwood lumber.  While well suited 
for the Foreign Affairs job, he is unlikely to remain in place 
beyond a probable summertime larger Cabinet reshuffle.  End 
Summary. 
 
2. (U) Born on September 17, 1945 in Montreal, Quebec, David Emerson 
was raised in Grande Prairie, Alberta.  He earned a B.A. and M.A. in 
Economics from the University of Alberta, and a PhD in Economics 
from Queen's University in Ontario.  He became a researcher at the 
Economic Council of Canada in 1972.  In 1975, he joined British 
Columbia's provincial public service, where he rose to the level of 
Deputy Minister of Finance in 1984.  Thereafter, he moved back and 
forth between the senior levels of the provincial public service and 
executive positions in the private sector.  He was head of the 
Western and Pacific Bank of Canada in 1986, before returning to the 
provincial government as Deputy Minister of Finance in 1990, then as 
Deputy Minister to the Premier, and later as President of the B.C. 
Trade Development Corporation.  In 1992, he was appointed head of 
the newly-created Vancouver International Airport Authority, and in 
1998 became the President and CEO of Canfor Corporation, Canada's 
largest forestry company. 
 
3. (SBU) David Emerson originally entered politics as a "star" 
candidate for the federal Liberal Party in the urban riding of 
Vancouver Kingsway in the 2004 election and was immediately 
appointed Minister of Industry in the then-Liberal minority 
government of Prime Minister Paul Martin.  He was re-elected in 2006 
as a Liberal candidate, but -- much to the displeasure of his 
overwhelmingly Liberal constituents -- immediately "crossed the 
floor" to join the federal Conservative Party under Prime Minister 
Stephen Harper, who rewarded him with the  portfolios of Minister of 
International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the 
2010 Vancouver-Whistler Olympics. 
 
4. (SBU) Emerson's defection gave the Conservatives their only seat 
in Vancouver and the big-city Cabinet talent they lacked.  Widely 
acknowledged to be a policy-orientated rather than partisan 
politician, he defended his switch as the best way to serve British 
Columbia from a position of influence.  In particular, he expressed 
a strong desire to see the softwood lumber issue -- on which he had 
worked both as CEO of Canfor and then as Liberal Industry Minister 
-- to a successful conclusion, as well as to promote B.C.'s 
interests in the run-up to the 2010 Olympics.  Emerson was also the 
only member of the government with prior Cabinet experience at the 
federal level, as well as the only member of the current Cabinet to 
have run a major Canadian corporation. 
 
5.  (SBU) Emerson has emerged as a major contributor around the 
Cabinet table, with a unique private and public sector skill-set. 
Insiders acknowledge he brings real-world business experience to 
bear on discussions and articulates a big-picture view of the trade 
Qbear on discussions and articulates a big-picture view of the trade 
and economic agenda that is extremely valuable, and which few of his 
Cabinet colleagues come close to matching (reftel).  In a sign of 
the trust PM Harper places in him, Emerson chairs both the new 
Cabinet Committee on Afghanistan -- Canada's premier foreign and 
defense policy priority -- and the Cabinet's Economic Growth and 
Long-Term Prosperity Committee.  He also sits on the Cabinet's 
Priorities and Planning Committee, the inner circle of Cabinet 
decision-making responsible for setting the government's strategic 
direction. 
 
6.  (SBU) Emerson has reportedly indicated privately that he 
probably will not run in the next federal election, and would 
certainly not win re-election in his current Vancouver "riding," 
which has not forgiven him for changing parties.  However, if he 
wishes, the Conservatives would likely be willing to find him a 
safer seat in British Columbia.  Emerson and his current wife 
Theresa have two young children, and Emerson has three adult 
children from a previous marriage.  Emerson is a unilingual 
English-speaker. 
 
7. (SBU) Comment:  Emerson has a reputation both in British Columbia 
and in Ottawa as very smart, honest, yet low key, and has won wide 
respect for his integrity and consistent competence.  He appears to 
have extremely favorable views of the U.S., with special support for 
the North American Free Trade Agreement.  However, Emerson's own 
preference is probably to hold onto the Pacific Gateway and Olympics 
portfolio dear to his heart, and so Prime Minister Harper may have 
to seek some other senior Cabinet official to take over Foreign 
 
OTTAWA 00000712  002 OF 002 
 
 
Affairs at a likely mid-to-late summer Cabinet reshuffle involving 
several ministries.  As always, provincial balance will remain an 
important consideration, including finding a new prominent Cabinet 
profile (albeit probably not Foreign Affairs again) for another 
Conservative politician from Quebec. 
WILKINS