David MacNaughton

David MacNaughton is a Canadian businessman, diplomat, political advisor and strategy consultant who was the chairman of StrategyCorp, a public affairs consulting firm. MacNaughton served as the Canadian ambassador to the United States from 2016 to 2019; he succeeded Gary Doer and presented his diplomatic papers to U.S. President Barack Obama on March 2, 2016. MacNaughton is currently president of Palantir Technologies Canada, a post for which he resigned his ambassadorship.[1]

David MacNaughton
MacNaughton at the 2017 Miami International Film Festival
Canadian Ambassador to the United States
In office
March 3, 2016 – August 31, 2019
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byGary Doer
Succeeded byKirsten Hillman
Personal details
NationalityCanadian

MacNaugton is credited by Canadian Business with "changing the face of public affairs in Canada" through the co-creation of the firm Public Affairs Resource Group (PARG), which in 1987 brought the services of public affairs and the polling firm Decima Research under one roof.[2]

Background

Prior to his appointment, MacNaughton was chairman at StrategyCorp, a Canadian public affairs and communications firm. MacNaughton also served as Canadian and North American president of Hill and Knowlton,[3] and president of Public Affairs International, which purchased Decima Research to create Public Affairs Resource Group.[4]

Politics

MacNaughton's public sector experience includes work at both the federal and provincial levels of government. At the federal level, he spent six years as a senior advisor to Don Jamieson,[5] successively Minister for the Government of Canada's Departments of Transport, Industry and Foreign Affairs.[6] A longtime Liberal Party of Canada activist, MacNaughton has been involved federally in numerous election and political campaigns.

In Ontario, he co-chaired David Peterson's successful 1987 election campaign,[7] and was a senior advisor to Dalton McGuinty in the 2003 election.[8] Following that election, from October 2003 until May 2005 MacNaughton served as principal secretary to McGuinty.[9]

In 2015, MacNaughton served as Ontario co-chair for the federal Liberal campaign that was successful in electing Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister.[10]

In 2020, MacNaughton was found to have violated Canada's Conflict of Interest Act after offering pro bono work to several public office holders on behalf of Palantir Technologies Canada, of which he is president.[1]

Opinions

MacNaughton has been an outspoken advocate of government using asset sales in order to invest in new infrastructure.[11] He has also urged government to adopt a program of fundamental change in how it operates in order to more efficiently provide services.[12]

Other activities

MacNaughton has served on the boards of the North York General Hospital, the Toronto International Film Festival,[13] the Stratford Festival, TVOntario and the Toronto French School.

Personal life

MacNaughton's partner is Leslie Noble, formerly of the public affairs firm StrategyCorp. Noble has worked for the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party for several elections, notably as co-campaign manager with Tom Long on the "Common Sense Revolution" which won majority governments in 1995 and 1999.[14][15][16]

References
  1. Freeland, Vance and several federal officials barred from official dealings with ex-ambassador, CBC News, 16 Sept 2020
  2. Curtis, Jennifer (1 October 1995). "Hill and Knowlton Canada". Canadian Business. Rogers Media. p. 53.
  3. Richard, Mackie (1 October 2003). "Candidates for McGuinty inner circle If Liberals win, former Peterson confidant expected to play principal role as adviser; If Liberals win, former Peterson confidant expected to play principal role as adviser". The Globe and Mail. p. A10.
  4. McIntosh, Gord (8 February 1989). "Approval is granted for takeover of Decima". Toronto Star. Canadian Press. p. F3.
  5. Burney, Derek (2005). Getting it Done: A Memoir. McGill-Queen's University Press. p. 43. ISBN 0773529268. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  6. "Public offices held: DAVID MACNAUGHTON". Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  7. Fox, Brian (22 July 1987). "There's Joy in Ontario". Windsor Star.
  8. "The Liberal team that dethroned the Tories". Ottawa Citizen. 16 November 2004. Archived from the original on 13 May 2011.
  9. "Katie Telford: 'Hard-working, tough, honest and wicked smart'". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  10. Warnica, Richard. "The Liberal Resurrection". National Post. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  11. MacNaughton, David (24 October 2014). "David MacNaughton: Build infrastructure through sales, not debt". National Post.
  12. MacNaughton, David (6 November 2013). "Ontario needs fundamental change, not a fight over austerity vs. stimulus". The Globe and Mail.
  13. "Lisa de Wilde to chair TIFF board". Playback. 19 September 2013.
  14. Fife, Robert (16 January 2016). "Trudeau picks close allies as ambassadors to U.S. and UN". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  15. Staff (2016). "Revitalizing University College". Uof T Magazine. Utoronto. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  16. Kelley, Susanna (1 October 2014). "The Magic, Disappearing PC Campaign Managers: Now You See Them, Now You Don't". Ontario News Watch. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
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