Trump’s pick for ambassador to Canada to push for even stronger ties
by Joanna Smith, The Canadian Press
Kelly Knight Craft, a political donor and wife of a U.S. coal chief, said if appointed ambassador she'll look for new opportunities to foster further trade and create more jobs in both the U.S. and Canada
OTTAWA—President Donald Trump’s choice to serve as the next ambassador to Canada said she will work hard to maintain—and improve—the strong economic relationship between both countries during her time in Ottawa.
“I will work tirelessly to further enhance our strong economic partnership—the most extensive and integrated economic relationship of any two nations in the world,” Kelly Knight Craft said July 20 during her Senate confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C.
“I believe we can do better,” she added.
“If confirmed, I will seek new opportunities to foster further growth to create more jobs for both countries, while promoting free and fair trade to ensure that American businesses and workers can compete on a level playing field.”
The Trump administration wants to have its ambassador in Canada quickly, since negotiations for the new North American Free Trade Agreement are set to begin next month.
Knight Craft did not divulge many other details about the role she expects to play in the NAFTA talks, except to say that she will work closely with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on advancing American priorities on the file.
Later on, when asked to share her plans for promoting U.S. exports to Canada, Knight Craft mentioned softwood lumber, dairy and poultry as areas where she would direct some of her efforts.
Knight Craft, who would be the first woman to serve as U.S. ambassador to Canada, said she would also work to advance shared goals on energy security, which she mentioned is linked to the environment.
“I will also work to advance our shared environmental goals, stewardship of our common watersheds, land mass, wildlife, farm life and the air we breath, from coast to coast to coast, as the Canadians say,” she said.
Two other questions Knight Craft received? Queries about years-old results of college basketball games in her home state of Kentucky.
Along with Knight Craft, Trump’s picks for the NATO and U.K. posts were before the U.S. Senate foreign relations committee Thursday.
Each were asked by Sen. Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, whether they believed Russia had tried to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
“I believe, just from reading the material that everyone has had the opportunity to read that it looks as if yes,” Knight Craft said. “I would have to investigate this further, or learn more . . . but I do believe, yes.”
Senators devoted much more time to grilling Kay Bailey Hutchison, Trump’s choice to represent the U.S. at NATO.
Knight Craft is a well-connected political donor and philanthropist who is married to billionaire Joe Craft, who is the president and CEO of Alliance Resource Partners L.P., one of the biggest coal producers in the eastern U.S.
The U.S. ambassador post in Canada has been vacant since former envoy Bruce Heyman stepped down after Trump’s election.
