December 9,2025
RED FM News Desk
Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., will step down in the new year as the country’s top diplomat in Washington, according to a statement released Tuesday.
“After more than eight years in Washington, including six as Canada’s ambassador to the United States, I have informed Prime Minister Mark Carney that I will be ending my tenure in the New Year,” Hillman wrote in a detailed statement.
Her departure comes amid stalled trade talks between Canada and the U.S., and ahead of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) review scheduled to begin in 2026. While she did not provide a specific reason for leaving, Hillman said she will remain “available to Canada’s negotiating team as they navigate the months ahead.”
“Although there is never a perfect time to leave, this is the right moment to put a team in place to see the CUSMA review through to its conclusion,” she added.
Hillman was first appointed ambassador in March 2020 and was the first woman to hold the position.
In a statement on X, Carney praised Hillman for “resolutely defending Canadian values and interests” during a “period of transformation” in the Canada-U.S. relationship. “As she prepares to step down in the new year, I am grateful to Ambassador Hillman for her invaluable counsel and thank her for her long record of dedicated service to all Canadians,” he said.
Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also commended Hillman, calling her “a real patriot who has served Canadians proudly and effectively in the face of unprecedented challenges to our economy and sovereignty.” Trudeau, who appointed Hillman, noted that she “earned her place” as ambassador, highlighting her work on trade issues, her handling of cross-border challenges during COVID-19, and her discreet but effective role in securing the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor from Chinese detention.
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