Canada gets a new U.S. ambassador, Bruce Heyman, after eight-month delay

WASHINGTON – After eight months, there will be a new U.S. ambassador to Canada.

Chicago investment banker Bruce Heyman has been confirmed by the Senate. On his Twitter account, Heyman says he’s honoured to be confirmed, and it’s time to get to work.

A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says Canada looks forward to building a strong relationship with Heyman.

Canada has been without a U.S. ambassador since July, when Chicago lawyer David Jacobson ended his term.

Jacobson and Heyman are both political allies of U.S. President Barack Obama.

The nomination comes several days after a prominent business group, the Canadian American Business Council, expressed frustration over the delay in confirming his nomination.

It sent a letter to the leaders of both parties in the Senate, chiding the chamber for partisan gamesmanship. Republicans in the chamber have been holding up dozens of ambassadorial appointments, in a move seen as punishment for procedural changes imposed by the Democrats.

Heyman’s nomination hearing went smoothly last year.

He faced very few questions, although he was asked whether he would challenge Canada to toughen its intellectual-property laws and did indicate a willingness to make it a priority.

The Keystone XL pipeline, which the Harper government wants approved and the Obama administration is still studying, will be the key issue facing Heyman when he arrives in Ottawa.

It wasn’t immediately known when Heyman would be taking up his post.

Maryscott Greenwood of the Canadian American Business Council said they are ”delighted” that Heyman has been confirmed.

“We look forward to working closely with him on the many aspects of the Canada/US relationship from smart border management to innovative trade policy to accelerating economic recovery in North America,” she said in an email.