Derek Burney

Derek Burney joined Canada’s foreign service in 1963 and served in Japan and South Korea before assuming senior economic policy responsibilities in Ottawa. He advocated a more secure trading relationship with the United States and helped organize the bilateral summits that prepared the way for free trade negotiations. As Brian Mulroney’s chief of staff, he joined the final Washington bargaining in 1987 and pressed for a dispute settlement mechanism acceptable to Canada. ¹

Burney became ambassador to the United States in 1989 and served until 1993, spanning implementation of the bilateral free trade agreement and negotiation of NAFTA. After leaving public service, he worked in business and later became chancellor of Lakehead University. ^{2, 1}