Running for the Top Post at the OECD
In happier days, Bill Morneau next to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
The Paris-based Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD) doesn’t usually generate screaming headlines.
But earlier this week it did when, amid a widening political scandal, Canada’s finance minister Bill Morneau announced his resignation to run for the top post at the OECD.
At the time, pundits suggested the move was a climb down for Morneau, who came into politics from Bay Street in 2015 as part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s landslide victory.
But an examination of current and former office holders at the OECD shows that a well-beaten path has been established by former finance ministers and former senior bureaucrats in its 37 member states. Even Canada managed to secure the SG position in 1996 for former Liberal cabinet minister Don Johnston.
Opposition parties and their surrogates said Morneau’s decision to resign from the finance ministry post of a G7 country in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and during one of the worst economic downturns in history as strange. Linking the resignation to the widening scandal, they said it was an attempt to distract attention away from the WE charity scandal. Earlier, Morneau testified that his family did indeed have ties with the disgraced charity and that he travelled to overseas project sites on its tab (only refunding the costs when he was called to testify). Like Trudeau - who’s family also maintains intimate ties with WE, including appearing as paid speakers - Morneau did not recuse himself during cabinet discussions on a $800-million contract involving the Toronto-based charity.
In the run-up to the resignation, various media outlets reported clashes between Morneau and Trudeau on economic policy.
"In Canadian politics, ministers almost never get fired - they either get promoted to diplomatic gigs or they decide themselves to spend more time with their families. Trudeau and Morneau needed a pretext and narrative for what had become an inevitable shuffle. The upcoming OECD vacancy provided that -- it's just senior enough to save face," said political analyst Yaroslav Baran, managing principal with Earnscliffe Strategy Group in Ottawa.
With a budget of €386-million, the OECD list as it’s prime goal “establishing evidence-based international standards and finding solutions to a range of social, economic and environmental challenges.” Most journalists know the organization from its hefty economic reports.
“Trudeau and Morneau needed a pretext and narrative for what had become an inevitable shuffle. The upcoming OECD vacancy provided that — it’s just senior enough to save face”
In an official statement on August 17 thanking Morneau for his service, Trudeau said Canada will “vigorously support his bid to lead this important global institution that will play a critical role in the global economic recovery.”
However powerful member states such as the United States may opt for a non-Canadian - especially given the current frosty bilateral relationship with Ottawa.
Said Baran: “The likelihood of Mr. Morneau getting the job is a separate question. The last secretary-general (1996-2006) was from Canada; it's probably unlikely the group will elect another Canadian to fill the post so soon, unless Prime Minister Trudeau expends all his international capital to help make it happen. As it stands, he doesn’t' appear willing to spend any additional capital on Mr. Morneau."
Here is a list of current and former occupants of the OECD office of the Secretary-General.
2006 to present
Angel Gurría, Mexico
Former finance minister and minister of foreign affairs
1996-2006
Don Johnston, Canada
Former Liberal cabinet minister (including justice and AG, Treasury Board President)
1984-1996
Jean-Claude Paye, France
Former high-ranking official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1969-1984
Emile (Emiel) van Lennep, Netherlands
Former highest-ranking official of Dutch Ministry of Finance
1961-1969
Thorkil Kristensen, Denmark
Former Danish finance minister
To learn more about the WE Charity scandal and the impact on the political career of Justin Trudeau, read my CNN Opinion piece. Click here