# Canadian Parliament's Sergeant-at-Arms Named Ambassador to Ireland **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 9, 2015, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371 "2015-01-09T03:03:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/1 "2015-01-09T03:03:07Z")
Wear a funny hat, carry a mace, and do a duck-and-roll pistol shot to take out a terrorist, and you too can be named Ambassador! > **[Sergeant-at-arms seen as hero in Ottawa shootings named ambassador to Ireland...](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/kevin-vickers-named-ambassador-to-ireland-1.2893764)** > > Kevin Vickers, the House of Commons sergeant-at-arms who was called a hero in October after the shooting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, will be Canada's next ambassador to Ireland, replacing Loyola Hearn. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/2 "2015-01-09T03:40:05Z")
That seems a little…odd. Wouldn’t an ambassador need some diplomatic experience? Whereabouts on the pecking order does the Irish job come? And the link’s not working for me. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/3 "2015-01-09T03:43:26Z")
That’s the mobile link. It works for me, but it’s formatted for a phone. [Try this](http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/kevin-vickers-named-ambassador-to-ireland-1.2893764) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/4 "2015-01-09T07:07:33Z")
As Canada and Ireland enjoy excellent diplomatic relations, **Cunctator** , I imagine that it’s more a “let’s reward Mr. Vickers with something a little more substantial than a wall plaque” than it is anything else. At any rate, I believe Mr. Vickers will do a good job in Ireland. Good for him, and I wish him luck! ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/5 "2015-01-09T09:08:29Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Wear a funny hat, carry a mace, and do a duck-and-roll pistol shot to take out a terrorist, and you too can be named Ambassador! > [@Cunctator](#): > > That seems a little…odd. Wouldn’t an ambassador need some diplomatic experience? They want to take a _somewhat firmer_ diplomatic tone with Ireland, and so are sending a guy with a mace? ---
**Author:** ![williambaskerville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@williambaskerville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/williambaskerville)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/6 "2015-01-09T10:34:04Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > As Canada and Ireland enjoy excellent diplomatic relations, **Cunctator** , I imagine that it’s more a “let’s reward Mr. Vickers with something a little more substantial than a wall plaque” than it is anything else. At any rate, I believe Mr. Vickers will do a good job in Ireland. > > Good for him, and I wish him luck! I would imagine this would be it. Speaking as an Irishman, I can report with some confidence we do not anticipate war with Canada in the immediate future. (In fact, seriously, I actually cannot conceive of any issue that Ireland and Canada could possibly be in conflict over. The best I can come up with is landing rights at each other’s airports). I echo your good wishes for him. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/7 "2015-01-09T14:55:54Z")
Yeah, this seems some kind of indirect threat to Ireland. “Our ambassador _kills_ people. Keep that in mind!” ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/8 "2015-01-09T15:03:00Z")
At least in the US there are ambassadorships to, like, Pakistan where you send somebody who has busted their ass in the region with the Foreign Service their whole career and is a lifetime expert on Pakistani culture and politics, and then there are ambassadorships to France where you send somebody who gave a LOT of money to your campaign and you would like to reward them. One assumes Canada is not dissimilar. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/9 "2015-01-09T15:22:04Z")
I’m guessing maybe there’s a beer subsidy for the embassy staff in Ireland. ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2015, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/10 "2015-01-10T01:51:33Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I’m guessing maybe there’s a beer subsidy for the embassy staff in Ireland. When I worked with member of the Canadian Forces, they used to get a liquor allowance just for being stationed in the US, either because [ol] [li]The Canadian liquors are better that US liquor[/li][li]They could get away with it[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/11 "2015-01-10T14:05:30Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > That seems a little…odd. Wouldn’t an ambassador need some diplomatic experience? Whereabouts on the pecking order does the Irish job come? > > And the link’s not working for me. On the first point, it varies. We’ve had ambassadors before who were not diplomats. Ambassadors to the US in the past two decades have included a former Chief of Defence Staff, two former premiers, and a former federal Finance Minister. On the pecking order, I’m not sure. The US and the UK are the two biggest ones for Canada. Ireland? I think **Williambaskerville** nailed it. We’re on good terms, and I can’t think of any diplomatic rows we’ve ever had with the Irish. (Unlike those perfidious Danes and [Hans Island](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Island). 😉 ) Vickers is apparently of Irish background on both sides of his family and has been involved in Irish-Canadian cultural exchanges. Overall, I think **Spoons** ’s answer is right. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2015, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/12 "2015-01-10T14:22:03Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > They want to take a _somewhat firmer_ diplomatic tone with Ireland, and so are sending a guy with a mace? Plus, [he’s packing](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2804397/Canadian-sergeant-arms-58-hailed-hero-shooting-dead-terrorist-Zehaf-Bibeau-exchange-gunfire-30-year-career.html)! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/13 "2015-01-11T06:28:51Z")
So what kinds of activities will occupy Mr Vickers’ work day? Is he getting a crash course from Foreign Affairs on how to ambassador? ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/14 "2015-01-11T20:21:15Z")
IIRC reading about his previous positions, Mr. Vickers has long been diplomatically inclined and seems a genuinely good person who greatly enjoys serving his country and its citizens w/ his best efforts. I’m sure he will do a splendid job. Everything I read and see about him impresses me so much; if he has hubris it must be well hidden. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/15 "2015-01-12T00:53:37Z")
I was discussing this with a friend of mine. His sister-in-law is the Ambassador/High Commissioner to 2 countries (they share an Embassy in one of the countries). Career employees get these kinds of postings because there is not a huge support staff and they need the experience working up the ranks to do the job. Prestige postings like the UK, US, etc. are often patronage appointments as they have a larger staff who can do the consular stuff while the ambassador can meet heads of state and business delegations. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/16 "2015-01-12T01:16:25Z")
On the other hand, though, this means that the Canadian Parliament is now going to be woefully underdefended. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/17 "2015-01-12T01:21:50Z")
First the Mounties and then Sgt at Arms. Is this his first job where he won’t have to dress funny? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/18 "2015-01-13T16:40:45Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > First the Mounties and then Sgt at Arms. Is this his first job where he won’t have to dress funny? 😉 There are some countries whose diplomats have [uniforms](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomatic_uniform) they wear on ultraformal occasions, but I don’t know if Canada is one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/19 "2015-01-13T17:22:40Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Plus, [he’s packing](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2804397/Canadian-sergeant-arms-58-hailed-hero-shooting-dead-terrorist-Zehaf-Bibeau-exchange-gunfire-30-year-career.html)! Hmmm… wait a minute. Let me pitch a TV show… A no-nonsense Canadian Diplomat who’s packing meets a beautiful young idealistic Irish government liason… and between high level government meetings, the two head to various scenic and beautiful points in Ireland fighting crime. Yes, but would “Vickers-Valiant” fly in Ireland…? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371/20 "2015-01-13T19:08:18Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > IIRC reading about his previous positions, Mr. Vickers has long been diplomatically inclined and seems a genuinely good person who greatly enjoys serving his country and its citizens w/ his best efforts. I’m sure he will do a splendid job. > Everything I read and see about him impresses me so much; if he has hubris it must be well hidden. [This article](http://thelambda.ca/2013/01/23/idle-no-more-protest-visits-parliament-hill/) shows a pretty good diplomatic sense. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliaments-sergeant-at-arms-named-ambassador-to-ireland/709371.md?page=2)