TIME: You've held some of the biggest jobs in Canada's government. Isn't ambassador a step down?
MW: I don't think so. To represent my country at a time when work has to be done to rebuild a relationship that has deteriorated in recent years was an important challenge, an interesting challenge.
TIME: The job has been described as a combination of diplomat, politician and high-class saloon keeper. Is that accurate?
MW: I wouldn't put the third item at the top of the list. But we need to get our issues in front of key decision makers, and there's no question that making contacts is an important part of relationship building.
TIME: For the second time in a row, a former top-ranking politician has been put in our most important diplomatic post. Is this a trend?
MW: Prime Minister [Stephen Harper] felt it was important at this point to send a clear message to Washington that his direct representative is in the chair.
TIME: You were a cabinet heavyweight in your time. Will it be hard to resist putting in your two cents about policy?
MW: The Prime Minister and I talked about it. The ambassador has to have an opportunity to influence the direction of policy related to the United States. There has to be a direct dialogue with the Prime Minister, and this has to be known to other ministers and the public service. I'm quite comfortable that's going to happen. We will talk on a regular basis.
TIME: Will the anti-American rhetoric of the election campaign make your job harder?
MW: I'm under no illusions that just because we've got a change in government and a change in ambassadors that suddenly it will all be blue skies. But the fact that such rhetoric is not going to be our style will make the job easier. TIME: Is it just a matter of changing the style? MW: No, but there's no reason why we can't look at some issues from the point of view of the person on the other side of the table, without having to give up anything for Canada. There's a desire on both sides to improve a relationship that's very important for both countries.
TIME: Once you get the softwood dispute solved, of course.
MW: It's like gum on your shoe. It won't go away. It's the most important issue right now from a Canadian perspective, but there are many others. We've got to earn our way back to a real dialogue. TIME: How? MW: We can concentrate on multilateral and other issues where we have common interests. Our involvement in Afghanistan is much appreciated, for instance.
TIME: Washington is a tough town. Do you have any friends there from the old days to help smooth the way?
MW: The only one I've dealt with before is [Deputy Secretary of State] Bob Zoellick, but there are not too many degrees of separation from the people I used to deal with and the ones I'll have to deal with now. It won't be too hard to get up that learning curve.
TIME: The outgoing ambassador, Frank McKenna, lasted about a year. You also will be serving a minority government whose life could be short. Do you feel pressure to deliver?
MW: I feel a sense of urgency relative to the things that have to be done, regardless of whether it's a shorter time frame.
TIME: It might help in certain Washington circles that you're a passionate golfer.
MW: I don't know if the current President plays golf. But his father does, and I do know him. TIME: Will you call the elder Bush when you arrive? MW: Oh sure.
TIME: Which nonpolitical American would you most like to have as a guest? Tiger Woods. We once played played pro-am together.