Ex-army commander Andrew Leslie to play key role in dealing with Trump administration

Retired army commander Andrew Leslie has beenappointed parliamentary secretary to the minister of foreign affairs, and will take on "special responsibilities" for the crucial Canada-U.S. relations file.

A news release from the office of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Leslie, MPfor the Ontario riding ofOrlans, will play "a critical role in building ties with the new U.S. administration."

"As a retired lieutenant-general with years of experience working with the U.S., I know he has the necessary relationships and experience to help establish a constructive dialogue with the new U.S. administration," Trudeau said in a statement released Wednesday.

Leslie, who was first elected in 2015, currently serves as the chief government whip. He will assume his new dutiesas parliamentary secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland starting on Jan. 30.

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Donald Trump will be sworn in Friday as U.S. president.

Speaking in Sherbrooke, Que., on Wednesday, Trudeau said Canada would work to build ties with the incoming administration to promote trade and preserve millions of jobs.

Protecting jobs in Canada, U.S.

"We continue to work constructively with the new administration to protect jobs and opportunities on both sides of the border, because quite frankly, that's the commitment that both president-elect Trump and I got elected on," he said.

Leslie, along with former Toronto police chief Bill Blair, were two high-profile new MPs shut out of Trudeau's first cabinet in 2015.

Lesliewas Canada's top commander in Afghanistan. He also drafted areport on transforming the Canadian Armed Forces for the 21st century. Thefindings put him at oddswith some of the top brass at the Department of National Defence.

Leslie's successor as government whip will be announced in coming days, according to the PMO. That role is criticalin ensuring enough party members are in the chamber for debates and votes.

The whip also determines which committees a party member sits on, and assigns office spaceand seats in the House.