Ottawa, Feb. 4 -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday announced his intention to appoint former cabinet minister Bill Blair as Canada's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and senior public servant Nathalie G. Drouin as Ambassador to France and Monaco, as Ottawa seeks to deepen ties with two of its closest allies.

Blair, a former minister of national defence and public safety, brings four decades of experience in public service and security.

Before entering federal politics as the Member of Parliament for Scarborough Southwest, he served for 39 years with the Toronto Police Service, including as chief of police, and led national and provincial associations of police chiefs.

Drouin, a career public servant, has held severa...