Amy Klobuchar: “I rise to honor the outgoing Canadian Ambassador to the United States, Gary Doer. Soon Ambassador Doer will return home…”

“I rise to honor the outgoing Canadian Ambassador to the United States, Gary Doer. Soon Ambassador Doer will return home to Manitoba, but, lucky for us, he will be a frequent visitor to Washington, DC, as the new cochair of the Wilson Center's Canada Institute Advisory Board. We are glad the Ambassador will continue to be an influential voice in shaping U.S.-Canada relations. Over the last 6 years, I have had the privilege of getting to know the Ambassador. I knew we would get along well when I learned he was a longtime fan of Bud Grant, an incredible athlete who became the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. From a Canadian perspective, he first coached the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. Bud Grant is adored in Minnesota and is still adored many years after he left coaching. In fact, it was during a recent playoff game that we remember well--in Minnesota versus the Seahawks--where Bud Grant came out in 17-below-zero weather and flipped the coin with no jacket on. What I will also never forget is attending an event at the Ambassador's home. I walked in the door, and he had a framed photo of Coach Grant right next to a framed photo of the Prime Minister of Canada. We like that in Minnesota. The Ambassador served for 6 years--or double-overtime, as he likes to call it. This is longer than his two predecessors combined.…”