OTTAWA -- The Canadian Press has learned that the Harper government plans to appoint former British Columbia premier Gordon Campbell as Canada's new high commissioner to Britain.

Campbell's elevation to one of Canada's highest diplomatic posts comes after he resigned last fall as B.C. premier.

The Liberal premier's popularity plunged after he introduced the 12-per-cent harmonized sales tax.

Campbell resigned after 26 years in politics, nine of them as premier.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper also reached across partisan political lines in 2009 when he appointed Manitoba's former NDP premier Gary Doer as his ambassador to Washington — considered Canada's top diplomatic posting. Sources say the announcement of Campbell's appointment is days away.

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