David Wilkins, then the U.S. ambassador to Canada, chats with Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, at the western premiers conference in Prince Albert, Sask., in May 2008. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

The law firm whose partners include David Wilkins, the former U.S. ambassador to Canada, has been engaged by Saskatchewan to represent the province in Washington, D.C.

The firm Nelson Mullins will be paid $400,000 per year to provide what the province described as "legal analysis and strategic advice on issues that could have an impact on the province's interests," according a provincial government news release issued on Wednesday.

According to the province, the retainer replaces a system whereby different ministries would hire a Washington law firm on a case-by-case basis, as issues arose.

In the news release, Premier Brad Wall praised Wilkins, who was ambassador for just under four years, until January, and joined the law firm as a partner in February.

"I have developed a close working relationship with David Wilkins," Wall said. "He is a good friend of Saskatchewan, and he's familiar with our issues."

In an interview with reporters, Wall added that the value of the firm's work may be difficult to measure.

"Often it might be what's avoided," Wall said. "If Saskatchewan has played a proactive role against things like country of origin labeling or the softwood thing, there won't be any hard evidence of it, because we'll have avoided a potential problem."

Wilkins was a long-time Republican state legislator in South Carolina before George W. Bush, then president, appointed him to be ambassador to Canada.

Wilkins' political stripe may work against Saskatchewan, opposition leader Lorne Calvert said in commenting on the retainer. Calvert, the leader of the NDP, noted that Democrats are now the predominant power-brokers in Washington.

"Not to take away anything from Mr. Wilkins. I met with Mr. Wilkins. I enjoyed his company," Calvert told reporters. "But there was no question in his mind or mine or anyone else's that he was very clearly a very solid supporter of the Bush Republican administration."

The province said the law firm has other partners besides Wilkins, and has connections to both the Democratic and Republican parties.

According to the firm's website, Nelson Mullins has 400 attorneys working in offices throughout the United States, especially in the southeast and Washington, D.C. The firm's main office is in Greenville, S.C.