Frank McKenna, a former Canadian ambassador to the United States, says recent criticism against Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff fits with how the Canadian public views political leaders.

Playing down the abilities of politicians is just part of our culture, he said. That's been the case at least since the time of former prime minister Brian Mulroney.

"I think this just follows a trend that we love to hate our leaders," McKenna said on CTV's Canada AM. "We love to try to tear down the tall poppies in our country."

He described Ignatieff, who has seen his approval rating fall in recent months, as a "world-leading intellectual."

"It's early days and this is not a bad time to be going through some growing pains," he said. "He's learning as he goes. He's reorganized his office, and he's just going to be fine."

McKenna is on a tour promoting a new biography about his life, written by author Harvey Sawler.

An experienced and popular politician, McKenna served as Liberal premier of New Brunswick from 1987-1997. He was awarded the Order of Canada last week.

McKenna also had some advice for Canada's new ambassador in Washington, former Manitoba premier Gary Doer.

"You need someone who can communicate well and, in my view, be a passionate and ardent defender of things Canadian," McKenna said.

"You just don't walk in and say 'Mr. President, let's fix this, this and this.' You've got to get every member of Congress, or some of the more important ones, on side. And you have to try to get some kind of receptivity from the American public, and that's hard to do."

McKenna left his post as ambassador in 2006. He is now deputy chair of TD financial Group, where he said he has enjoyed "relative obscurity."

In the biography Sawler paints McKenna, who is sometimes referred to as the 'greatest prime minister Canada never had,' in a positive light.

The book's release makes McKenna feel "just like being a bug under a microscope," he joked. "Being in the public spotlight again is just as uncomfortable as when I was in it before."