Monday April 27, 2026 | OTTAWA, ON [Posted at 9:17 pm PT]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Prime Minister Mark Carney has a new Advisory Committee on Canada-U.S. Economic Relations and the work begins fast.
The Committee was announced on April 21, and today the committee’s first meeting was held in Ottawa.
Canada’s government continues to forge a new economic and security relationship with the United States.
The committee format seeks economic guidance from a range of appointees who bring specific sector expertise, several also with deep political roots.
The committee is chaired by Dominic LeBlanc, Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy and International Trade.
Canada’s negotiating team is being led by Janice Charette, Canada’s Chief Trade Negotiator the United States. Canada’s Ambassador to the United States is Mark Wiseman.
“Today, I chaired the first meeting of the new Advisory Committee on Canada-U.S. Economic Relations,” said LeBlanc in a social media post.
“We discussed Canada’s priorities in upcoming the joint review of the CUSMA, and the importance of maintaining a strong, stable, and mutually beneficial economic partnership between Canada and the United States,” said LeBlanc.
“Bringing together diverse expertise, the committee will ensure Canada engages with the United States in a unified way – because Canada is strongest when we work together,” LeBlanc posted today.
Broad view:
As well as the economic detail available through the diverse committee, there as an overall assignment of looking at the whole of economic and sovereign relations with the United States.
Security, NORAD and the Five Eyes are just a few of shared broad areas between Canada and the United States.
The detailed focus will be on CUSMA, to get the best possible deal for Canada. Currently 85% of good can trade from Canada into the US tariff-free.
Comments:
Former Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok – “I was honoured to join the first meeting of the Advisory Committee on Canada-U.S. Economic Relations, chaired by Min Dominic LeBlanc. It was a productive session, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such distinguished colleagues. This is a critical moment for unity, and I am committed to ensuring the Arctic remains a central pillar of Canada’s long-term economic strategy as I look forward to continuing to contribute to our shared future.”
Committee members:
In addition to the chair, the committee is comprised of 24 leaders including former politicians (various political stripes), as well as active corporate CEOs and sector leaders with expertise in specific areas of business or economy.
Here is the full list (in the order as presented in the Prime Minister’s April 21 news release):
- Jean Simard
- Candace Laing
- Darryl White
- Lisa Raitt (former Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party)
- Tracy Robinson
- Flavio Volpe
- Ron Bedard
- Ken Seitz
- Dennis Darby
- Lana Payne
- François Poirier
- Émile Cordeau
- Luc Thériault
- Magali Picard
- Jonathan Price
- Susan Yurkovich
- Michael Harvey
- Tabatha Bull
- Cameron Bailey
- Valérie Beaudoin
- Erin O’Toole (former Conservative Party Leader)
- Jean Charest (former Premier of Quebec)
- P.J. Akeeagok (former Premier of Nunavut)
- Ralph Goodale (former Liberal cabinet minister, and Canada’s former High Commissioner to the UK)
===== RELATED:
- New Advisory Committee on Canada-US Economic Relations gets rolling April 27 (April 21, 2026)
- Canada’s Washington team: Ambassador Wiseman & Chief Trade Negotiator Charette (February 16, 2026)
- NEWS SECTIONS: CANADA-USA | CANADA-NATIONAL | 45th PARLIAMENT OF CANADA