Thursday January 16, 2025 | NATIONAL NEWS [Posted 2:40 pm | Updated 4:22 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
A new council on Canada-US Relations has been appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“Canada and the United States are the closest of friends, steadfast allies, and partners in the world’s most successful bilateral relationship,” said Trudeau in a media release today.
Meanwhile this council emerges within the context of threats of tariffs from the incoming U.S. administration. Trudeau will chair the council tomorrow (January 17).
This comes in the wake of an escalating aggressive stance against Canada since Trump was elected on November 5, 2024. Trump met with Trudeau in Florida on November 29.

This also is within the political context of Trudeau in transition as prime minister (his last day is March 9).
The council will be supporting key cabinet ministers who are focussing on the Canada-US file including Dominic LeBlanc (Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs), Melanie Joly (Foreign Affairs), and Jonathan Wilkinson (Energy and Natural Resources).

Trump inauguration next week:
President-Elect Donald Trump will be sworn in as President of the United on January 20, 2025. Trump has vowed to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian exports to the United States.

Trudeau met yesterday in Ottawa with Canada’s premiers of provinces and territories to continue working on a ‘team Canada’ approach to facing the tariff threats from the United States.
On February 12, a team of Canadian representatives including Premiers will visit governors and business people in Washington, DC.
Council members:
The council is strong on people with business and political experience and affiliation, as well as some with a union background. There is a range of geographical considerations as well. Three council members are former provincial premiers and one is a senator. At least two council members are members of the Order of Canada.
Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman, is on the council.
Comprised of leaders in business, innovation, and policy, the members of the Council are to use their sectoral expertise to support the Prime Minister and Cabinet “at this important time in the Canada-U.S. relationship”, it was stated in today’s release.
Some are perhaps chosen for their star quality on TV business shows.
The 18 members of Canada’s Council on Canada-US relations are as follows:
- Jean Charest (Canadian lawyer, 29th premier of Quebec – 2003 to 2012)
- Rachel Notley (17th Premier of Alberta NDP)
- Stephen McNeil (28th premier of Nova Scotia, from 2013 to 2021)
- David MacNaughton (a former ambassador to the United States)
- Steve Verheul (Canada’s Chief Trade Negotiator during 2017-2021)
- Arlene Dickinson (South African Canadian businesswoman, investor, author, television personality)
- Linda Hasenfratz (Canadian businesswoman, the president, chairman, and CEO of Linamar since 2002; Member of the Order of Canada)
- Lana Payne (Unifor National President since 2022)
- Jody Thomas (national security advisor to the prime minister of Canada since 2022)
- Flavio Volpe (leads the APMA, Canada’s OEM supplier industry body, Member of the Order of Canada)
- Tabatha Bull (Ontario business CEO, member of Nipissing First Nation)
- Shahrzad Rafati (Iranian-Canadian chairwoman and CEO of RHEI, formerly BBTV – a global media company headquartered in Vancouver)
- Hassan Yussuff (former labour leader, Canadian senator)
- Wes Hall (Canadian businessman and entrepreneur, known a “Dragon” investor)
- Martin Caron (expert on international mobility)
- Brian Topp (NDP political strategist)
- Tim Gitzel ( chief executive officer of Cameco)
- Ambassador Kirsten Hillman (Canada’s ambassador to the United States)
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