Canada-US Trade: Who Gets a Say?
The Council on Canada-U.S. Relations was launched on January 16, 2025. It’s members will provide the government with
“… sectoral expertise to support the Prime Minister and Cabinet at this important time in the Canada-U.S. relationship.” Prime Minister’s Council on Canada-U.S. Relations, January 16, 2025 Ottawa, Ontario.
Here’s some publicly available information about its members.
Sectoral Representation
Business and Trade Experts: Many members have extensive experience in business, trade, and investment, including David MacNaughton, Steve Verheul, Arlene Dickinson, Linda Hasenfratz, Shahrzad Rafati, and Tim Gitzel. Their involvement suggests a focus on facilitating economic activity and removing trade barriers. Flavio Volpe's role as the President of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association (APMA) and Martin Caron's position with the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) highlight the importance of specific industries in the US-Canada relationship.
Political and Diplomatic Figures: Jean Charest, Rachel Notley, Stephen McNeil, and David MacNaughton bring political experience as well as knowledge of effective policy-making and government collaboration. Kirsten Hillman's role as Canada's Ambassador to the US underscores the diplomatic aspect of the relationship, while Steve Verheul's experience as Canada's Chief Trade Negotiator further indicates the importance of trade negotiations.
Labor and Equity Advocates: Lana Payne and Hassan Yussuff's presence, representing labor interests, shows that the council’s perspective includes considerations for workers’ rights and interests within the US-Canada trade relationship. Tabatha Bull's position at the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB), and Wes Hall's work promoting BIPOC entrepreneurs, shows the council recognizes the importance of equity and inclusivity in trade.
Note: Based on publicly available data and not warranted to be authoritative or precise.
* Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association (APMA).
** Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB)
Domain Experience
Word count all work experience summaries excluding ‘stop words’
Jean Charest is a Canadian politician who began his career as a Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament, becoming the youngest federal cabinet minister, later leading the party before becoming the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party and serving as Premier of Quebec, and after leaving politics, has worked in the private sector as a consultant and lawyer.
Rachel Notley is a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as the 17th Premier of Alberta from 2015 to 2019, and as leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party (NDP) from 2014 to 2024, prior to her political career, she worked as a labour lawyer specializing in workers' compensation and workplace health and safety, including a period with the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees and is now with the law firm Southern Butler Price LLP.
Stephen McNeil served as the 28th Premier of Nova Scotia from 2013 to 2021, after owning and operating a small appliance repair business, McNeil Appliance Service, from 1988, and he is currently a strategic business advisor for Cox & Palmer.
David MacNaughton is a Canadian businessman, diplomat, political advisor, and strategist who has held positions in both the public and private sectors, including serving as Canada's Ambassador to the United States, chairman of StrategyCorp, president of Palantir Technologies Canada, and holding leadership roles at various other companies such as Hill+Knowlton Strategies and Strathshore Financial.
Steve Verheul is a highly accomplished expert in Canadian trade policy and negotiation, who served as Canada's chief trade negotiator for several major international agreements within the Canadian federal public service for 33 years, and later transitioned to the private sector as a principal with GT and Company Executive Advisors and president of Steve Verheul Consulting Inc., while also being a fellow at the Public Policy Forum.
Arlene Dickinson is a South African-Canadian businesswoman, investor, author, and television personality, who is the general partner of District Ventures Capital and CEO of Venturepark, and while she is politically non-partisan, she has publicly criticized those who she views as self-interested in politics.
Linda Hasenfratz is a Canadian businesswoman who began her career as a machine operator at her father's company, Linamar, and rose to become the CEO, Chairman and Executive Chair, leading the company to significant growth and global expansion
Lana Payne is a prominent labor leader and the first woman to be elected National President of Unifor, Canada's largest private sector union, having previously worked as a journalist and holding various union leadership positions, and is a self described feminist and activist.
Jody Thomas is a Canadian public servant with over 30 years of experience in various senior roles, including Chief Operating Officer at Passport Canada, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, Deputy Minister of National Defence, and most recently, National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister; she has not held any private sector positions.
Flavio Volpe is the President of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association (APMA), a role he has held since 2014, and prior to this, he worked in the private sector for a renewable energy company and in the public sector as chief of staff to the Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Trade.
Tabatha Bull is an Anishinaabe woman and a member of the Nipissing First Nation, who is the current President and CEO of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB), and has a background as an electrical engineer, with previous private sector experience at the IESO (Ontario's electricity system operator); she has also served on various boards and advisory councils, and various political groups.
Shahrzad Rafati is an Iranian-Canadian entrepreneur and the Founder, Chairperson, and CEO of RHEI (formerly BroadbandTV), a global media-tech company, and she has also been appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to represent Canada on the G20 Business Women Leaders task force and G20 EMPOWER, demonstrating her involvement in both the private sector and global initiatives for women's economic empowerment.
Hassan Yussuff is a Canadian labor leader and politician who, after working as a heavy truck mechanic, rose through the ranks of the Canadian Auto Workers union, served as president of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) from 2014 to 2021, and was appointed as an independent senator for Ontario in 2021; he has also worked in advisory roles in both the private and public sectors, including at BMO Financial Group, the University of Toronto, and the offices of the Premier of Ontario.
Wes Hall is a highly influential Jamaican-Canadian businessman, who is the founder and chairman of WeShall Investments, a private equity firm supporting BIPOC entrepreneurs, and is also known for his philanthropy, advocacy against anti-Black racism, and for being a "Dragon" on CBC's Dragons' Den.
Martin Caron is the current president of the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA), a role in which he advocates for agricultural producers and supply management, and he has also served as Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development at the National Bank of Canada, bringing over 20 years of experience in the financial sector.
Brian Topp is a Canadian political strategist, union leader, and writer who has held various positions in the public and private sectors, including serving as chief of staff to two premiers, holding leadership positions within the New Democratic Party (NDP), and working as an executive at a credit union and with a film and television union; he is affiliated with the NDP.
Tim Gitzel is the President and CEO of Cameco Corporation, a major uranium producer, with over 30 years of experience in senior management in the Canadian and international uranium mining industry, previously holding executive positions at Orano (formerly AREVA).
Kirsten Hillman is a Canadian lawyer and diplomat who has served as Canada's Ambassador to the United States since 2020, after working in private practice in Montreal and for the Department of Justice in Ottawa, and has held various senior diplomatic and policy positions, including playing key roles in negotiating trade agreements such as the modernization of NAFTA.