Prime Minister Mark Carney has named a 24-member advisory committee to guide Canada’s approach to economic relations with the United States, assembling a cross-partisan roster of former political leaders alongside business and labour figures ahead of a fraught review of the North American trade pact
The move signals Ottawa’s effort to widen its bench as talks over the Canada–U.S.–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) near, with U.S. tariffs and the prospect of the deal lapsing adding urgency. The council’s first meeting is scheduled for April 27
The committee will serve as a forum to shape strategy for managing the economic relationship with Washington and help the government stay closely connected to key industrial sectors. It will be led by Dominic LeBlanc, the minister responsible for Canada–U.S. trade, and convenes Monday, April 27, according to the government and published reports
Carney said the group is meant to draw on “the best advice and the broadest perspectives” as Canada prepares for difficult negotiations. Most members are new; only a handful were carried over from a council created under former prime minister Justin Trudeau
Qui est à la table
The lineup mixes political veterans with industry chiefs and labour leaders. Among those named are former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole; former Quebec premier Jean Charest; former Conservative cabinet minister Lisa Raitt; former Nunavut premier P.J. Akeeagok; and former finance minister and high commissioner to the U.K., Ralph Goodale
Business and sector voices include Candace Laing of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce; Bank of Montreal CEO Darryl White; Canadian National Railway CEO Tracy Robinson; Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association head Flavio Volpe; ArcelorMittal Dofasco CEO Ron Bedard; Nutrien CEO Ken Seitz; Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters head Dennis Darby; Unifor national president Lana Payne; TC Energy CEO François Poirier; Agropur CEO Émile Cordeau; Domtar Canada’s Luc Thériault; FTQ president Magali Picard; Teck Resources CE…
Carney has warned that talks could damage the Canadian economy if mishandled and has pledged regular updates on efforts to reduce exposure to the U.S. market. In a recent video message, he said the U.S. has fundamentally shifted its trade posture, raising tariffs to levels last seen during the Great Depression and targeting Canadian steel, aluminum, copper, lumber and autos
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick last week called the current North American agreement a “bad deal” for Americans and suggested it could be allowed to lapse this summer, while criticizing Canada’s approach to the timeline. A formal review of CUSMA is slated for this year, with one published account noting July as a key date
At home, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre praised O’Toole’s inclusion but pressed for faster movement toward negotiations. The government says it has submitted proposals to U.S. counterparts and is prepared to reach a deal quickly, insisting Canada will not be the source of delay
The council meets April 27. The U.S. and Mexico plan an official bilateral negotiating round in late May, while Canada has not announced a formal start date. Signals from Washington on whether talks proceed trilaterally or split into bilateral tracks, and whether existing tariffs broaden or recede, will shape Ottawa’s calculus. A clearer negotiating calendar—and any shift in the U.S. stance on CUSMA’s fate—would be the next indicators to watch
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