April 21, 2026, Ottawa, Ontario
Canada’s new government is forging a new economic and security relationship with the United States. Prime Minister Carney has secured the best deal of any major U.S. trading partner – 85% of our trade with the United States remains tariff-free, the lowest average tariff rate in the world. As Canada approaches the Joint Review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), our aim is to preserve that unique Canadian advantage and to build on it.
To that end, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, today announced the creation of the new Advisory Committee on Canada-U.S. Economic Relations. The committee will serve as a forum for expertise and strategy on all aspects of the Canada-U.S. economic relationship.
The Advisory Committee will include leaders from major sectors of the Canadian economy, representing extensive experience in business, investment, trade, and labour. It will be chaired by the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy, Dominic LeBlanc.
The Prime Minister is pleased to announce the following members:
- Jean Simard; Candace Laing; Darryl White; Lisa Raitt; 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; Jean Charest; P.J. Akeeagok; Ralph Goodale
The Advisory Committee will hold its first meeting on April 27, 2026. Prime Minister Carney thanks the members of the former Council on Canada-U.S. Relations for their service during a consequential period in the bilateral relationship.
Canada’s trading relationship with the U.S. is a critical contributor to a competitive North American continental economy, supporting millions of jobs on both sides of the border. The new Advisory Committee strengthens our engagement with Canadian business and labour leaders, and ensures Canada is well positioned to advance its interests.
Cameron Bailey, Ontario
Cameron Bailey is CEO of TIFF and the Toronto International Film Festival®. He is responsible for setting TIFF’s strategic direction and leading its teams toward fulfilling TIFF’s mission to transform the way people see the world through film. Bailey grew up in England and Barbados before migrating to Canada. He began his career as a film critic, then joined TIFF in 1990 as a seasonal programmer. At TIFF he headed the Festival’s Perspective Canada program and founded its Planet Africa section in 1995. For 20 years he worked as both programmer and critic, contributing to Toronto’s NOW magazine, CBC Radio One, and CTV’s Canada AM. He has been published in The Globe and Mail, The Village Voice, and Screen, along with several books. In 2015, Bailey participated in CBC’s Canada Reads competition, successfully championing Kim Thuy’s novel Ru. Bailey has taught film curation at the University of Toronto and holds an honorary doctorate from Western University. He is a Chevalier in France’s Order of Arts and Letters and is a member-at-large of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. For 10 consecutive years, (2012–2021), Toronto Life magazine has named him one of Toronto’s 50 Most Influential People.