Past Event | Arthur J.E. Child POP UP POLICY

An Albertan, Quebecer and American walk into a bar: Getting along in the age of tariffs

Date: Thursday, February 6, 2025
Time: 10:30 am – 11:30 am MT
Location: Zoom

On Feb. 1, President Trump followed through on his threat of imposing 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Canada with 10 per cent tariffs on oil imports. Now what? Will we be given a brief reprieve as was granted to Mexico on Feb. 3? Will our counter tariffs and boycotts have any impact? Will we finally get serious about removing internal trade barriers?

Join us as experts from across Canada and the U.S. unpack the rapidly-evolving trade war, including President Trump’s reason for the tariffs (hint – it’s not about the border), and actions that make sense from a Canadian context. How do we move forward in a productive way and what can we do, if anything, to shield ourselves from the impact of tariffs?


DISCUSSANTS

Dr. Christopher Sands
Director, Canada Institute, Woodrow Wilson Centre

Christopher Sands is Director of the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Canada Institute, the largest policy research program on Canada outside Canada and the leading source of scholarship on US-Canadian relations in Washington, DC. Dr. Sands previously directed applied policy research programs at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Hudson Institute and has published extensively over a career of more than 30 years in Washington think tanks.

Manjit Minhas
Co-founder & CEO, Minhas Breweries

Manjit is the star Dragon (Investor) on CBC Network’s show/series Dragons’ Den for the last 10 seasons/years currently in it’s Season 19, with over 1 million viewers per week across Canada. She is Cabinet Campaign Member successfully raising $50 Million for the YWCA crisis shelters and was Co-chair of United Way of Calgary and area – and raised almost $60 million. Also, current board member of Enbridge, ATB Financial, YYC Calgary Airport Authority and Telus Future Friendly Foundation. She is recipient of numerous high-profile business and community awards such as Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, Canada’s Top Woman Entrepreneur and The United Nations Global Citizen Laureate Award.

Manjit was appointed as the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the Canadian Armed Forces in late 2022 and is honored to foster esprit de corps amongst troops.

Hon. Jean Charest
Therrien Couture Jolicoeur, partner
Premier of Quebec (2003-2012)
Deputy Prime Minister of Canada (1993)

As Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and Premier of Québec, and with a public service career spanning almost 30 years, Jean Charest is one of Canada’s best known political figures.

Jean Charest was first elected to the House of Commons in 1984 and, at age 28, became Canada’s youngest cabinet minister as Minister of State for Youth. In 1991, he was named Minister of the Environment and Minister of Industry and Deputy Prime Minister of Canada in 1993.

In 1994, he was chosen Leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party. He held that post until 1998 when he became Leader of the Quebec Liberal Party. Mr. Charest then broke a 50-year provincial record by winning three consecutive election campaigns in 2003, 2007 and 2008.

Furthermore, the Charest government initiated an unprecedented labour mobility agreement between France and Québec and was best known for a major initiative for the sustainable development of Northern Québec called “Plan Nord”. Jean Charest is notably the initiator of the negotiation for the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA).

Honourable Charest was recently appointed to the Prime Minister’s Council on Canada-U.S. Relations and is a partner and strategic advisor with Therrien Couture Jolicoeur based in Montreal.

MODERATOR

Hon. Gary Mar
CEO and President, Canada West Foundation

Hon. Gary Mar is an accomplished and respected leader with expertise in the Canada West Foundation’s key focus areas of resources, environment and economy, trade and trade infrastructure and skills, innovation and productivity. He was a member of Alberta’s Legislative Assembly where he held several cabinet portfolios and was Alberta’s Official Representative at the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C and in Asia. Gary also has business experience in trade and investment and the oil and gas sector. In 2022, he was appointed a member and chair of the Council of the Alberta Order of Excellence and was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for public service.