News Summary

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has enlisted a team of Canadian business leaders, including tech founders and venture capital investors, to form the Council on Canada-US Relations. This council aims to address the potential economic impact of the US imposing 25-percent tariffs on Canadian goods. Notable members include Arlene Dickinson, CEO of Venturepark and managing general partner of District Ventures Capital, and Wes Hall, founder of WeShall Investments and the BlackNorth Initiative. Shahrzad Rafati, CEO of Vancouver-based media tech firm RHEI, is also part of the council. These leaders, alongside other business and labor figures, will support the Canadian government in strategizing responses to these trade challenges. The tariffs, as proposed by incoming US President-Elect Donald Trump, could severely impact Canada’s economy, potentially affecting over $1 trillion in exports. The federal government has already allocated $1.3 billion to secure its borders, though it remains uncertain if this will influence Trump’s administration.