Managing Canada’s interests under Trump 2.0

Managing Canada’s interests under Trump 2.0: Tools for Practitioners offers a practitioner’s lens to help policy and program professionals navigate the Canada-U.S. relationship and better advance Canadian interests in a period of international turbulence and uncertainty. This one-day interactive course, offered at the Public Policy Forum’s office in Ottawa in April 2025, will build on PPF’s Canada-U.S. “Matter More” project, by equipping policy and program practitioners with what they need to better advance their files, and Canadian interests, in the current context.  

Participants will learn from program directors Martin Loken and Michael Pearson, former public servants with extensive recent expertise in the Canada-U.S. policy space, and will participate in interactive group activities and the exploration of case studies. Participants will emerge from the course with a better understanding of the Canada-U.S. relationship as it applies to their work, equipped with the tools and strategies to defend and advance Canadian interests in a rapidly evolving U.S. political landscape.  

• When: April 3rd, 8:30 a.m-4:30 p.m. 

• Where: Public Policy Forum, 130 Albert St. Suite 1400, Ottawa 
• Includes lunch 

This learning program is designed for policy and program practitioners whose work is directly or indirectly related to current Canada-US policy files, such as trade and supply chain management, energy and climate, immigration, security and defence, Indigenous communities, public health, fisheries, transport, border management, or digital innovation. This includes public servants in policy roles at the federal/provincial/territorial levels and representatives from industry associations.  

• Understanding US governance and power dynamics: How does it compare to Canada’s system? What are the roles of different key players (states, municipalities, industry groups, think tanks, billionaires) and how can Canada engage with them?  

• Team Canada in action: How can Canadian representatives adopt a cohesive approach to advocacy while balancing competing domestic interests? How can Canadian priorities be advanced in times of political and economic uncertainty?  

• Learning from the past, building resilience for the future: How has Canada advocated for its interests in the past, and what lessons can be learned from these historical examples? What is the way forward to navigate unprecedented challenges in the age of MAGA policy? 

What this course is not: 

• A comprehensive history lesson: The focus of this course is on practical lessons learned and actionable insights, rather than an exhaustive historical overview of Canada-U.S. relations.  

• An introduction to American civics: This course will equip participants with the foundational knowledge to understand essential features of U.S. governance and how they compare to Canadian systems, rather than a deep dive into the inner workings of American politics.  

• A prescriptive policy agenda: Rather than dictating a particular set of policy objectives to address challenges in the Canada-U.S. relationship, this course offers a toolbox of techniques for how participants can approach policy advocacy to advance Canadian interests in the U.S.  

Upon completion of the program, participants will:  

• Be equipped to better assess Canadian interests in the context of their work in policy, stakeholder engagement, and/or advocacy, with greater knowledge of the strategic importance of the U.S. to Canada and the world. 

• Describe Canada’s official presence in the U.S., including provincial representatives and the networks used to advocate in support of major Canadian policy objectives.  

• Construct actionable strategies and techniques for the advancement of Canadian interests in periods of political turbulence to bring new perspectives to their work on Canada-U.S. files.  

• Identify differences and similarities between Canadian and American governance systems, power structures, and key stakeholders. 

• Establish connections with other practitioners to advance Canada’s policy interests in the U.S.  

Pedagogical approach  

This course is divided into three components:  

• Foundations of the Canada-U.S. Relationship: History, Political Context, and Global Dynamics  

• Insights in Action: Expert Perspectives on Key Canada-U.S. Portfolios 

• Applying Knowledge: Interactive Case Studies and Policy Challenges  

Learners will: 

• Gain insights and engage with experts;  

• Explore case studies with insights from experts who led the files, learning lessons from past experiences; 

• Participate in facilitated discussions with senior current and former public servants to work through the connections between what they are learning and their work; and 

• Work with peers on a challenge that will help them hone the techniques they are learning. 

• Regular pricing: $950 per person 

• Member pricing (15% discount for PPF members): $808 per person 

Register here