Jamaican-Canadian businessman named to PM’s Council on Canada-US Relations
Published:Friday | February 21, 2025 | 12:11 AMNeil Armstrong/Gleaner Writer
Wes Hall, chairman and CEO of Kingsdale Advisors, a shareholder advisory firm, has been included in the newly launched 19-member Prime Minister’s Council on Canada-United States (US) Relations announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the beginning of this week.
The Prime Minister’s Office noted that Canada and the US are the closest of friends, steadfast allies, and partners in the world’s most successful bilateral relationship.
With the threats of tariffs from the incoming US administration, the prime minister launched the council which is comprised of leaders in business, innovation, and policy.
They will use their sectoral expertise to support the Prime Minister and Cabinet at this important time in the Canada-US relationship, noted the announcement.
“Being a member of the Prime Minister’s Council on Canada-US Relations means standing at the forefront of one of the world’s most complex and vital economic relationships. My role is to work directly with the prime minister and fellow council members, advising on strategies that ensure Canada isn’t just reacting to US policy shifts, but actively shaping its own economic future. Since [US] President [Donald] Trump took office, our discussions have been constant – because every day brings a new challenge. These aren’t just political manoeuvres; they have real consequences for businesses, jobs, and families on both sides of the border,” said Hall, who is from Jamaica and an influential business leader in Canada.
He said Canada is dealing with an unpredictable trading partner and must find new more stable partners to trade with.
“When President Trump imposed tariffs on Canada, we responded swiftly and decisively, placing $155 billion in tariffs on US goods, with $30 billion taking effect immediately and the remainder faced in over 21 days. That got his attention, and we earned a pause. But let’s be clear – this isn’t over. Hope is not a strategy. We have to assume that tariffs are the way of the future for this US administration.”
Hall said no American business leader he has spoken to believes tariffs are good for their industry.
“Even Ford CEO James Farley has warned that a 25 per cent tariff ‘will blow a hole in the US industry that we have never seen,’ benefiting European and Japanese automakers instead. Tariffs hurt everyone. The US administration is playing a dangerous game, and Canadian businesses and consumers are caught in the crossfire. But here’s the thing – Canadians have responded with resilience. We’re seeing people walk into stores, check labels, and refuse to buy products that aren’t made in Canada. That’s powerful. We’re also seeing a renewed urgency to fix our own internal economic barriers – things like interprovincial trade restrictions and infrastructure challenges that have held us back for too long,” said
Hall, who is the founder and chairman of The Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism and the BlackNorth Initiative, committed to the removal of anti-Black systemic barriers negatively affecting the lives of Black Canadians.
“So, what happens if Trump moves forward with the tariffs in two weeks? We respond again. Just like last time. We will not sit idle while our economy is attacked. And while we do that, we will also look beyond our largest trading partner. We have trade deals with Europe, Asia, and others. We need to start fully utilising them. Canada cannot afford to be dependent on a single, unreliable customer. This is our moment to diversify, strengthen our economy, and show the world that we will always stand up for ourselves,” said Hall, author of the bestselling memoir, No Bootstraps When You’re Barefoot.
Also included is Guyanese-Canadian labour leader Hassan Yussuff who served as the president of the Canadian Labour Congress from 2014 to 2021 and, in 2021, was appointed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to serve as a Canadian senator from Ontario.
Alongside Hall and Yussuff are former Premier of Quebec, Jean Charest; former Premier of Alberta, Rachel Notley; former Premier of Nova Scotia, Stephen McNeil; former Canadian Ambassador to the United States, David MacNaughton; former Chief Trade Negotiator, Steve Verheul; entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Arlene Dickinson; President, Chairman and CEO of Linamar, Linda Hasenfratz; Unifor National President Lana Payne; former Deputy Minister of National Defence of Canada, Jody Thomas; CEO of Automotive Parts Manufacturer’s Association, Flavio Volpe; President and CEO, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, Tabatha Bull; CEO of BroadbandTV Corp., Shahrzad Rafati; expert on international mobility, Martin Caron; ; political strategist and union leader, Brian Topp; President and CEO of Cameco, Tim Gitzel; Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman; and economist and author, Peter Tertzakian.