The Empire Club of Canada
Hybrid
Monday, October 5, 2026
Just weeks after Canada’s counter-tariffs on $27.6 billion in U.S. imports take effect, following the breakdown of Canada–United States trade negotiations and the imposition of new U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, it is time to reflect. Canada is entering a consequential period for its trading relationship with the United States—one that calls for a clear-eyed assessment of the country’s economic interests, resilience, and future direction. Canada’s countermeasures, which take effect September 8, are designed to match U.S. tariff levels across affected products.
The future of Canada’s trading relationship with its largest partner is now at the centre of the national conversation. Canadian business leaders who depend on this relationship are preparing for the impact of new 50 percent U.S. tariffs affecting key Canadian sectors and products.
As a result, business leaders and Canadians alike are focused on what these changes will mean for competitiveness, investment, energy security, supply chains, and long-term economic growth—as well as the immediate pressures facing workers, businesses, and communities.
This moment also reinforces the importance of strengthening Canada at home and abroad: reducing internal trade barriers, securing strategic supply chains, supporting Canadian industry, and expanding international trade relationships rooted in fair, open, and rules-based commerce. While the Canada–U.S. relationship remains vital, Canada’s long-term prosperity depends on the capacity to defend its interests, diversify its economic reach, and compete with confidence in a changing global economy.
On October 5, the Empire Club of Canada, in partnership with the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada (AMCHAM), will convene this timely conversation on the future of trade among Canada, the United States, and Mexico—and on the practical paths toward restoring stability and predictability for businesses on both sides of the border. Bringing together experts from all three countries, this discussion will examine the way forward, the implications of the current dispute, and how Canadian businesses can prepare.
Please join The Empire Club of Canada for this high-impact panel discussion featuring David MacNaughton, Canadian Ambassador to the United States (2016-2019), Chairman of Therme Ventures and Strategic Advisor in CIBC’s Office of the CEO; Sergio Gómez Lora, Mexico’s Business Coordinating Council (CCE), U.S. Representative Office; and Dan Ujczo, Associate General Counsel, Cenovus Energy, and AMCHAM Board Member. The panel will be moderated by Hannah Thibedeau, Executive Communications Officer, Global Public Affairs, and award-winning veteran journalist.
Hear from leading experts on Canada’s approach to CUSMA, the future of North American economic cooperation, and the choices that will determine whether Canada is positioned to protect its interests, seize new opportunities, and maximize its long-term success.
Mr. David MacNaughton is Chairman of Therme Ventures, where he supports the growth and development of Therme Group’s venture portfolio and broader strategic ambitions. He also serves as a Strategic Advisor in CIBC’s Office of the CEO. From 2019 to 2024, Mr. MacNaughton served as President of Palantir Canada, leading the Canadian operations of the global data integration and analytics software company. Prior to joining Palantir, he served as Canada’s Ambassador to the United States from 2016 to 2019, presenting his credentials to President Barack Obama in March 2016. During his tenure, he played a central role in Canada–U.S. relations, including the renegotiation of NAFTA and the resulting Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA/USMCA).
In the 1980s, Mr. MacNaughton transformed the public affairs industry by building an organization that comprised government relations, public opinion research and public relations. After selling his business in 1989, Mr. MacNaughton became President of Canada’s largest government and public relations firm and subsequently North American President of the world’s largest public relations firm. From 1995 until 2003, Mr. MacNaughton was President of Strathshore Financial and was an advisor to one of Canada’s leading investment banks.
Mr. MacNaughton’s public sector experience includes work at both the federal and provincial levels, including as advisor to the Minister at the Departments of Transport, Industry and Foreign Affairs. He was principal secretary to the Premier of Ontario from 2003 to 2005 and the Chairman of StrategyCorp from 2005 until his appointment.
Active in community affairs, Mr. MacNaughton has served on the boards of the North York General Hospital, the Stratford Festival, the National Ski Academy, TV Ontario, the Toronto French School and the Toronto International Film Festival.
An expert on North American trade policy with over 30 years of experience spanning government negotiations, private sector advisory, and business leadership.
As a member of Mexico’s Trade Negotiations team (1993–2001), he participated in the NAFTA Side Agreements negotiations, in the implementation of NAFTA and Mexican Free Trade Agreements with Latin American partners, as well as on the Mexico-EU FTA negotiating team.
During the USMCA renegotiation, Mr. Gómez Lora served as senior advisor to the Mexican private sector coalition and was an active member of the Mexico’s private-sector technical advisory group on trade negotiations(“Cuarto de Junto”), directing business strategy and cross-border advocacy.
In 2005, together with Herminio Blanco1, Jaime Zabludovsky2 and Fernando Salas3 founded IQOM Inteligencia Comercial. After 24 years of existence, IQOM is a leader in the Mexican and Latin American markets, providing strategic trade and investment solutions to national and transnational
corporations, Mexican federal and local governments, foreign governments, national and foreign business associations and intergovernmental institutions
Since 2019, Mr. Gómez Lora leads the Washington D.C. presence of Mexico’s Consejo Coordinador Empresarial (CCE), business umbrella organization representing chambers and associations across all industrial sectors in Mexico. The CCE serves as the unified voice of Mexican private sector in dialogue with government, advancing bilateral economic relations and strategic advocacy between the United States and Mexico.
Mr. Gómez Lora holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations at Laval University, Quebec, Canada.
Hannah Thibedeau is an award-winning Canadian communications executive, former national news anchor, sought-after moderator, keynote speaker, and strategic advisor to senior leaders. She serves as Executive Communications Officer with Global Public Affairs, advising CEOs, executives and organizations on strategic communications, executive messaging, and media engagement.
Hannah spent more than two decades covering federal, provincial, and international politics, as well as some of the most consequential stories in public life, most recently as national news anchor of CBC News Network. She and her team received the 2023 Canadian Screen Award for Best Live News Special for CBC’s coverage of the 2022 Ottawa convoy protests. Hannah covered seven federal elections, four prime ministers, international summits including G7, NATO, and APEC, along with royal visits and other major national and international events.
In 2025, she moderated the Liberal Party leadership debate, demonstrating her ability to lead high-stakes national conversations. In 2026, Hannah moderated the NDP leadership debate, further establishing her as a trusted voice in major political conversations. She is also the host and executive producer of the award-winning podcast The Arctic Edge, bringing powerful, firsthand stories from Canada’s North to national audiences.
Drawing on her extensive experience in political journalism, live broadcasting, and crisis coverage, she now advises leaders navigating complex issues, media scrutiny, and moments where every word matters. She brings a journalist’s instinct for what makes news, a communicator’s understanding of strategy and the steady presence required when the stakes are high.
Hannah is known for her sharp political insight, thoughtful questioning, and the ability to make complex issues engaging and accessible. She brings audiences a rare perspective shaped by decades spent inside Canadian politics, national broadcasting, and major public conversations.
Dan Ujczo is the Associate General Counsel at Cenovus Energy, a U.S.-Canada integrated energy company with oil and natural gas upgrading, refining and marketing operations in the United States and Canada and production operations in Canada and the Asia Pacific region. Dan has responsibility for Cenovus’s U.S. legal issues relating to international trade and customs, transportation across all modes, homeland and cyber security, and government relations.
Dan’s unique Canada-U.S. experience encompasses serving in the governments of Canada and the United States, private practice and academia. He served as an officer in Canada’s foreign ministry where he worked towards improving North America’s borders and ports-of-entry. Dan also has served as the Honorary Consul of the Government of Canada to Ohio. Dan’s private law practice experience includes chairing the Canada-U.S. practice for an AM Law 200 law firm with offices throughout the U.S. and Canada and being a member at a nationwide law firm’s globally ranked international trade and transportation practices. For nearly a decade, Dan was a visiting professor of law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law and managed a lab that served as a legal adviser to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/United States Coast Guard. Dan was a career law clerk in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio where he participated in various civil and criminal litigation matters. Dan presently is a lecturer at The Ohio State University on courses relating to international trade and the State of Ohio’s nationally recognized Ohio Export Internship Program.
Dan was appointed to the US Secretary of Commerce’s District Export Council (DEC) for the Northern District of Ohio the Governor of Ohio’s Association of Ohio Commodores. He is the U.S. Vice Chair for the North American Strategy for Competitiveness (NASCO) and a board member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada (AMCHAM Canada). Dan is the President of the Ohio-Canada Business Association (Ohio-CAN) and a board member of the Canada-U.S. Business Association (“CUSBA”).
Dan is an alumnus of The Ohio State University, Case Western Reservice University School of Law, Miami University’s John E. Dolibois Center in Luxembourg and St. Petersburg State University Law Institute in the Russia Federation.
