The Empire Club of Canada
Monday, June 5, 2023
The Empire Club of Canada Presents:
Canada and the United Kingdom in a Troubled World
Brexit. Covid. The ongoing rise of China. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Populist extremism in America. Economic worries – the high cost of energy and food, slow growth, rising debt and taxes. Multiple strikes and service disruptions. The NHS under stress. Irregular migration. Turbulent change within the leadership of the British government. Big changes in the Monarchy, FTA negotiations and a looming election. These are a few of the issues that have preoccupied people in the United Kingdom over the past couple of years. Canada’s first-hand witness to these unfolding events is our High Commissioner to Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Ralph Goodale. An experienced Canadian political figure, he has been on the job in London for just over two years now. Against a backdrop of complex and precarious global conditions, Ralph Goodale will offer The Empire Club his assessment of the Canada-UK relationship and why it matters in today’s troubled world.
*The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.*
*Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*
Ralph Goodale assumed his responsibilities as High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and NorthernIreland in April of 2021.
Raised on a family farm near Wilcox, Saskatchewan, Mr. Goodale received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Regina in 1971, and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1972. He has practical experience in business, law, agriculture and broadcasting, as well as federal and provincial politics.
Ralph Goodale was first elected to the Parliament of Canada in 1974 at the age of 24, representing Saskatchewan’s sprawling rural riding of Assiniboia. In the 1980s he served as
leader of the provincial Liberal Party, and was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan in 1986.
Mr. Goodale returned to the House of Commons in 1993 as the Member of Parliament for Wascana, and was subsequently re-elected seven consecutive times, becoming Regina’s longest-serving MP. A member of the federal Cabinet under three Prime Ministers, he was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (1993-1997), Minister of Natural Resources (1997-2002), Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (2002), Minister of Public Works and Government Services (2002-2003), Minister of Finance (2003-2006), and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (2015-2019).
In March of 2020, Mr. Goodale became a special advisor to the Prime Minister for Canada’s response to Iran’s shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 which claimed
the lives of 55 Canadian citizens, 30 permanent residents of Canada and dozens of others with Canadian links. This role is on-going in pursuit of transparency, accountability and justice for
the families of the victims.
Mr. Goodale is accompanied by his wife, Pamela.
Omar Sachedina is Chief News Anchor and Senior Editor of CTV NATIONAL NEWS, leading Canada’s most-watched national newscast, as well as features and live specials, covering significant breaking news stories across the country and around the world.
Sachedina first joined CTV NATIONAL NEWS as a correspondent in Toronto in 2009, and moved to the Ottawa News Bureau in 2013 before assuming the role of National Affairs Correspondent in 2019.
During his tenure with CTV News, Sachedina has been on the ground, reporting in English and French, from many international news stories. His reporting includes leading CTV News’ coverage from London, England marking the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of King Charles III; multiple assignments in Ukraine during the ongoing war; reporting from the Colombia-Venezuela border during Venezuela’s political power struggle between Nicolas Maduro and Juan Guaido; delivering Canadian Screen Award-winning coverage of D-Day’s 75th Anniversary in Normandy, France; covering the Pro-Democracy Protest in Hong Kong; reporting on natural disasters in Haiti and Indonesia; and covering Brexit. For Canada’s 150th anniversary, he reported from aboard an icebreaker as he journeyed through the Northwest Passage.
During his tenure in CTV’s Parliamentary Bureau, Sachedina travelled with the Prime Minister to cover international summits and conferences. He also served as a fill-in host on CTV News Channel’s daily marquee political program POWER PLAY. Part of CTV News’ 2015, 2019, and 2021 Federal Election team, Sachedina reported from the campaign trail from coast-to-coast-to-coast and interviewed federal party leaders. Prior to joining CTV NATIONAL NEWS, he served as a reporter and anchor at CP24.
For his outstanding coverage, Sachedina has been recognized with multiple nominations for Best National News Reporter at the Canadian Screen Awards, and has received multiple RTDNA Awards, most recently for a feature from Nunavik, Que., where he explored the roots of Mary Simon: Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General. Sachedina was also recognized by the Canadian Association of Journalists with a nomination for a Daily Excellence award.
Born in Vancouver to parents of Indian descent from Uganda, Sachedina holds a degree in Political Science from McGill University, a Masters in Journalism from Columbia University, and is a graduate of The Poynter Institute.
He speaks English, French, Gujarati, and Kutchi.
Follow Omar Sachedina on Twitter @omarsachedina and Instagram @osachedina