Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner planning Calgary visit to meet with Liberal cabinet
U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner is expected to travel to Calgary Tuesday to speak with members of the Liberal cabinet.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is holding a three-day retreat with his inner circle to map out strategy on trade relations with the new U.S. administration. Reuters first reported the Kushner visit, citing a source involved in the matter.
A senior source, speaking to CBC News on condition of anonymity, confirmed plans for the visit, but said later that the details were still being worked out.
”I think that underlines the high importance of the relationship, not just to Canada, but to the United States,” Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said of Kushner’s visit while noting the logistics of his visit are still in the works. “If that opportunity arises, I think we’ll be very happy to have him.”
Kushner, who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka, is a trusted adviser of the newly minted president and was deeply involved in his campaign for the country’s highest office.
Economies ‘very much integrated’
Jim Carr, Canada’s natural resources minister, said meetings with U.S. congressmen, senators and members of the new president’s transition team have so far been positive despite some of the protectionist rhetoric emanating from Trump. Carr said many have been receptive of Canada’s messaging about the importance of the economic relationship.
“I think people realize that the economy between Canada and the United States is very much integrated, and that when we create important jobs it benefits both sides of the border,” Carr said.
Chrystia Freeland, who was recently promoted to foreign affairs minister after Stéphane Dion was shuffled out, said the government has been reaching out to create personal relationships with those in the fledgling Trump administration, including her “long-time friend” Stephen Schwarzman.
The federal cabinet is scheduled to hear from Schwarzman, chief executive of the U.S. investment firm Blackstone Group who was appointed in December to head Trump’s Strategic and Policy Forum, and from Dominic Barton, managing director of the global consulting giant McKinsey and chair of Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s economic advisory panel.
Trump, meeting with members of his cabinet and high-profile executives on Monday, repeated his plans to cut the U.S. corporate tax rate and to go after companies that move factories abroad. Trump signed an executive order Monday to pull the U.S. out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, and was also expected to formally signal his intent to seek a renegotiation of NAFTA.
The 12-nation TPP, which includes Canada, was signed last year and was awaiting ratification, but it won’t take effect if either the U.S. or Japan fails to ratify it.
Article source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trump-kushner-canada-trade-1.3947947?cmp=rss