Former premier P.J. Akeeagok named to Carney’s Canada-U.S. economic council
Members include business leaders, ex-politicians
Then-premier P.J. Akeeagok, left, shakes hands with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Iqaluit in March 2025. Akeeagok is one of 24 people named to Carney’s new Advisory Committee on Canada-U.S. Economic Relations. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Updated April 21 at 5 p.m. ET
Former Nunavut premier P.J. Akeeagok has been named to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new Advisory Committee on Canada-U.S. Economic Relations.
Carney announced the formation of the committee and its 24 appointed members Tuesday in a news release.
The committee, the release said, will serve as a forum for expertise and strategy on all aspects of the Canada-U.S. economic relationship.
The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) is up for review July 1.
U.S. President Donald Trump helped negotiate the trade agreement in 2019, during his first term in office. Right after taking office again in 2025, he launched a trade war against Canada and Mexico by implementing steep tariffs on a range of goods not covered by CUSMA.
The tariffs have put a strain on Canada-U.S. relations, with Canada implementing retaliatory tariffs and several provinces and territories removing U.S. alcohol from store shelves. Carney has also been working to diversify Canada’s economic partnerships by spearheading trade and security deals with the European Union, India and China.
“Canada is approaching its economic relationship with the United States with focus, discipline, and unity,” Carney said in Tuesday’s news release.
Akeeagok was Nunavut’s premier from 2021 to 2025. He left office after choosing not to seek re-election after one term as an MLA. After leaving office, he founded Arctic Strategies Inc., a consulting and advisory business.
Akeegok, who did not respond to interview requests for this story, said on LinkedIn he is “deeply humbled” to be appointed by Carney.
“The Arctic is essential to our national sovereignty and security. It is a cornerstone of our future,” he said.
“We have made important progress through significant investments, and I am ready to help guide the essential work that remains.”
On Carney’s committee, Akeeagok is joined by several other ex-politicians including former Quebec premier Jean Charest, former federal Conservative leader Erin O’Toole, and former MPs Lisa Raitt and Ralph Goodale.
The committee’s other members are leaders and executives from various businesses, industries and academia. It will be chaired by Dominic LeBlanc, the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade.
The first meeting is scheduled for April 27.
Note: This story was updated to include online comments posted by P.J. Akeeagok regarding his appointment
As if PJ has the first clue about US-Canada economic development.
We will have to give a pass to the PM on this decision. He has obviously been very busy with the ongoing global turmoil to have had a chance to properly “vett” the previous Premier. There was a reason Captain Photo-op did not run again and most Nunavummiut know why.
Or perhaps the PM is smarter than we think and is actually hoping that the past Premier can provide guidance to the Advisory Committee on how NOT to handle issues of Economic Trade regarding Housing, Economic Development, Healthcare, Social Services, Food Security, etc, etc..
He should however be able to help them regarding Economic Trade when it comes to buses. He does after all have strong experience with buses.
What is PJ good at?
He can smile.
He knows Nunavut’s current Premier.
He can do sole source purchasing.
He can sign agreements that provide minimal benefits to Nunavut but come with huge consequences.
He can buy busses.
What’s PJ not so good at?
Building houses – fewer built during his years than at any other time.
Reducing costs.
He has no experience in industry.
He has no experience in business.
I guess Aluki wasn’t available…