Who We Are
The Canadian American Business Council (CABC) came to life in March of 1987, as the Reagan administration was negotiating the original Free Trade Agreement with the government of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. During this monumental moment in history, the Council emerged as a bilateral voice advocating for cross-border commerce in both capitals.
Three decades after its formation, the Council has evolved into the leading nonprofit, nonpartisan, issues-oriented organization dedicated to fostering dialogue between the public and private sectors. The Council meets with presidents, prime ministers, governors, premiers, members of Parliament, and members of Congress. It is where legislators, media, and business figures turn for guidance on navigating—and defining—the exemplary relationship between the US and Canada.
What We Do
The Council's activities include high-level briefings on relevant issues of concern, assistance with practical trade and policy challenges, relationship-building opportunities, and informative seminars. We convene dialogues, advocate on key issues, and raise awareness about the unique relationship between the US and Canada.
Guiding Principles
Our guiding principles are four deeply held beliefs that inform and inspire our work.
Ensuring an open border between the US and Canada is critical to the livelihood of millions of Canadians and Americans, not to mention integral to the flow of goods and services for all of North America. The Council advocates that the border remains open to essential commerce and improves the efficiency of border-crossing for both goods and people.
The Council understands that the US and Canada are central to each other’s prosperity. Since its formation, the Council has fought against regulatory disharmony, encouraged both countries to align on bilateral principles of standardization, and supported decreased labor mobility barriers between countries. We stand up to protectionist policies and work to build cooperative approaches to economic recovery.
The military cooperation, intelligence- sharing, and security alliance between the US and Canada is unparalleled. The Council advocates for policies that advance security for both nations and the world.
The US and Canada are both dedicated to being world leaders in innovation, technology, data, and artificial intelligence. The Council champions policies that reduce barriers to cross-border data flows and advances innovation initiatives.
The Council has proudly authored papers and assembled task forces to advocate for the US and Canada, including the Innovation Paper, the USMCA Top 10 List, and the Digital Task Force.
Guiding Principles
Our guiding principles are four deeply held beliefs that inform and inspire our work.
Ensuring an open border between the US and Canada is critical to the livelihood of millions of Canadians and Americans, not to mention integral to the flow of goods and services for all of North America. The Council advocates that the border remains open to essential commerce and improves the efficiency of border-crossing for both goods and people.
The military cooperation, intelligence- sharing, and security alliance between the US and Canada is unparalleled. The Council advocates for policies that advance security for both nations and the world.
The US and Canada are both dedicated to being world leaders in innovation, technology, data, and artificial intelligence. The Council champions policies that reduce barriers to cross-border data flows and advances innovation initiatives.
The Council has proudly authored papers and assembled task forces to advocate for the US and Canada, including the Innovation Paper, the USMCA Top 10 List, and the Digital Task Force.
Board of Directors
- Gary ClementTDCABC Chair
- Hélène GagnonCAECABC Vice Chair
- Jennifer SloanMasterCardCABC Vice Chair
- Gabe BatstoneContextereCABC Treasurer
- Peter JostBlank RomeCABC General Counsel
- Lesia BabiakJohnson & Johnson
- Andrew BlackAssociation of Oil Pipelines
- Dina BrachmanPfizer
- Kevin ChanFacebook
- Giselle CommissiongHatch
- Christina ErlingBarrick Gold Corporation
- Sean FinnCN
- Marlene FloydMicrosoft Canada
- Joshua GreeneA.O. Smith Corporation
- Robert KlagerShell Canada Ltd.
- Kevin KolevarDow
- Andrew LundquistConocoPhillips
- Aylin LusiUPS
- Toby MackEEIA
- James MaunderAmazon
- Edward MorelandHarley-Davidson Motor Company
- Joao Augusto de Castro NevesExxonMobil
- Wendy NossMotion Picture Association - Canada
- Clint OdomNational Urban League
- Ferio PuglieseAir Canada
- Pierre PyunBombardier Inc.
- Jean QuennevilleRio Tinto
- Alexander RussAssociation of Equipment Manufacturers
- Pete SheffieldEnbridge Inc.
- Rick ShelbyCapitol Hill Consulting Group
- David SlackBombardier
- Ron SoreanuCoca-Cola
- Mary Catherine TokerGeneral Mills
- Lena TrudeauU.Group
- Herb TysonInternational Council of Shopping Centers
- Cathy WordenCisco Canada
- Alexandra ZanellaBeauty Revolution
- Nancy Ziuzin SchlegelLockheed Martin
Our Members
Our members are business leaders and stakeholders from both sides of the border, ranging from entrepreneurs to the largest brands in the world. Collectively, the Council employs about two million people and has annual revenues of approximately $1.5 trillion USD.
Interested in becoming a member of the Council? Find out more.
- Air Canada *
- Alcoa
- Amazon
- Amgen
- Association of Canadian Port Authorities
- Association of Equipment Manufacturers
- Association of Oil Pipe Lines
- Astellas
- Atlas Holdings LLC
- Barrick Gold *
- Beauty Revolution
- Bell Canada
- BlankRome
- Bombardier
- CAE
- Canadian Airport Council
- Capital Power
- Capitol Hill Group
- CDPQ
- Ceridian
- Chamber of Marine Commerce
- Cisco
- CN *
- Coca-Cola
- ConocoPhillips
- Contextere
- Council of the Great Lakes Region
- Council of Forest Industries
- DLA Piper
- EEIA
- Eli Lilly & Company
- Enbridge
- Ernst and Young
- Exxon Mobil
- Facebook *
- Food & Consumer Products of Canada
- Freshco
- General Mills
- Google
- Hatch *
- Harley-Davidson
- Hydro-Quebec
- Innovative Medicines Canada
- International Council of Shopping Centers
- Intuit
- Johnson & Johnson *
- Lockheed Martin *
- Mastercard Canada
- Motion Picture Association of Canada
- NAIOP
- NeuroSoph
- PayPal
- Pfizer
- PhRMA *
- Pitney Bowes
- POLARIS Transportation Group
- Red Bull
- Rio Tinto
- Serco
- Shell Canada
- TD Bank Group
- Tensor Machinery LTD.
- U. Group
- UPS
- WaVv
- Webnames.ca Inc.
- Women in Trucking Association
* These companies are part of CABC’s Trustees/Inner Circle due to their generous and committed partnerships.
Advisory Board
The CABC Advisory Board is composed of former ambassadors to Canada and the US and key political leaders with experience navigating bilateral issues as senior elected leaders.
- Rona AmbroseLeader of the Conservative Party of Canada2015-2017
- John BairdMinister of Foreign Affairs2011-2015
- James BlanchardUS Ambassador to Canada1993–1996
- Scott BrisonPresident of the Treasury Board2015-2019
- Derek BurneyCanadian Ambassador to US1989-1993
- John de ChastelainCanadian Ambassador to US1993-1994
- Raymond ChrétienCanadian Ambassador to US1994-2000
- Christy ClarkPremier of British Columbia2011-2017
- Kenneth CurtisUS Ambassador to Canada1979-1981
- Howard DeanGovernor of Vermont1991-2003
- Gary DoerCanadian Ambassador to US2009-2016
- Gordon D. GiffinUS Ambassador to Canada1997-2001
- Pamela Goldsmith-JonesParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade2015-2019
- David JacobsonUS Ambassador to Canada2009-2013
- Michael KerginCanadian Ambassador to US2000-2006
- Ron KirkUnited States Trade Representative2009-2013
- John LaFalceMember of the US House of Representatives1975-2003
- John ManleyDeputy Prime Minister2002-2003
- Sergio MarchiMinister of International Trade1997-1999
- Barbara McDougallMember of the Canadian House of Commons and Member of Cabinet1984-1993
- Frank McKennaCanadian Ambassador to US2005-2006
- James MooreMinister of Industry2013-2015
- Thomas M.T. NilesUS Ambassador to Canada1985-1989
- Bill OwensU.S. House of Representatives2009-2015
- Lisa RaittMinister of Transport2013-2015
- Paul H. RobinsonUS Ambassador to Canada1981-1985
- Peter TeeleyUS Ambassador to Canada1992-1993
- Brad WallPremier of Saskatchewan2007-2018
- David WilkinsUS Ambassador to Canada2005-2009
Entrepreneur's Circle
Formed in 2019, the Entrepreneur’s Circle (EC) is an exclusive arm of the Council, made up of key sectoral thought leaders who are passionate about US-Canada relations. The EC brings like-minded CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs together for a coalition that drives larger policy discussions.
Passionate about US-Canada relations? Apply to join EC here.
- Alexandra ZanellaCo-Chair, Founder & CEO of Beauty Revolution Consulting
- Dave CoxPOLARIS Transportation Group
- Cybele NegrisCEO & Co-Founder of Webnames.ca
- Mandy RennehanFounder & CEO of Freshco
- George SoInstarAGF
- Warren SpitzUCS Forest Group
- Jay TannonCounsel at DLA Piper
