Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet was set to hear from a significant figure in U.S. policy as Canada seeks to negotiate a trade deal with President Donald Trump. However, the planned appearance by Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, was canceled at the last minute.

Roberts was scheduled to address Canadian ministers during meetings in Toronto ahead of the fall session of Parliament. On Thursday morning, Carney's office announced that Roberts could no longer attend. The statement did not provide a reason for the cancellation but noted, "Our team will continue further engagement and discussions with him and other leading U.S. policy figures."

Despite Roberts' absence, cabinet ministers will still hear from Kevin Rudd, a former Australian prime minister and current ambassador to the U.S. Rudd will discuss strategies for managing relations with the White House.

Roberts played a key role in developing Project 2025, a conservative policy framework intended for a potential second Trump administration. Although Trump distanced himself from the project during his campaign, he later appointed several individuals associated with it to his administration and implemented policies that aligned with its proposals, such as stricter immigration enforcement and the dismissal of civil servants.

The invitation to Roberts aimed to help Canadian policymakers grasp the underlying strategies of Trump's trade and security agenda, according to a government official who requested anonymity. Kirsten Hillman, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., has previously stated that Canadian diplomats maintain close connections with conservative think tanks in Washington to monitor policy changes impacting Canada-U.S. relations.

Carney opened the event on Wednesday by informing reporters that he had a "very constructive" conversation with Trump the previous night. He expressed optimism about reaching agreements to lower U.S. tariffs on key sectors like steel and automobiles but warned against expecting immediate results.

The Canadian government is also preparing to initiate public consultations regarding the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the free trade deal negotiated during Trump's first term. A joint review of the agreement is scheduled for July 2026.

In addition to Rudd, cabinet ministers will hear from various experts on economic issues, public sentiment, and the corporate sector. Presenters include Jean-Francois Perrault, chief economist at Bank of Nova Scotia; Blake Hutcheson, CEO of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System; and Charles Brindamour, CEO of Intact Financial Corp., a property and casualty insurer.

As Carney's government navigates trade challenges, these discussions aim to bolster Canada's economic growth.