Canada & the U.S. in an Age of Uncertainty

The Canada-U.S. Law Institute welcomes the Honourable Peter MacKay, P.C. to Western Law to present at their 16th annual lecture titled Canada & the U.S. in an Age of Uncertainty.

As neighbors, friends and allies Canada and the U.S. face numerous current challenges as they both head towards general elections shortly: threats to economic primacy, disruptions from climate change and AI, foreign interference, aggression and the need for robust defence in an era of renewed geopolitical turmoil. In 2026 the two countries – along with Mexico – also begin a review of their trade relations embodied in the USMCA. On many fronts the path forward appears disrupted and uncertain. Peter MacKay will speak from long experience in both the public and private sectors on the need for pragmatism and priorities in Canada-U.S. relations.

About The Honourable Peter MacKay, P.C.

The Honourable Peter MacKay served in the Parliament of Canada for over 18 years as a Member of Parliament, including as a Cabinet Minister in the Harper Government for 10 years. In that time, he served as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Minister of National Defense, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Mr. MacKay chaired the Government National Security Committee for almost 10 years and served on numerous other inter-parliamentary committees.

Prior to politics he served as a Crown Attorney in the Central Region of Nova Scotia. He worked in private practice and prior to joining Deloitte was a Partner with the global law firm Baker McKenzie in their Toronto office. He is now working as a Strategic Advisor with Deloitte Canada and Counsel with McInnes Cooper, an Atlantic Canadian law firm.  He works nationally and internationally in areas such as aerospace and defense, procurement, infrastructure, and justice reform, financial crimes, anti-corruption & compliance.

Peter serves as a Board Member for Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. and on numerous volunteer boards including Wounded Warriors Canada, the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, Integrity Initiatives International, the Canada United States Law Institute and the Stanfield Conversations, Dalhousie University. He has been active in Special Olympics, Big Brothers Big Sisters, children’s aide, the ship Hector foundation, the Campaign for Acadia.

He and his wife Nazanin, who is a human rights activist and author, have three children and live in Pictou Co. Nova Scotia.