Donald Trump and Canada: How he changed politics (Ryerson Democracy Forum)

Canada’s former ambassador to Washington, David MacNaughton, analyses the unprecedented challenges of the Trump presidency — from hyper-polarisation to racial injustice — in a conversation with Naheed Nenshi, the outspoken mayor of Calgary. By crossing the line and ignoring all boundaries, has Donald Trump erased the differences between our political cultures or can we do politics differently?

Moderated by Toronto Star columnist and Visiting Practitioner Martin Regg Cohn, this event is hosted by John Beebe of the Democratic Engagement Exchange and sponsored by the Faculty of Arts.

About the speakers:

David MacNaughton was Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. from 2016 to 2019, overseeing bilateral relations during a critical time by helping to negotiate a new trade accord after Donald Trump declared NAFTA dead. A veteran Canadian political strategist, he served as principal secretary to former premier Dalton McGuinty, and as a senior aide and campaign manager in federal politics. He previously helmed public opinion research and consulting companies, and is now Canadian president of Palantir Technologies.

Naheed Nenshi has been mayor of Calgary since 2010, attracting national attention and international awards for his approach to politics. He was previously a consultant at McKinsey and Co., formed his own firm to help non-profits, and worked with the UN on poverty issues, before becoming a professor in the field of non-profit management at Mount Royal University. He was Students' Union President at the University of Calgary, and studied at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Martin Regg Cohn is a political columnist for the Toronto Star and former foreign correspondent. A Visiting Practitioner in the Faculty of Arts and founder of the Ryerson Democracy Forum, he is also a Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.

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We are committed to hosting an inclusive and accessible event for everyone. Please let us know if you require accommodations. Contact Melissa Wong, melissawong@torontomu.ca for more details.