Alberta is launching the only dedicated institution in North America focused exclusively on Canada-U.S. relations, filling a void left by the sudden shutdown of the prestigious Canada Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. in April.
The Alberta government announced Friday it is investing $6.5 million over three years into the New North America Initiative, led by the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy. The initiative will unite Alberta post-secondary institutions with top American universities to study the shifting economic and geopolitical ties between the two countries.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said that despite the Canada-U.S. relationship experiencing some turbulence over the last few months, the historical collaboration between the two countries has seen great developments and can be improved in the future.
“We are still neighbours, and for much of our history, we have been the best of friends,” said Smith. “The way we see it, any rift between us is a huge loss for both countries.”
She added that this kind of constructive and diplomatic approach is what she’s been calling for since the trade dispute began.
“It’s in both our national interest to repair things as quickly as we can, because our nations are better off when we’re working together, and there’s so much to gain from strengthening the relationship between Canada and the United States,” said Smith.
The closure of the Wilson Center’s Canada Institute in April left a critical gap in North American policy research, particularly amid mounting tensions driven by U.S. tariffs and the upcoming renegotiation of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement set for 2026.
“With the closure of the Canada Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, this will now be the only dedicated institution in all of North America focused exclusively on Canada-U.S. relations,” said Alberta’s Minister of Advanced Education, Rajan Sawhney.
Sawhney added that when the tariff war began, she looked across Alberta’s post-secondary institutions for academic research on Canada-U.S. relations. However, what she found was a “distinct shortage” of work.
She said that research and analysis on Canada-U.S. relations is primarily emerging from east of the Prairies or from the United States, leaving the priorities and concerns of Western Canada as an afterthought, at best.
“This is a made-in-Alberta long-term response to the changing Canada-U.S. relationship,” she added.
Participating institutions include the University of Alberta, the University of Lethbridge, Mount Royal University, and from the U.S., Rice University, Arizona State University, the University of Nebraska, and the University of Colorado. Researchers will conduct trade modelling, policy analysis, and provide municipalities with practical tools to navigate U.S. policy shifts.
The initiative will also train students in skills relevant to government, business, and civil society as part of a long-term strategy to build Alberta’s policy capacity.
Martha Hall Findlay, director of the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy, said the closure of the Canada Institute underscored the need for Canada to lead from new places.
“We need more intelligence, we need more connections, we need more research, and we need different perspectives,” said Findlay. “That is what the New North America Initiative will deliver.”