A well-known conservative figure in American politics and the architect of Project 2025, a controversial policy proposal aiming to revamp the U.S. government, was scheduled to address Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet in a closed-door session on Thursday. However, the individual has canceled the trip.
Prime Minister Carney and his ministers are currently in the Greater Toronto Area for a two-day session preceding the fall parliamentary session. The Liberal team was initially set to receive insights from Kevin Roberts, the president of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank with a significant influence on Republican administrations since the 1980s.
Project 2025, a 900-page manifesto created by this group, advocates for radical changes, such as replacing permanent civil servants with appointed loyalists, eliminating the Department of Education, and removing the abortion pill mifepristone from the market. Additionally, it promotes the belief that traditional married couples provide the ideal family structure for raising children.
Despite the initial invitation, Dr. Roberts will not be attending the cabinet meeting, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The PMO expressed intentions to continue engaging with Dr. Roberts and other prominent U.S. policy figures in discussions concerning Canada’s economic and security ties with the United States.
While gearing up for the 2024 presidential election, Dr. Roberts characterized the ongoing political climate in the U.S. as a “second American Revolution,” emphasizing the importance of a peaceful transition. Project 2025 revolves around four core pledges: emphasizing the family’s role in American society, reducing bureaucracy, safeguarding national borders and sovereignty, and upholding individual liberties as bestowed by God.
Critics have labeled Project 2025 as an “authoritarian playbook” and a “far-right assault on America,” according to assessments by The Centre for American Progress. The document was produced before President Donald Trump secured the Republican nomination, although he distanced himself from it during his campaign. Nevertheless, some policies enacted by the Trump administration align with Project 2025’s objectives, including streamlining government agencies, tightening immigration policies, and targeting adversaries using executive power.
Dr. Roberts, known for his understanding of the Trump administration’s strategies, was invited to provide insights due to his pivotal role in U.S. policy discussions. The cabinet session is also set to feature a presentation from former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, now serving as Australia’s ambassador to the U.S., on China’s ascent and innovative global approaches.
Furthermore, the cabinet will receive input from pollster Jean-Marc Léger on public sentiment, Scotiabank’s Jean-François Perrault on the economic forecast, and leaders from the private sector, including a venture capital firm specializing in artificial intelligence.