Elaine Feldman

Elaine Feldman is a Senior Fellow in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa. Before joining the University, she was President  of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency from 2010 to 2013. Prior to joining the Agency, Feldman held a number of positions at Foreign Affairs and International Trade, in Ottawa and abroad, including those of assistant deputy minister for North America (Ottawa, 2008-2010) and deputy permanent representative of Canada to the World Trade Organization (Geneva, 1995-2000).

During her career in the federal public service, Elaine led a number of trade negotiations, including the negotiations over softwood lumber with the United States and the free trade negotiations with Mercosur and the Americas (Free Trade Area of the Americas). She also participated in the Uruguay Round of Trade Negotiations from 1986 to 1990. Elaine worked in the Priorities and Planning Secretariat of the Privy Council Office and served as vice-chair of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal in 2005-2007. In her capacity of chief negotiator in the Department of Human Resources and Social Development Canada, she negotiated bilateral labour market agreements between the federal and the provincial and territorial governments.

Elaine is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada (retired) and holds degrees in common and civil law from McGill University. She has a BA from Bryn Mawr College. In Paris, she participated in the École Nationale d’Administration’s program for foreigners as the representative of Canada’s public service. She has also been a member of four World Trade Organization dispute settlement panels, two as Chair. In 2016, the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation appointed Feldman a Trudeau mentor. She is married and has two adult children.