Economic policy courses

H. E. Samuel Alharjai Berridge
High Commissioner for St. Kitts and Nevis to Canada

His Excellency Samuel A Berridge, High Commissioner for St. Kitts and Nevis to Canada began his tenure in February 2024, assuming this position with over two decades of dedicated service to his country. Mr. Berridge possesses extensive expertise in foreign affairs, international trade and development policy.

His experience is deeply rooted in a comprehensive framework of bilateral, regional, and multilateral engagement. His proficiency encompasses a wide range of areas including international relations, protocol, trade policy, trade negotiations, conflict resolution, mediation, project management, and sustainable development. Mr. Berridge’s distinguished career includes non-permanent delegate to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and other international organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, and Counsellor and Head of Chancery at the Permanent Mission of St. Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations in New York, where he actively participated in the open-ended working group process to frame the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, commonly referred to as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additionally, he served as charge d’affaires in 2015.

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Trade, and the Regional Integration and Diaspora Unit of the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr. Berridge excelled in various senior capacities, including Head of the Multilateral Division, Senior Trade Policy Officer, and Senior Assistant Secretary.

Mr. Berridge is a graduate of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus, Jamaica, with a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) in French and International Relations, and a plethora of professional training programs with institutes such as Georgetown University, Seoul National University, the Korean National Diplomatic Academy, and the UWI Cave Hill Campus.

As High Commissioner, Mr. Berridge focuses on building and strengthening relations with Canada, through solid partnerships with government actors at the federal, provincial and municipal levels, universities and research institutions, potential investors, and members of the diaspora. He believes that diaspora engagement should be comprehensively channelled into the national development objective of transforming St. Kitts and Nevis into a Sustainable Island State by 2030.

Don Stephenson
Former Canadian Ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO)

Don began his Public Service career in 1979, working in cultural policy for ten years at the Department of Communications.  He moved into economic policy, at Consumer and Corporate Affairs, Industry Canada and Western Economic Diversification, before returning to cultural policy, as Director General, Cultural Industries, Heritage Canada, where he led the negotiations with the United States on the resolution of the WTO split-run magazine dispute.  He was appointed Director General, Trade Policy at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and then served for two years as Assistant Secretary to Cabinet, Economic and Regional Development Policy, Privy Council Office.  In 2004, he was appointed Ambassador to the World Trade Organization and served as Chair of the goods negotiations in the Doha Round from 2005 to 2008.  Don returned to become Assistant Deputy Minister, Trade Policy and Negotiations, until his retirement in late 2011 and continued to serve as Chief Negotiator for the Canada-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement until 2018.  From 2018 to 2026, Don served as trade and investment advisor to the Expert Deployment Mechanism for Trade and Development, a trade-related technical assistance program delivered by Cowater International, under contract to Global Affairs Canada.  He has also lectured frequently on trade policy, trade negotiations and public policy development.  Don is married to Jocelyne Béland-Stephenson, has two children and three grandchildren.

Senator Leo Housakos

Senator Leo Housakos was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 2008 by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Since May 2025, he has served as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, guiding the Conservative caucus and holding the government accountable in the upper chamber.

Earlier in his Senate career, Senator Housakos was elected Speaker Pro Tempore and, in 2015, appointed Speaker of the Senate. He has served on committees focused on legislation, mental health, and media policy, with a principal focus on the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Committee, advancing initiatives that promote diplomacy, human rights, and global freedom.

A strong advocate for human rights, Senator Housakos has spoken out against the persecution of Uyghur Muslims, repression in Hong Kong, and abuses in Iran and Turkey, while supporting Armenians in Artsakh and Jewish Canadians in addressing rising antisemitism. His commitment to advocacy and improving the lives of vulnerable Canadians also extends to health and social policy. Among his most meaningful Senate achievements, he successfully advanced legislation in 2023 requiring the Government of Canada to develop and implement a National Autism Strategy.

A proud Canadian of Hellenic descent, Senator Housakos has been deeply involved in Greek and Hellenic initiatives. He co-founded the Hellenic Board of Trade, served as Vice-President of the Hellenic Congress of Quebec, and in 2018 was invested as an Archon of the Greek Orthodox Church in recognition of his service to the Church, community, and Canada. He also supports Montreal’s Greek schools and the Giant Steps School for autistic children.

Senator Housakos’s greatest sources of pride and joy remain his wife Demi and their two sons, Peter and Tasso.

Senator Tony Loffreda

Senator Tony Loffreda was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 2019 by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. He is the first Canadian-born Senator of Italian descent.

In the Senate, he has held a wide range of leadership and committee roles.

He currently serves as:

• Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration (December 2025—present)
• Member of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy (January 2020—present)

He is a member of the Independent Senators Group (ISG).

He previously served as:

• Deputy Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Audit and Oversight (June 2025—December 2025)
• Deputy Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy (September 2023—June 2025)
• Member of the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration (November 2022—June 2025)
• Member of the Subcommittee on Senate Estimates and Committee Budgets (November 2022—June 2025)
• Member of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance (January 2020—June 2025)

Senator Loffreda is and was also active in several parliamentary groups and associations.

He currently serves as:

• Chair of the World Bank and IMF Parliamentary Network for Canada (March 2023—present)
• Chair of the Senate Immigration Working Group (November 2024—present)
• Vice-Chair of the Canada–Spain Parliamentary Friendship Group (May 2023—present)
• Vice-Chair of the Canada–Romania Parliamentary Friendship Group (May 2023—present)

He previously served as:

• Director on the Executive Committee of the Canada–Germany Interparliamentary Group (April 2024—December 2025)
• Director on the Executive Committee of the Canada–Italy Interparliamentary Group (April 2024—December 2025) and former Vice-Chair (February 2020—April 2024).

Prior to his appointment, Senator Loffreda was a Vice-Chair and Senior Executive at RBC, bringing more than 35 years of financial industry experience to the Senate.

Upon his appointment, he retired from RBC and stepped down from the 21 boards on which he was serving.

He is also widely recognized as a dedicated philanthropist and community leader.

Prior to his appointment to the Senate, he participated in and chaired numerous major fundraising campaigns and events in support of a wide range of causes, including:

• Giant Steps School
• Several major hospitals
• McGill University’s Goodman Cancer Research Centre
• Montreal Cancer Institute
• Kidney Foundation

Senator Loffreda is also a frequent and sought-after speaker on economic and community issues.

• An armchair conversation with Senators Leo Housakos and Tony Loffreda (February 6, 2026)
• Visit to the Senate with Senators Leo Housakos and Tony Loffreda (January 27, 2025)
• Diego Mesa Puyo guest lecture on the "Energy Transition from a Fiscal Angle: Current Challenges, Policies and Political Economy" (November 18, 2024)
• Henry Mooney guest lecture on "Sovereign Debt Issuance and Restructuring in Developing Countries" (March 6, 2024)
• An armchair conversation with Senators Leo Housakos and Tony Loffreda (February 5, 2024)
  
• François-Philippe Dubé guest lecture on "Financing for Development, Innovative Finance, and Pathways out of Poverty" (October 30, 2023)
  
• An armchair discussion with Senator Tony Loffreda (January 30, 2023)