U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will participate in a roundtable discussion in Washington about women in the workforce Monday, showing the rising policy influence of a Trump daughter who has directed to efforts to issues like child care.
A White House official said the two countries would launch a new task force called the United States-Canada Council for the Advancement of Women Business Leaders-Female Entrepreneurs. The official said Trudeau’s office reached out to discuss working on a joint effort, noting that this was seen as an area of shared interest between both leaders.
Ivanka Trump, a vocal advocate for policies benefiting working women, was involved in recruiting participants and setting the agenda for the meeting and all signs point to her attendance. Ivanka Trump has prioritized maternity leave and child care on the campaign trail, and has recently been meeting with business leaders to discuss those issues.
The White House official said that Trump’s economic agenda will include a "focus on ensuring women enter and stay in the work force and addressing barriers facing female entrepreneurs".
Advancing women has also been a priority for Trudeau. In late 2015, he drew attention for naming a Cabinet that was 50% women, more representative, he said, of the makeup of the country. Trump did not promise to appoint a gender-balanced cabinet and has named a smaller number of women and minorities to top jobs.
