Empire Club of Canada

Timing is everything. Canada has what the world wants, from critical minerals and energy to advanced manufacturing, agri-food, technology, and talent. Yet, it is entering a more protectionist, volatile era of trade just as global demand for our resources, expertise, and innovation is accelerating. To future proof our economy, we must prove that we can move goods, ideas, and people reliably, predictably, and at the pace global partners now expect.It’s not just about managing risk; it is about seizing opportunity at a key inflection point. And the world is watching to see if we can deliver at scale and on time.Unlocking Canada’s potential requires a trade infrastructure strategy that is built with tomorrow in mind despite today’s constraints, one that ensures that our supply chains work end to end. It requires us to recognize strengthening ports, rail networks, and aviation systems, modernizing trade corridors, and advancing nation-building projects such as high-speed rail as not only transportation projects, but as productivity strategies, labour mobility enablers and long-horizon investments in Canada’s economic resilience and growth.On March 27, 2026, The Empire Club of Canada hosted The Honourable Steve MacKinnon, Canada’s Transport Minister, for Connecting Canada: The Trade Infrastructure Strategy to Power Canada’s Economic Future, a strategic conversation on how Canada is responding, where the next wave of trade-enabling infrastructure took shape, and why Toronto and Ontario sit at the centre of a national strategy to ensure Canada not only adapts, but leads in a more competitive world. Following the speech, a fireside chat was moderated by Tim Murphy, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategic Affairs Officer of Aecon Group Inc.

Bob Courteau, board chair of Kinaxis and veteran CEO, moderates with sharp industry perspective. Stephen Crawford, Ontario’s minister leading digital government and AI policy, outlines provincial strategy. They discuss AI’s role in public service productivity, data and energy infrastructure, trust and governance, and how Ontario can convert research strength into competitive advantage.

The world has changed – as Ontario continues to navigate a period of global economic and geopolitical uncertainty, it is more important than ever to unleash our economy and continue to make Ontario the most competitive place in the G7 to invest, create jobs, and do business.On March 10, 2026,  The Empire Club of Canada hosted The Honourable Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario’s Minister of Finance for The Ontario Finance Minister’s Annual Pre-Budget Address in anticipation of the 2026 provincial Budget.  Following the speech, the conversation was moderated by David Herle, Co-founder, Air Quotes Media, Host of the Curse of Politics and The Herle Burly podcasts and Partner, Rubicon Strategy.Long regarded as a cornerstone event for policymakers, business leaders, and observers of provincial economic policy, this year’s pre‑budget speech will offer an early look at how the government intends to strengthen Ontario’s economic resilience while positioning the province to compete and grow amid shifting trade rules, supply chains, and investment flows.

Strategy, Resilience and Growth: Canada–EU Trade Next Steps under CETACanada and the European Union are no longer just trading partners—they are strategic allies in a world where supply chains, security, and climate policy are increasingly intertwined and driven by shifting geopolitics. Two‑way trade in goods and services has surged to more than €123 billion (about $162 billion CAD) a year, a more than 70% increase since CETA’s provisional application, underscoring how central the EU has become to Canada’s diversification strategy. At Davos, Prime Minister Mark Carney set a new bar for that strategy, calling for Canada to “double our non‑U.S. exports” and to “move from reliance to resilience” by building a denser web of partnerships that are economically and politically sustainable.On March 5, join The Empire Club of Canada for an evening conversation at the heart of this pivot. The program featured remarks from Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade, and The Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, each offering their perspective on the future of Canada–EU cooperation under CETA. Their speeches will be followed by a joint fireside chat that examines how the two partners can secure critical supply chains, respond to geopolitical shocks, align climate and trade policies and keep markets open while protecting Canadian and European workers.   The fireside chat was moderated by Arlene Dickinson, General Managing Partner, District Venture Capital — legendary entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and “Dragon” on CBC’s Dragon’s Den.The evening asked what a mature, strategic Canada–EU partnership should look like and what it will take to turn today’s $162‑billion‑plus relationship into a resilient platform for the next decade—one that strengthens democratic alliances, and keeps both economies competitive in an era when, as Prime Minister Carney warned, “the old order is not coming back.” Join us for an Empire Nights program that brings the strategic choices and critical next steps for a future-oriented Canada-EU trade partnership into sharp focus.

As global supply chains realign and competition intensifies, Africa and the Caribbean are emerging as critical partners for countries seeking growth, diversification, and access to rapidly expanding markets. Canada’s strengths in finance, natural resources, infrastructure, technology, and education position it to play a more ambitious role as an investor, exporter, and innovation partner across both regions. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech in Davos has set the tone for Canadians to begin this important work.On February 26, join The Empire Club of Canada for a timely conversation on the next chapter of Africa–Caribbean–Canada trade and investment. The program featured a keynote address from Dexter John, CEO of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (Ontario), followed by a moderated discussion led by Christopher Nabeta, Director, OEM Sales and Strategy Canada at TD Auto Finance, and Empire Club Board Member, with Nimal Amitirigala, President, Grace Foods Canada, The Honourable Arielle Kayabaga, Member of Parliament for London West and Deputy House Leader in the House of Commons, and Nickolas Steele, Former Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Business of Grenada, to examine on-the-ground trade realities, investment flows, and the policy decisions that will determine whether this moment translates into shared prosperity across Africa, the Caribbean and Canada.Join us in examining the next chapter of Africa–Caribbean–Canada trade: where the most promising opportunities lie, how to navigate risk and regulatory complexity, and what it will take to move from ad hoc deals to strategic, long term partnerships. From mobilizing capital, to building people-to-people and institutional ties, the discussion will define practical pathways to turn ambition into financially viable projects that convert potential into prosperity.

Ontario's electricity demand will grow 65% by 2050, driven by electrification, data centers, population growth, and industrial expansion. Can the province meet the challenge?At this Empire Club Energy Series event, three of Ontario's foremost energy leaders—Lesley Gallinger (IESO), Nicolle Butcher (OPG), and Michele Harradence (Enbridge Gas)—join moderator Dr. Monica Gattinger to address that question with transparency and operational candor.Lesley Gallinger opens with Ontario's strategic position: rated normal risk for reliability while every neighboring Canadian and American system faces elevated or high risk for the decade ahead. That stability was operationally proven during January's polar vortex when Ontario exported power to struggling grids while maintaining domestic reliability. She introduces the energy quadrilemma—balancing reliability, affordability, sustainability, and economic growth—where trade-offs are inevitable and planning must be iterative.Nicolle Butcher emphasizes momentum as Ontario's differentiator. Darlington refurbishment delivered ahead of schedule and under budget. SMR construction is underway. Nuclear supply chain built through decades of continuous work now attracts international interest. The province is not starting infrastructure builds from scratch but accelerating from proven industrial capacity.Michele Harradence grounds the conversation in operational reality. During extreme cold, natural gas and nuclear combined delivered nearly 80% of electricity generation while gas simultaneously heated 15 million people directly. She calls for deeper coordination across sectors, moving from hope to certainty that integrated systems can handle peak demand.The panel explores regulatory speed, capital deployment certainty, supply chain resilience, labor force planning, and the cultural shift from siloed planning to transparent coordination. From environmental assessments for long-lead projects like Wesleyville to Major Project Identification Committees providing regional visibility, Ontario's planning processes are evolving to support economic growth rather than simply follow it.This conversation demonstrates why Ontario's energy sector is foundational to the province's economic future—and why planning discipline, execution speed, and cross-sector collaboration will determine whether potential converts to prosperity.Subscribe for more thought leadership from Canada's essential forum. Explore membership at empireclub.org.

Canada's quantum leadership will not be decided in the lab. It will be decided by who can scale, secure, and deploy.At this Defence Series event, the Empire Club convened Lisa Lambert (CEO, Quantum Industry Canada), Lieutenant-General Darcy Molstad (Commander, Canadian Joint Forces Command), Francesco Bova (Rotman School of Management), and David Roy-Guay (CEO, SBQuantum) to address Canada's quantum imperative at a pivotal moment.This conversation reveals why quantum matters now. GPS denial in contested environments. Encrypted communications harvested for future decryption. Stealth capabilities eroding under passive quantum sensors. These are present-tense operational vulnerabilities, not distant predictions. Canada's first Defence Industrial Strategy explicitly names quantum as a sovereign capability—but naming isn't enough.The panel explores how Canada holds structural advantages: one-third of global quantum workforce, second-highest number of quantum companies worldwide, mature research ecosystem. Yet the familiar pattern looms—foundational science and talent developed domestically, then industrial scale and IP captured elsewhere. For quantum, conditions are uniquely aligned to break that pattern, but only if procurement tempo matches technology maturity and government demand pulls industry forward.From NORAD modernization requiring ultra-precise timing and resilient positioning, to post-quantum cryptography migration protecting critical infrastructure, to dual-use applications extending from submarine detection to mineral exploration—this conversation connects defense imperatives to economic sovereignty.View, listen, and subscribe for more thought leadership from Canada's most essential forum. Explore membership at empireclub.org.

Ontario at a Crossroads: Competitiveness, Confidence & Growth in a New Global Reality As Ontario enters 2026, businesses face new realities shaped by shifting trade dynamics, tariff pressures, and global competition. Amid modest signs of stabilization, confidence remains fragile, and leaders across sectors must look to strengthen resilience and secure long-term growth.Looming CUSMA renegotiations and a challenging investment climate also continue to weigh on Ontario businesses. The question now is: “How do we stay competitive, attract investment, and find new sources of growth?”Join The Empire Club of Canada and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) for the launch of the 10th Ontario Economic Report. The event featured insights from The Honourable Minister Mélanie Joly, Canada’s Minister of Industry, and the launch of the report by Daniel Tisch, President and CEO, OCC.The program also included a timely discussion with business and policy leaders featuring Ron Bedard, President and CEO, ArcelorMittal Dofasco; Jennifer McLeod Macey, Senior Vice President, Leger; and Gabriella Siciliano, Vice-President, Operations and Director of Marketing and Communications, Invest Ontario; moderated by Rita Trichur, Senior Business Writer and Columnist for the Report on Business. The Ontario Economic Report featured fresh data from the OCC’s province-wide business survey, regional economic projections, and forward-looking policy analysis. The event focused on addressing challenges and exploring opportunities shaping Ontario’s economic trajectory.

Ontario is among several provinces grappling with soaring home prices, limited new construction, and a widening affordability gap that has pushed homeownership increasingly out of reach—especially for young Canadians. Housing starts are at multi-decade lows and for far too many people the dream of having a piece of Ontario they can call their own is slipping away.This crisis has been further intensified by trade tensions with the United States, which have driven up construction costs and shaken economic confidence. As buyers grow more cautious amid economic uncertainty, the urgency for bold, coordinated action has never been greater.In response, the Government of Ontario is acting to protecting Ontario’s economy and keeping workers on the job by cutting red tape and creating the conditions to get shovels in the ground faster. Though transformative legislation, policy changes, and historic investments, Ontario is laying the foundation to accelerate housing and infrastructure development, streamline municipal processes, and reduce regulatory burdens, all while fostering innovation and collaboration with local leaders and homebuilder alike.On February 17, 2025, The Empire Club of Canada  hosted The Honourable Rob Flack, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, for a keynote speech entitled Protecting the Dream of Homeownership in Ontario to explain what’s next in Ontario’s plan to support families, attract investment, and create good jobs. Working together, we can enhance affordability, ensure timely delivery of critical projects, and foster an innovative and resilient economy for decades to come.The discussion was moderated by Steve Paikin, Host of The Paikin Podcast with an introduction by The Honourable David Peterson, Chairman of Torstar and Former Premier of Ontario.

Les Canadiens et Canadiennes vivent dans un monde où l’information est plus accessible que jamais. L’envers de la médaille, c’est que la population n’a jamais été aussi vulnérable à la mésinformation. En effet, les idées fausses se propagent à la vitesse de l’éclair, et le domaine des soins de santé est celui où les répercussions sont les plus importantes.La mésinformation ne touche pas seulement les personnes qui cherchent des solutions à leurs problèmes de santé en ligne : elle entrave également la capacité du gouvernement à se fier aux données fournies par nos alliés en matière de politiques sanitaires.À quel point la population canadienne est-elle vulnérable face aux géants technologiques américains qui dominent le système d’information, à l’opacité des modèles de recherche et des algorithmes des outils d’IA, ainsi qu’à la désinformation en matière de santé financée par l’État à l’ère de l’administration Trump? Comment la confiance envers notre système de santé s’en trouve-t-elle altérée?Le 10 février 2026, l’Empire Club of Canada, en partenariat avec l’Association médicale canadienne, présentera l’événement Reconnaître et combattre la mésinformation en matière de santé : lancement de l’étude de suivi annuelle de l’AMC sur la santé et les médias 2026, dont le but est de fournir des réponses à ces questions et de proposer des solutions.L’événement débutera par une présentation spéciale de David Coletto, chef de la direction d’Abacus Data, qui communiquera des données exclusives sur l’étude de suivi annuelle sur la santé et les médias 2026 de l’AMC. Cette présentation sera suivie par celle du Dr Tom Frieden, ancien directeur des CDC et fondateur et chef de la direction de Resolve to Save Lives, une organisation de santé mondiale engagée dans la lutte contre les menaces sanitaires les plus mortelles au monde.Venez découvrir des solutions pour protéger la santé des Canadiens et des Canadiennes, ainsi que leur environnement informationnel, contre les personnes mal intentionnées. Notre table ronde, animée par Vassy Kapelos, réunira la Dre Jen Gunter, Vass Bednar et David Skok.