Public Policy Forum

Congratulations to all of the winners (see 4th pic) at last night's @ppforumca Testimonial Dinner 🇨🇦. What an honour to hear their speeches on the state of energy security, AI, business, and yes, hope.

The one-and-only @arlenedickinson getting an award at tonight's Public Policy Forum event. What a speech! I hope it's available for every Canadian to hear. We are so lucky to have Arlene as one of our champions. 🇨🇦 @ppforumca

@melaniejoly IEA head @fbirol accepts PPF’s first Global Laureate award.

Industry Minister @melaniejoly offers a few words to tonight’s honourees on their incredible contributions to public policy.

We’re moments away from our Testimonial Dinner Honour Roll! Nearly 1,000 leaders and policy wonks are gathering to honour 8 exceptional leaders who have made outstanding contributions to public policy and good governance.

When it comes to the adoption of AI, Puja Subrun, Vice-President Canada and LATAM, Intuit, says AI can help address the talent challenges such as using it for search and content summarization as well as drive innovation. #GrowthSummit2026

The panelists also talked about how small businesses don't have the same capabilities when it comes to talent. Stephen Lucas, CEO of Mitacs, highlighted some of the talent challenges seen across the economy: The cost of acquiring talent and finding work-ready talent; the capacity of SMEs to absorb that talent and deploy it effectively; and retaining talent.

Now on the #GrowthSummit2026 stage is a our panel on cracking the talent code - unleashing the potential of Canada's SMEs.

“I wish there were a few more Canadas in the world. Canada offers trust to the world.” 🇨🇦 💪 @fbirol Executive Director @IEA @ppforumca #growthsummit2026

@fbirol says energy policy shifts will change now. "In the next few years, the energy map will be redrawn." He says Canada has huge energy potential though as global consumption is growing at twice the rate of supply. We need to meet the demand he says. “The most important thing Canada can offer today is trust and reliability."

@fbirol says the in addition to oil and gas... petrochemicals, fertilizers, and sulfurs travel through the Strait of Hormuz. He says the fertilizer crisis will have implications for food prices later.

The head of the International Energy Agency @fbirol has taken the stage at #GrowthSummit2026. He opens by saying the current energy crisis is the largest in history.

When asked how Canada is playing a role in corridor of powers... the finance minister says Canada needs to brag more. Champagne says people want to invest more in Canada because we have the most educated workforce in the world and immigration is still seen in a positive light.

@FP_Champagne says in the spring economic update, the government is restoring fiscal discipline. "What we are seeing is that Canada and the economy is far more resilient that people expected, initially."

When asked how is Canada playing a role in corridor of powers... the finance minister says Canada needs to brag more. @People want to invest more in Canada because we have the most educated workforce in the world. Immigration is still seen in a positive light.

Dr. Anderson Chuck, CEO of the Canadian Institute for Health Information, says the ultimate success to the life sciences sector will be the approach of, "what’s made in Canada stays in Canada. It has to be a bedrock of Canada’s success."

Dr. Stéphanie Michaud, President and CEO of BioCanRx, says what is important in being able to manufacture products here is that it makes a huge difference in the lives of patients. “There’s a lot of excellence here in Canada,” she says. “Technologically, the time is now to see development.”

Our panel on a made-in-Canada approach to the life sciences sector is underway. How do we make life sciences a policy priority? Gord McCauley, Vice Chair of adMare, says the economic potential of life sciences is underestimated and there's an extraordinary opportunity for Canada to play a role globally.