Canada is at an inflection point—and the question is what it would take to go “all in” on Canada’s next economy in a world being reshaped by AI, energy, and defence/space.

This opening conversation will explore how Canada can make big bets, scale what works, and compete to win across these three critical domains.

The session will clarify what a national playbook could look like—and the near-term moves needed to build momentum.

If Canada is going to go “all in” on its next economy, it will need to go “all in” on energy—modernizing how we generate, move, and manage power at a pace that matches global competition and net-zero ambitions.

This conversation will explore what it will take: unlocking the next wave of generation and grid modernization; aligning regulation, investment, and infrastructure; and building the skilled workforce needed to deliver projects at scale.

The session will surface the enabling conditions—policy, investment, and talent—that can accelerate delivery.

To go “all in” on Canada’s next economy, Canada will need to go “all in” on higher education—ensuring colleges and universities are equipped and incented to deliver for learners, communities, and the country. Canada’s post-secondary institutions were built for a different era. Demographics, productivity pressures, and rapid technological change are testing whether today’s funding, governance, and incentives are fit for what comes next.

This conversation will focus on four reform levers: funding models that drive better outcomes; a sustainable approach to international students that protects quality and capacity; Indigenous learner success through Indigenous-led priorities and supports; and faculty-enabled change—aligning incentives, workload, and governance so modernization is possible and durable.

The session will clarify where real leverage exists—and what a credible reform agenda could prioritize first.

For decades, governments have gone “all in” on research, R&D, innovation, and skills—launching big science funds, innovation agendas, and workforce initiatives aimed at productivity and job creation. But the results haven’t always matched the promise, and today the pressure to show impact is higher than ever.

This armchair conversation will unpack how “bet-the-farm” strategies actually get made in government: what worked, what fell short, and why—and what it would take to rebuild the case for going “all in” again.

The session will offer an inside-government view of how hard calls get made—and the lessons they’d carry forward if they were advising today.

Canada’s universities produce world-class research with the potential to strengthen national security and open up new markets—but too often, discoveries stall before they become real-world technologies.

This conversation will explore how Canada can translate leading university research into dual-use technologies that deliver civilian value while enhancing resilience and security. We’ll focus on the intersection of space, defence, and life sciences—and on practical enablers like clearer IP pathways, mission-driven funding, and talent mobility between labs and firms.

The session will clarify where the biggest bottlenecks sit—and what would help more breakthroughs move from lab to deployment.

To go “all in” on Canada’s next economy and security, Canada will need to go “all in” on space—not as a niche science project, but as a fast-growing platform for climate solutions, communications, sovereignty, and entirely new industries.

This conversation will explore what it will take: building world-class talent pipelines; turning research breakthroughs into missions, products, and companies; aligning public and private investment; and positioning Canada to lead—not just participate—in the next wave of the space economy.

The session will clarify the strategic priorities and ecosystem shifts needed to compete at scale.

AI is moving from lab demo to core infrastructure, reshaping how Canadians work, learn, and connect. The question now is what it takes to go “all in”: not just piloting new tools, but rewiring strategy, operations, and talent around AI.

This session, hosted by TELUS, will explore how Canadian companies can move from scattered experiments to scaled deployment: building AI-ready data foundations, redesigning jobs and workflows, managing risk and trust, and developing the skills and leadership needed to turn AI into a durable productivity advantage for Canada.

To go “all in” on Canada’s security in a fast-changing geopolitical and technological environment, Canada will need to modernize how it recruits, trains, and retains its people—building a force that can learn faster, adapt under pressure, and stay ready for new demands.

This conversation will explore what it will take to modernize Canada’s defence talent and training enterprise: strengthening recruitment and retention pathways; integrating AI and tech-enabled learning to improve readiness and training outcomes; and building deeper partnerships with post-secondary institutions to accelerate skills development, credentialing, and talent mobility.

The session will clarify the levers—people, learning technology, and institutional partnerships—that can move modernization from intent to execution.