Key Takeaways
- Canada must raise its collective ambition and act decisively to turn ideas into concrete policies amid turbulent global conditions.
- The country’s energy security premium offers a narrow, time‑limited window to attract investment by leveraging stable, reliable supply.
- Strengthening coordination with like‑minded middle powers—especially in Europe—can shield Canada from protectionist spill‑overs and open new trade avenues.
- Overcoming defeatist attitudes (“ignoring the Eeyores”) is essential to seize upcoming trade and investment opportunities, particularly the renegotiation of CUSMA.
- The Arctic presents a major growth frontier; success hinges on long‑term, government‑backed collaboration with Indigenous nations and industry.
- Provinces are moving toward whole‑of‑government and inter‑provincial cooperation; formalizing these structures will enable an integrated, win‑focused approach to national challenges.
- Canada’s forthcoming AI Strategy must address a trust deficit by showcasing tangible, life‑improving applications and fostering public confidence.
- Health data should be treated as a core national asset; unlocking its economic potential requires recognizing Canada’s diverse data pool as a competitive advantage.
- Small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the economy; boosting their AI adoption and productivity is urgent for inclusive growth.
- Investing in “brain capital”—cognitive skills such as creativity, judgment, and resilience—will yield both social and economic dividends in an AI‑augmented future.
Urgency and Ambition Set the Tone
The PPF’s Canada Growth Summit 2026 opened with a clear sense of urgency. Inez Jabalpurwala, PPF President and CEO, warned that turbulent times demand good public policy more than ever. Over 40 leaders echoed the call to move beyond discussion and turn ideas into action, framing the summit as a launchpad for a new era of Canadian prosperity.
Raising Collective Ambition
Finance Minister François‑Philippe Champagne argued that Canada must play its cards more boldly. He highlighted the nation’s reputation for predictability and stability as assets that international partners covet, urging leaders to seize the moment and build a stronger Canada together. The sentiment was reinforced by a panel on attracting global capital, which stressed that creating investment‑worthy projects, providing process and stakeholder certainty, and sharing risk are prerequisites for capital to flow.
Leveraging the Energy Security Premium
Fatih Birol of the International Energy Agency forecast a redrawing of the global energy map, noting that geopolitical turbulence will increase demand for reliable supply. He predicted an “energy security risk premium” that will make Canadian energy more attractive despite a modest price premium. Birol warned that this three‑ to four‑year window is a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity; missing it would carry enormous economic costs.
Cooperating with Middle Powers
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly described a shift toward proactive dialogue with like‑minded middle powers, particularly in Europe, to counter protectionist measures such as the Trump administration’s tariffs. She framed this coordination as a practical extension of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Davos vision, emphasizing that collaboration on trade and policy alignment can prevent collateral damage and open new avenues for Canadian exporters.
Ignoring the Eeyores
Steve Verheul, former chief trade negotiator, urged urgency in the looming CUSMA review, noting that multiple challenges must be tackled simultaneously. Robert Greenhill of the Global Canada Initiative countered defeatism, asserting that Canada is exceptionally well‑positioned and possesses what the world needs. He encouraged leaders to “ignore the Eeyores,” act with confidence, and build a pipeline of deals that will secure future prosperity.
Seizing the Arctic Opportunity
At the Indigenous Ownership and Inclusive Growth breakfast, speakers highlighted a renewed alignment among government, industry, and Indigenous stakeholders in the Arctic. Sean Boyd of Agnico Eagle and Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson described the past year’s communication as unprecedented in two decades. Erin O’Toole stressed that the “We the North” slogan must translate into a concrete, long‑term plan that delivers fairness, reconciliation, and predictability. Anne‑Raphaëlle Audouin of Nukik Corporation added that northern investments benefit the entire country, noting that developing Nunavut creates value for 40 million Canadians, not just its 40 000 residents.
Formalizing a New Architecture of Collaboration
Provincial leaders reported a shift from siloed departmental work to whole‑of‑government approaches. Joel Dickinson of New Brunswick noted that no single department now “runs with a file.” Michelle DiEmanuele of Ontario observed a “sea shift” in premier‑to‑premier communication, moving from crisis‑only talks to constant dialogue. She advocated formalizing these ad‑hoc interactions into a new architecture that encourages an integrated, win‑focused strategy for addressing both internal and external challenges.
Emphasizing the Impact of AI
Minister Evan Solomon previewed the forthcoming federal AI Strategy, noting that Canadian discourse on AI is polarized between enthusiastic “Team Pom‑Pom” and wary “Team Pitchfork.” He argued that the central issue is a trust deficit: citizens must see concrete benefits—such as AI scribes saving doctors an hour daily or AI‑enhanced wildfire response—to believe in the technology and its supporting policies. Solomon reminded the audience that while technology moves at the speed of innovation, public trust moves at the speed of trust.
Treating Health Data as an Essential National Resource
Fahad Razak framed health data as the engine of the global bio‑revolution and argued that Canada’s diversity, data richness, and skilled scientists position it to lead the next wave of health innovation. Yet, as Paul Hébert of CIHR lamented, Canada often discovers breakthroughs but fails to capture the economic benefits first. Rob Annan of Genome Canada called for recognizing the data‑driven life sciences sector as a valuable asset, noting that doing so would create a virtuous circle that improves health and drives economic growth.
Equipping SMEs to Advance Productivity
Experts emphasized that SMEs—representing over 99 % of Canadian firms, generating half of GDP, and providing two‑thirds of private‑sector jobs—are crucial to productivity gains. Candace Laing of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce urged unleashing SME capacity as a core path forward. AI was highlighted as a true productivity multiplier, yet only about 10 % of SMEs use it deeply. Mitacs CEO Stephen Lucas called for aggressive work to improve AI literacy, connect smaller firms with AI‑savvy talent from colleges and universities, and bend the productivity curve urgently.
Considering Brain Capital a Policy Imperative
The summit concluded with a discussion on “brain capital”—the cognitive skills of thinking, judgment, creativity, problem‑solving, resilience, and empathy. Jabalpurwala warned that outsourcing these functions to AI could trigger a cognitive catastrophe. Andrew Nevin of the Center for BrainHealth advocated embedding brain capitalism into skills, productivity, and wellbeing policies, arguing that investing in brain health yields extraordinary payoffs both socially and economically.
Taken together, these ten themes paint a roadmap for Canada: act boldly, capitalize on its energy and data strengths, deepen alliances with likeminded nations, modernize governmental collaboration, harness AI responsibly, empower SMEs, protect and develop the Arctic, and invest in the cognitive capacities of its people. Translating this roadmap into concrete policies and actions will be essential to convert the current sense of urgency into lasting, inclusive prosperity.