C.D. Howe Institute In-Person Conference
Artificial intelligence presents a real opportunity for Canada, but questions remain about whether the country's significant investments in AI research and talent are leading to greater commercialization and productivity growth. As peer countries move quickly to shape the rules and infrastructure that will define the next phase of AI development, the choices Canada makes on regulation, competitiveness, and adoption will be consequential.
On June 11, 2026, the C.D. Howe Institute will bring together industry leaders, academics, and senior policymakers in Ottawa to examine these questions directly, with a focus on the practical steps that government and industry can take to strengthen the country's competitive position.
Sessions will cover three interconnected themes: the regulatory and competitive dimensions of AI innovation; the infrastructure, data, and policy conditions needed to build Canada's competitive edge; and the barriers to AI adoption across the private and public sectors. The program will also feature a keynote lunch address on the way forward for Canada.
Building on the Institute's strengths in evidence-based policy, this conference will advance a practical, non-partisan agenda on AI policy at a pivotal moment for Canada's digital economy.
C.D. Howe Institute events and webinars are open to members and their guests.
Please follow this link or contact events@cdhowe.org to register.
Member & Member Guest - $199
Non-Member - $299
Agenda
Registration and Breakfast
Welcome Remarks
Session 1: AI and Digital Innovation: Regulatory and Competitive Dimensions
Session 2: Building Canada’s Competitive Edge in AI
Keynote Lunch: The Way Forward for Canada
Session 3: Adoption: From Promise to Practice
Closing Remarks
Speakers:
Laurent Carbonneau, Vice President, Policy and Advocacy, Council of Canadian Innovators
Jonathan Barry, Director of Policy, Office of Yoshua Bengio, MILA
Ivan Zhang, Co-Founder, Cohere
Brent Barron, Chief of Staff, AI, CIFAR
Amira Higazy, Fellow, C.D. Howe Institute
Marc Etienne Ouimette, Founder, Cardinal Policy and Member of OECD One AI Group of Experts
Anindya Sen, Fellow-in-Residence and Inaugural Scholar in AI and Digital Policy, C.D. Howe Institute
Interested in becoming a Member of the C.D. Howe Institute? Please fill out the application form below and our team will be in touch with next steps. Note that Membership is subject to approval.
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