Canada’s economy is arguably at an inflection point, facing a range of powerful and converging global market shifts. Each challenge on its own is daunting. When considered in combination, the risks to Canada’s future prosperity and Canadians’ standard of living loom large.

Threats to Canada’s economy and sovereignty from the U.S., lagging productivity, an aging population, climate change, the need to facilitate Indigenous economic Reconciliation, security risks, and technological change require a reassessment of the policy framework Canadian policymakers have used to support economic growth.

However, limited Canadian research on industrial policy exists. Decisions regarding which sectors or projects to support, how to allocate funds, how to govern industrial policy programs and how to measure success are being made without a robust body of evidence to guide them.

Through 2023 and 2024, the IRPP hosted a series of expert workshops aimed at providing evidence-based recommendations to governments on industrial policy. To guide the project, the IRPP has assembled a steering group of economic thought leaders.

The project will culminate in a major report and conference in 2025.

This initiative is made possible in part by:

RELATED EVENT
On June 3, 2024 in Winnipeg, we held a related event: Cultural Capital: Indigenous Approaches to Economic Growth. To keep up-to-date with the project and with future events, sign up for the IRPP newsletter.