Canada’s new government steps into power at a moment of historic economic upheaval. Sweeping global tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration are disrupting long-standing trade norms and sending shockwaves through the international economy. Yet even before this escalation, Canada faced serious structural headwinds: stagnating productivity, lagging business investment, and growing public skepticism about the country’s economic direction.
Today, with businesses and consumers grappling with heightened uncertainty, the stakes are clearer than ever. What should be the top economic priorities for the new government? How can policy translate into measurable outcomes? And how can we build a stronger business-government relationships to secure national prosperity?
At Beyond the Ballot: From Promises to Policy, Ivey Business School Dean Julian Birkinshaw moderated a candid and solutions-focused edition of Impact Live, joined by three influential leaders who have served at the highest levels of economic policy, Stephen Poloz, Former Governor of the Bank of Canada, Chair of the Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management, Bill Morneau, Former Federal Minister of Finance, and Janet Ecker, Former Ontario Minister of Finance.
Together, they addressed five of the most pressing economic imperatives facing the incoming government:
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Resetting Canada-U.S. trade relations in a volatile geopolitical climate
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Dismantling interprovincial trade barriers to unlock economic potential
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Reigniting investment and productivity to drive long-term growth
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Ensuring fiscal sustainability while enabling strategic nation-building
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Rebuilding trust in immigration and talent policy to sustain future competitiveness
About the speakers
Stephen Poloz | Panelist
Former Governor, Bank of Canada; Chair, Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management
Stephen S. Poloz served as the 9th Governor of the Bank of Canada from June 3, 2013 to June 2, 2020. He first joined the Bank of Canada in 1981 and held positions over a 14-year span, culminating in his appointment as Chief of the Bank’s Research Department. He later joined Export Development Canada, serving as Chief Economist and President and CEO, before rejoining the Bank of Canada as Governor. Since 2013, Poloz has been a member of the Lawrence National Centre Advisory Council, and assumed the role of Chair of the council in June 2020. He is also a recipient of the Order of Canada.
Janet Ecker | Panelist
Former Ontario Minister of Finance
Janet Ecker was Ontario’s Minister of Finance and the first woman to deliver a provincial budget. She also served as Minister of Education, Minister of Community and Social Services, and Government House Leader. As founding CEO of the Toronto Financial Services Alliance, she built an influential public-private partnership to position Toronto as a global financial hub. She also helped establish the Global Risk Institute to strengthen the sector’s global reputation. A Senior Fellow of the C.D. Howe Institute, she serves on several boards and committees. She holds a Journalism degree from Western University and received the Order of Canada in 2016.
Bill Morneau | Panelist
Former Federal Minister of Finance
Bill Morneau served as Canada's 39th Minister of Finance from 2015 to 2020, and was also Governor at the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Between 1990 and 2015, he led the multinational human resources firm Morneau Shepell (now TELUS Health). Morneau currently serves as Chair of NovaSource Power Services, Director at CIBC and at Clairvest Group Inc., Chair of the Advisory Board of Magnet at Toronto Metropolitan University, and Member of The Wilson Center’s Canada Institute Advisory Board.
Julian Birkinshaw, MBA '91, PhD '95 | Moderator
Dean, Ivey Business School
Julian Birkinshaw, MBA ’91, PhD ’95, became Dean of Ivey on August 1, 2024. He is a globally recognized expert in innovation, digital transformation, and strategic agility. Before returning to Ivey, he spent 25 years at London Business School, serving as Vice Dean (2022–2024) and leading major innovations in graduate and executive education. A Thinkers50-ranked thought leader, he has authored 15 books, over 90 articles, and 40 cases. A sought-after speaker and consultant, he advises companies like Pepsico, RBC, and Ericsson and is frequently cited in global media, including CNN, BBC, The Economist, and Sloan Management Review.
