On May 29, the Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management convened leaders from industry, government, academia, and finance to discuss Canada's automotive future amid evolving trade dynamics, industrial policy developments, supply chain shifts, and the transition to electric vehicles. The workshop explored opportunities and challenges facing Canada's automotive sector and examined pathways to strengthen competitiveness across North America.
Workshop Themes
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Manufacturing & Supply Chain Resilience: Strengthening Canada’s role in the North American automotive value chain, developing critical minerals, and attracting investment in battery and vehicle production.
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Trade & Geopolitics: Navigating U.S. policy shifts, tariffs, and the upcoming CUSMA review.
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Workforce Development & Transition: Reskilling the automotive workforce and building talent pipelines for emerging EV-related roles, while strengthening the capabilities of SME component manufacturers to transition to EVs and adjacent sectors.
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Charging Infrastructure & Grid Readiness: Expanding public and private charging networks, upgrading grid capacity, and addressing municipal considerations including zoning and equitable access.
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Incentives & Consumer Adoption: Aligning policies and incentives to accelerate EV uptake and support consumer readiness.
Event Highlights
Workshop Speakers
David Adams
President, Global Automakers of Canada
Karim Bardeesy, MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry
James Bradford
Founder & President, Vivid Capital Management Inc.
Daniel Carr
Head, Grid Edge Solutions, Alectra Inc.
Cara Clairman
President & CEO, Plug’n Drive
Petrina Gentile
Automotive Journalist, The Globe and Mail
Sarah Goldfeder
Executive Director, Government Relations and Corporate Affairs, General Motors
Tyson Jones
Senior Vice President, Ontario, BDC
Brian Kingston
President & CEO, Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association
Jean Marc Leclerc
Former President & CEO, Honda Canada
Carter Li
Founder & CEO, SWITCH
Romel Mostafa
Director, Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management
David Muir
Associate Vice-President, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships
Mahmood Nanji
Power Corporation of Canada Fellow, Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management
Gal Raz
Associate Professor, Operations Management & Sustainability, Ivey Business School
Hon. Lisa Raitt
Vice-Chair of Global Investment Banking, CIBC
Maureen Shuell
Chief Operating Officer, Electric Mobility Canada
Brendan Sweeney
President & CEO, Pacific Manufacturing Association of Canada
Flavio Volpe
President, Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA)
This event is made possible with generous support from: Power Corporation of Canada, Jack Lawrence Family, Mitchell and Kathryn Baran Family Foundation, Ivey Critical Issues Fund