WCEF 2026 PROGRAM
january 22
The Fairmont, Winnipeg, MB
Day 1: Thursday, January 22, 2026
8:00AM Registration: Coffee & Networking
8:55AM “O Canada”
Special Guests (WS)
9:00AM Opening Remarks
Host: Althia Raj
National Columnist, Toronto Star,
Member, Parliamentary Press Gallery, and CBC “At Issue” Panelist
9:15AM Welcome to a Growing Manitoba Economy at the Heart of Canada
Presented by MLT Aikins - Adam Levene, Partner & Board Chair
Honourable Jamie Moses
Minister Responsible for Business, Mining, Trade, and Job Creation
Government of Manitoba
Mark Carney (*Invited)
Prime Minister of Canada
9:30AM Government of Canada - Remarks
Honourable Terry Duguid, PC, MP
Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South
Chair: Standing Committee on Natural Resources, House of Commons
9:45AM A Curious History: Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta enter Confederation
Dr. Bill Waiser, CM, SOM, FRSC, DLitt
Author & Historian
In 2017, Dr. Waiser was named a member of the Order of Canada (the country’s highest civilian honour). He was appointed to the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2006. He is one of Canada’s foremast historians, an author of 21 books and the recipient of the Royal Society of Canada J.B. Tyrrell Historical Medal for outstanding work in Canadian History.
10:30AM The Political Landscape in 2026: What it Means for the West
Presented by MLT Aikins - Drew Lafond, Partner, Indigenous Practice Area
Michael Solberg
Partner, New West Public Affairs Inc.
Q&A: Althia Raj
National Columnist, Toronto Star
Member, Parliamentary Press Gallery and CBC ‘At Issue’ Panelist
11:15AM A Commitment to Economic Reconciliation
Presented by Dean Gagné, Chief Disruption and Growth Officer, Innovation Federal Credit Union
Cadmus Delorme
Founder, One Hoop and Chair, Reconciliation Education
Chancellor, University of Regina
12:00PM LUNCH
With thanks to CO-OP
1:00PM The Western Business Coalition: Driving Canadian Prosperity Through Natural Resources
Bram Strain (moderator)
President, Business Council of Manitoba
Adam Legge
President, Business Council of Alberta
Prabha Ramaswamy
Chief Executive Officer, Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce
Laura Jones
President & Chief Executive Officer , Business Council of British Columbia
1:50PM Western Issues & Insights Session - Flash Talks
Western Alienation: Fact, Fiction & Varied Opinions
Gregory Jack
Senior Vice-President
Ipsos Public Affairs
The Resentment Index: Insights, Interpretations & Implications
Charles Breton
Executive Director, Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation
Institute for Research on Public Policy
Equalization Payments: Objectives, Observations & Objections
Mike Holden
Vice President
Policy & Chief Economist, Business Council of Alberta
2:45PM STRETCH BREAK & COFFEE TALK
Sponsored by PCL
3:00PM Business Growth & Expansion in the West
Mitch Villeneuve (moderator)
Director, Economic Policy
Scotiabank
Guillermo Freire
Senior Vice-President, Mid-Market Group
Export Development Canada
Laura Didyk
Senior Vice-President, Prairie
Business Development Bank of Canada
3:35PM From the West to the World: Natural Resources, Trade and Export Infrastructure
Ryan Cossitt (moderator)
Assistant Deputy Minister, International Engagement
Ministry of Trade & Export Development, Government of Saskatchewan
Chris Avery
President & Chief Executive Officer
Arctic Gateway Group
Chris Lane
President & Chief Executive Officer
STEP (Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership)
4:05PM The WCEF 2026 Wrap Up: What now for the West?
Patrick Kennedy
Principal, Earnscliffe Strategies
4:25PM Closing Remarks
Alex Fallon
Founder & Chair, Western Canada Economic Forum
4:30PM END OF DAY 1 PROGRAM
5:30PM WCEF Reception - Presented by MLT Aikins
Opening Remarks - Michelle Redekopp, Partner & Practice Group Coordinator, MLT Aikins
IMPACT 100: The Top 100 Largest Companies in Western Canada
And;
The West 20: 20 Impactful Leaders in Economic & Business Growth in the West
Alex Fallon, Founder & Chair
Western Canada Economic Forum
Key Note: “How Western Canada can Grow in 2026”
Heather Exner-Pirot
Senior Fellow and Director of Natural Resources, Energy, and Environment
Macdonald-Laurier Institute
Special Advisor, Business Council of Canada
Senior Fellow, Arctic 360
7:00PM END
