WCEF 2026 Program
January 22, 2026
The Fairmont Winnipeg, Manitoba
Explore the full forum schedule, speaker sessions, roundtables, and networking moments.
Date
January 22, 2026
|
LOCATION
The Fairmont Winnipeg
Winnipeg, Manitoba
|
FORMAT
Speaker sessions, panels, roundtables, and networking
Forum Schedule
Thursday, January 22, 2026
The Fairmont Winnipeg, Manitoba
MORNING Program
8:00AM
Registration: Coffee & Networking
“O Canada”
Special Guests (WS)
8:55AM
Opening Remarks
Host: Althia Raj
National Columnist, Toronto Star,
Member, Parliamentary Press Gallery, and CBC “At Issue” Panelist
9:00AM
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
9:15AM
Government of Canada- Remarks
Honourable Terry Duguid, PC, MP
Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South
Chair: Standing Committee on Natural Resources, House of Commons
9:30AM
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.
9:45AM
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
10:30AM
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
11:15AM
LUNCH
With thanks to CO-OP
12:00PM
AFTERNOON Program
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
1:00PM
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
1:50PM
STRETCH BREAK & COFFEE TALK
Sponsored by PCL
2:45PM
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
3:00PM
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)
3:35PM
The WCEF 2026 Wrap Up: What now for the West?
Patrick Kennedy - Principal, Earnscliffe Strategies
4:05PM
Closing Remarks
Alex Fallon - Founder & Chair, Western Canada Economic Forum
4:25PM
4:30PM
END OF DAY 1 PROGRAM
eVENING Program
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
5:30PM
END
7:00PM