Canada's Next Chapter

At the dawn of 2026, amid the snow-covered peaks of Davos, where the world’s elite convene each year, a rallying call reverberated through the Swiss Alps from a country more readily associated with consensus than conviction. It was Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney who plainly named the mokita at the heart of global politics: with the rules-based international order fracturing and the world entering “a state of rupture,” middle powers can no longer afford to retreat into the shadows.

“When you share a border with the G1, you're inextricably linked. When Canadians realized that U.S. President Donald Trump’s "51st state" comments should not be taken lightly, it crystallized the need to take control of our own destiny, and the election of Prime Minister Carney reinforced that view,” explains Goldy Hyder, President & CEO of the Business Council of Canada. .

“We are too timid about excellence, often regressing to the mean and spreading the peanut butter evenly across institutions. That is not how you win, and it is not what China, India, the U.S., or advanced Scandinavian economies are doing,” says Dr Kevin Smith, President & CEO of University Health Network.

We spoke to 65 CEOs and ministers across life sciences, critical minerals, tourism, defence, energy and technology to explore the central question now facing Canada. Can a country blessed with enviable assets and admired for its character summon the boldness needed to convert its potential into global influence?

Written by: Michaila Byrne | Project Director: Hannah Pall