What we heard at CCI’s Innovator Exchange during Toronto Tech Week

As Toronto Tech Week made its debut, the Council of Canadian Innovators played host to a timely gathering of scale-up leaders, policymakers and thinkers keen to chart Canada’s role in the global digital economy.

Against a backdrop of shifting geopolitical winds and economic headwinds, the conversation focused on the evolving intersection of innovation, public procurement and policy strategy. Joining the discussion was Evan Solomon—Canada’s newly appointed Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation—who offered a glimpse into the federal government’s ambitions to position the country as a serious contender in AI and digital infrastructure.

His message to our room of 100 business leaders was clear: Canadian tech companies won’t just be part of the strategy—they’re expected to lead it.

Following the roundtable, CCI hosted one of our special Innovator Exchanges, focused on Navigating Power, Policy & Procurement in a Changing Canada. Moderated by Skaidra Puodžiūnas, CCI’s Director of Ontario Affairs, the conversation highlighted both challenges and opportunities facing scale-up executives as they navigate an environment where the old playbook no longer applies.

"It’s not enough to have the best ideas. You have to know how government works, how public dollars move, and how to turn policy friction into strategic leverage. CCI’s role is to help innovators become savvier advocates for the kind of economy they want to lead," Puodžiūnas told the crowd.

Jan Kestle, President of Environics Analytics, stressed that in a world increasingly shaped by AI and data-driven decision-making, Canada needs to be far more deliberate in how it builds public policy.

“Too many decisions are being made in a vacuum, or without the right data,” Kestle said. “In this era, innovators can’t just bring solutions—they need to bring insight. Whether it’s housing, health, or national security, AI and analytics can make government smarter. But only if innovators help shape the questions, not just the answers.”

Jayiesh Singh, CEO of Able Innovations, brought the perspective of a founder building hardware for hospitals, and shared a hard truth about procurement barriers that slow progress in sectors like health.

“It’s not a question of whether the technology works—it does,” said Jayiesh Singh, CEO of Able Innovations. "The challenge is the lack of avenues for healthcare operators to adopt and procure innovation in a meaningful way. With rising costs, staff shortages and longer wait times, adopting innovation is no longer optional but is a necessity and Canada has a unique opportunity to establish itself as a global leader in health innovation. "

Sachin Aggarwal, CEO of Think Research, framed the moment as one of global competition—and warned that if Canada doesn’t start to act like an economic player, it risks becoming a spectator.

“The Americans are using procurement and industrial policy to build up domestic tech champions. The Europeans are doing it too. If Canada wants to be taken seriously in AI or digital health, we need to start acting with the same urgency,” said Aggarwal. “This is about national competitiveness. It's not enough to innovate—we have to scale. And that means having governments that are willing to buy Canadian.”

The panelists agreed that navigating today’s uncertainty will require a different kind of relationship between innovators and government—one built on early engagement, clearer incentives, and a shared commitment to long-term economic resilience.

As Canada faces economic headwinds and a fast-changing geopolitical landscape, events like these from CCI continue to provide a space for serious conversation about the policies that will shape the next decade of Canadian growth.

A special thank you to MP Chi Nguyen, Member of Parliament for Spadina—Harbourfront, for attending the event, and to our sponsors Gowling WLG and CPA Ontario for sponsoring this conversation and supporting CCI's work to support Canada's innovation economy.

For more information about CCI and how we advocate for Canadian scale-ups, contact Sara Psenicka, Director of Member Success.