15/06/2026
❓ Are there reasons to be optimistic about the economic future of Canada and the UK?
💲On June 10, we hosted our 17th Annual Chief Economists' Lunch & Panel Debate at Drapers' Hall, exploring the key challenges and opportunities shaping both economies
📋Key takeaways:
• Trade & geopolitics remain central: despite CUSMA renegotiations pending, tariffs are likely to persist. Diversifying trade can help offset the negative impacts of tariffs, but it is an uphill battle to replace the volume of trade threatened
• A strong, mature Canada–UK relationship: progress will come through practical steps like mutual recognition, not full regulatory harmonisation
• Structural challenges persist: weak productivity, declining global market share, and the long shadow of Brexit continue to impact growth. Populism is also weighing on both economies
• Investment is the critical lever: pension funds, capital allocation, and financial integration will play a major role in unlocking growth, particularly at the domestic level
• Cautious optimism on growth drivers: AI and innovation offer upside, but these require time, infrastructure, and sustained investment
• Macro uncertainty persists: inflation pressures (wages, housing, food) and the unusual risk of rate hikes during a slowdown create a complex policy environment, whether central banks maintain interest rates or not is continuously open to debate
🔑 In sum: Both countries have real opportunities, but growth will depend on navigating geopolitical risks, boosting productivity, and getting capital flowing to the right places
🎤 Speakers included:
✔️Robert Hogue (RBC)
✔️Avery Shenfeld (CIBC Capital Markets)
✔️Douglas Porter (BMO Capital Markets)
✔️Jean-Francois Perrault (Scotiabank)
✔️James Rossiter (TD Securities)
✔️Matthieu Arseneau (National Bank of Canada)
A huge thank you to our Platinum Sponsors TMX Group
Moderated by: Cheryl Graden (TMX Group) & Matt Brief (Trayport)
MC: Frederique Carrier (RBC Wealth Management)
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