German-Canadian Conference 2025 – Agenda
SUNDAY, MAY 4
📍 Location:
🕘 xx:xx – xx:xx pm
Cultural Activity
📍 Location:
🕘 xx:xx – xx:xx pm
❗ Note: Please bring your ID/Passport
Opening Reception at the Official Residence of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
MONDAY, MAY 5
📍Location: National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5W1
🕘 xx:xx am – Registration opens
Welcome Remarks
- Professor Dr. Michael Hüther, Director & Member of the Presidium, German Economic Institute; Vice-Chairman, Atlantik-Brücke
- Professor Nik Nanos, Founder & Chief Data Scientist, Nanos Research; Chairman, Atlantik-Brücke Canada
🕘 xx:xx – xx:xx
Session 1: Strategic Alliances in Flux: Navigating Geopolitical Shifts and Challenges in the Defense Partnership
This session will explore the impact of significant political shifts, including challenges to NATO’s financial commitments and defense spending. The session will focus on how these changes affect the German-Canadian defense relationship within the broader NATO framework.
- Professor Dr. Elinor Sloan, Department of Political Science, Carleton University
- Christian Leuprecht, Department of Political Science, Queen’s University
- Moderator:
🕘 xx:xx – xx:xx
Session 2: Tariffs and Trade: Tactics for Navigating a New Zero-Sum Global Trade War
This session will explore the implications of the new Trump administration’s tariff polices on both bilateral and global trading relationships.
- Professor Meredith Lilly, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University
- John Weekes, Senior Business Adviser, Bennett Jones LLP; Former Ambassador to the WTO
- Moderator:
🕘 xx:xx – xx:xx
Session 3: AI and Its Impact on Economic Productivity and the Labor Market
This year’s
- Tom Jenkins, Chairman, OpenText
- Moderator:
🕘 xx:xx – xx:xx
Session 4: Economic Competitiveness: Regulatory Adjustments to Strengthen the Industrial Base
This session will delve into the evolving landscape of global trade amidst the rising trend of industrial strategies and competitiveness agendas, such as the Draghi Report. As nations increasingly adopt protective measures and focus on enhancing domestic capabilities, the implications for international trade relationships, particularly between Canada and Germany, are profound. The session will extend to strategic responses that both countries can employ to navigate this new era of trade barriers, including the US, emphasizing sector-specific resilience and the role of innovation in trade facilitation.
- Serge Dupont, Senior Advisor and Head of Public Policy, Bennett Jones LLP; Former Executive Director, International Monetary Fund
- Kelly Jackson, Vice President, Destination Toronto
- Lisa Raitt, Chair of Global Banking, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
- Moderator:
🕘 xx:xx – xx:xx
Session 5: Navigating Change: National Priorities from the 2025 Canadian and German Elections
German and Canadian electors both go the national polls in 2025, likely leading to significant changes in the national political leadership in both countries. This session will look at the outcomes of the 2025 elections in Germany and look at Canadas current political landscape, highlighting key trends, pivotal topics, and the prevailing political climate in each country.
- Professor Ian Browdie, Department of Political Science, University of Calgary; Former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper
- Gerald Butts, Vice Chairman, Eurasia Group; Former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
- Moderator:
📍 Location:
🕘 xx:xx – xx:xx pm
Closing Reception
TUESDAY, MAY 6
📍Location: National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5W1
🕘 9:00 – 9:30 am
Fireside Chat:
Canada and Germany’s commitment to multilateralism have been foundational principals of their foreign and security
- The Honourable Greg Fergus, Speaker of the House of Commons
- Moderator:
🕘 xx:xx – xx:xx
Session 6: Immigration and Migration in Canada and Germany
This discussion will delve into the dynamics of migration and immigration policies in Canada and Germany, comparing how both countries have adapted their strategies in response to global migration trends and domestic needs, focusing on challenges like demographic changes and labor shortages. Key topics will include the role of international cooperation and the impact of policy adjustments on societal acceptance and economic growth.
- Daniel Bernhard, CEO, Institute for Canadian Citizenship
- Senator Ratna Omidvar, Former Senator of Canada for Ontario
- Moderator:
🕘 xx:xx – xx:xx
Session 7: Reinforcing Multilateralism Amidst Geopolitical Shifts and Threats
Canada and Germany’s commitment to multilateralism have been foundational principals of their foreign and security policy. As this world order and its institutions are challenged by the recently elected Trump Administration in the US this session will discuss how both will advocate for multilateralism, international law, and sustainable development.
Contact: Jonas Ader, j.ader(at)atlantik-bruecke.org.