The Honourable Tim Hodgson: One Year of Nation Building: Looking Back, Moving Forward

At this pivotal time for our country, The Empire Club of Canada is pleased to welcome The Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, for “One Year of Nation Building: Looking Back, Moving Forward” a keynote address and fireside chat on April 24, 2026.One year after the election of Mark Carney’s government – and Minister Hodgson’s first time taking office – “One Year of Nation Building: Looking Back, Moving Forward”  was a timely conversation about a pivotal year for Canada’s economic and strategic future, and what comes next.  Minister Hodgson examined the federal government’s efforts to get Canada building again through major, nation-building infrastructure projects and the Major Projects Office, navigate a rapidly changing relationship with the United States amid trade uncertainty and a shifting global order, and advance a new approach to economics, national security, and defence, grounded in energy and critical minerals.The moderated discussion, featuring The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Vice-Chair, Office of the CEO, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) also touched on landmark moments, including the Canada–Alberta Memorandum of Understanding, and consider what Canadians and business can expect as next steps. With a year of foundations laid, Minister Hodgson shared his perspective on where Canada is headed, and how the country can seize this moment to build with confidence, resilience, and purpose.The full scope of Minister Hodgson’s responsibilities — appointed by Prime Minister Carney to also oversee “nation-building” projects focused on energy, critical minerals, and infrastructure through the new Major Projects Office — far exceed what his Ministerial portfolio-title implies.  The significance of this keynote by Minister Hodgson and the impact that his decisions will have on the infrastructure of our country, cannot be understated.