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Unlocking Domestic Market Opportunities
Manufacturing Excellence Forum - Ottawa
EMC’s special half-day forum will bring Canadian manufacturers together with industry leaders, stakeholders, government, and solution providers to explore new domestic growth opportunities emerging from Canada’s increased investment in defence, infrastructure, housing, and mining, alongside trade, tariff, and supply chain shifts.
The focus is practical, actionable insights – helping manufacturers replace imports with domestic production, access new B2B markets, strengthen supply chains, and build the capabilities required to scale.
Agenda
7:30 AM – Registration & Networking Breakfast
Connect with fellow manufacturers, supply chain partners, speakers, and sponsors – full breakfast included.
8:15 AM – Opening Remarks: Manufacturing Resilience & Growth in a Changing Economy
Welcome and context-setting from EMC leadership, framing the day around domestic opportunity creation, supply chain resilience, and the critical role manufacturers play in Canada’s economic future.
8:45 AM – Workshop: Defence Sector / Domestic Supply Opportunities for Canadian Manufacturers
An expert-led session outlining where manufacturers fit within Canada’s growing defence, infrastructure, construction, and resource-related supply chains.
You’ll learn:
- Where manufacturing demand is growing
- How manufacturers access these markets as suppliers
- What capabilities, certifications, and partnerships matter
- How regional manufacturing strengths align with national demand
9:45 – 10:15 AM
Networking Break
10:15 AM – Panel Discussion: How Manufacturers Are Successfully Entering Defence & Domestic Supply Chains
Manufacturers share real-world experiences entering or expanding within domestic (West-East), defence, infrastructure, and industrial supply chains.
Discussion themes include:
- Getting started and winning first contracts
- Managing risk, compliance, and scale
- Working with OEMs, primes, and public buyers
- Lessons learned and practical advice
11:15 AM – Concurrent Breakout Sessions (Participants Select One)
A) Controlled Goods: Demystify Controlled Goods requirements to access defence-sector procurement, and become eligible, compliant, and competitive suppliers within Canada’s defence and security supply chains. Led by Dominic Dubé, Education Program Officer, Controlled Goods Program, Government of Canada.
B) Supply Flow, Trade, Tariffs & Supply Chain Access: Practical insights on navigating trade pressures, replacing imports, and strengthening domestic supply chains.
C) Leveraging Energy, Sustainability & Cost Competitiveness: How energy strategy, efficiency and sustainability directly support competitiveness, improve margins, growth and resilience, leveraging process and energy optimization to access new markets, customers and supply chains.
12:15 PM – Networking Lunch
1:00 PM – Applied Learning: Facilitated Manufacturer Roundtable
Participants will take part in either a facilitated roundtable discussion on trade, tariffs, and domestic growth strategies and opportunities to connect through EMC’s new Supply Flow initiative.
2:00 PM – Adjourn
Why Attend:
Canadian manufacturers are navigating heightened trade uncertainty – but also unprecedented domestic investment opportunities tied to defence, infrastructure, housing, and resource development. This forum brings together manufacturers, government, and industry experts to explore how manufacturers can access, compete, and grow within these markets – as suppliers, partners, and solution providers.
This is not about becoming defence primes or builders – it’s about manufacturers strengthening supply chain access, replacing imports, and scaling capabilities to meet new domestic demand.
Event Partners:
Manufacturing Excellence Forum - Ottawa
Hosted by EMC.
