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As we close out another remarkable year, EMC is proud to reflect on the momentum we’ve built together across Canada’s manufacturing community. From coast to coast, our Manufacturing Excellence Forums brought industry leaders, innovators, and frontline teams together to learn, share, and strengthen the sector.

Celebrating a Year of Connection, Collaboration, and Manufacturing Excellence

In 2025, we hosted Forums in PEI, Nova Scotia, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Abbotsford, Kelowna, Oshawa, the GTA, London, Owen Sound, Kingston, and more &#8211; connecting hundreds of manufacturers representing a wide range of sectors, skill sets, and company sizes. Each forum created space for meaningful conversations around the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of manufacturing.
Throughout the year, we explored the most relevant and pressing topics for industry today. We dug into green manufacturing, highlighting practical pathways toward low-carbon operations, energy efficiency, and ESG-readiness. We examined tariffs and trade issues, giving manufacturers clarity on shifting global policies and their impact on competitiveness. Discussions on supply chain enhancements helped members plan for strengthening resilience, rethinking logistics, and adopting smarter planning tools. And our deep dives into workforce development addressed recruitment, skills gaps, leadership training, and the evolving needs of modern operations.
A highlight across many of our stops was the opportunity to tour manufacturing facilities, giving participants an inside glimpse into how companies are adapting, innovating, and managing the complexities of today’s world. These tours offered sparked some of the most valuable peer-to-peer learning moments of the year.
Along the way, we celebrated success stories, exchanged practical solutions, and amplified the incredible work happening on shop floors nationwide. New partnerships were formed, peer networks expanded, and participants left with actionable insights they could implement right away.
Most importantly, these events reaffirmed the strength of Canada’s manufacturing community as forward-thinking, resilient, and committed to continuous improvement.
Thank you to everyone who attended, presented, hosted, sponsored or shared your experiences with us. Together, we’re shaping a stronger future for Canadian manufacturing.
Here’s to another year of learning, connection, and shared excellence.

A strategic partnership

The Alberta Chambers of Commerce (ACC) and Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC) have entered into a strategic partnership to strengthen Canada’s supply chains by elevating the visibility of domestic supply chain opportunities in regions across the country.

Strengthening Canada’s Supply Chain Competitiveness

Through this partnership, ACC and EMC will collaborate to pilot and launch a network enhancing how Canadian manufacturers connect, share information, and verify capabilities through secure, standards-based digital infrastructure. The pilot will launch first in Alberta and serve as a foundation for broader national adoption in 2026.
<blockquote>“This partnership represents a critical step toward empowering manufacturers and businesses that rely on them with the tools they need to compete,” says Shauna Feth, President and CEO of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce. “By combining ACC’s membership and data network with EMC’s national manufacturing network, we’re helping to build stronger, more connected supply chains across Canada.”</blockquote>
The partnership builds on shared priorities between the two organizations – responding directly to priorities of Alberta businesses. Together, ACC and EMC aim to accelerate adoption of digital tools that strengthen supply chain visibility, collaboration, and trust nationwide.
<blockquote>“Our partnership with ACC is a catalyst for strengthening Canada’s manufacturing ecosystem,” says JP Giroux, President of Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC). “Together, we are mapping our manufacturing capacities, capabilities, and skills, expanding domestic supply networks, and building strategic collaborations that drive innovation and resilience. These efforts are not only improving supply chain transparency but also reinforcing manufacturing competitiveness in Alberta and across Canada.”</blockquote>
Advancing Canada’s Supply Chain Innovation
The pilot will engage more than 300 Alberta-based EMC and ACC network member companies to test new approaches for connecting manufacturers, suppliers, and buyers through a secure, data-driven framework. The framework and data standard are interoperable with existing supply chain and member data bases.
Key features under development include:
<ul>
<li>Verified supplier validation</li>
<li>AI-supported search and data analytics</li>
<li>Dynamic mapping of regional and sectoral capabilities</li>
<li>Industry-driven customization for manufacturing use cases</li>
</ul>
By leveraging their combined networks and industry knowledge, ACC and EMC are working to position Alberta as a leader in modern supply chain integration — enabling businesses in the province to identify opportunities, strengthen local procurement, and respond more effectively to market shifts.

Navigating Trade Tensions, Workforce Realities & Growth Opportunities

On October 6, 2025, EMC and BDC hosted our second annual Economic Outlook for Manufacturers national briefing – welcoming more than 300 attendees, and many more accessing the recording afterward. It was my pleasure to moderate the session, which featured two of Canada’s foremost though-leaders on economic and manufacturing trends: Pierre Cléroux, Vice President of Research and Chief Economist at BDC, and Jean-Pierre (JP) Giroux, President of EMC.

Canada’s Economic Outlook for Manufacturers

As manufacturers across Canada navigate a business landscape defined by rising costs, trade disruptions, and shifting workforce dynamics, this event provided much-needed clarity – and importantly, a dose of cautious optimism.
<h2>Modest Growth, Not Recession: Economic Forecast with BDC&#8217;s Pierre Cléroux</h2>
Pierre Cléroux’s address delivered a clear message: Canada is not headed into a recession. Despite ongoing trade tensions and external shocks, the economy is stabilizing, albeit below full potential with modest growth in 2025 and around 1% growth in 2026.
<blockquote>“We&#8217;re not in recession. We&#8217;re not going into a recession. 
But we are still working below our capacity,”
Pierre Cléroux, Chief Economist, BDC</blockquote>
Key Economic Takeaways: 
Pierre provided a very thorough overview of Canada’s economic performance, and the ‘new reality’ impacts, challenges and opportunities facing our manufacturing sector:
<ul>
<li>Tariffs are taking a toll, especially on exports and sectors like primary metals and transportation equipment. Ontario has borne the brunt, losing 50,000 jobs since January 2025.</li>
<li>Exports are down 27% since tariffs were imposed, but appear to have stabilized to a new lower baseline.</li>
<li>Consumer spending remains resilient, supporting 60% of GDP.</li>
<li>Housing starts are rebounding, aided by interest rate cuts and federal investments like the Build Canada Homes</li>
<li>Inflation is under control (~2%), enabling the Bank of Canada to lower interest rates to 2.5%, with another cut expected before year-end.</li>
<li>Real GDP growth forecast: ~0.5% for 2025 and 0%–1.2% in 2026, remaining below Canada’s potential but positive.</li>
</ul>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-15779 size-large" src="https://partners.blackbean.marketing/emc/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/BDC-Tariffs-1024x550.png" alt="" width="640" height="344" srcset="https://partners.blackbean.marketing/emc/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/BDC-Tariffs-1024x550.png 1024w, https://partners.blackbean.marketing/emc/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/BDC-Tariffs-300x161.png 300w, https://partners.blackbean.marketing/emc/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/BDC-Tariffs-768x412.png 768w, https://partners.blackbean.marketing/emc/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/BDC-Tariffs.png 1267w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" />
BDC data shows Canada’s export volumes have fallen 27% since tariffs were introduced, with Ontario bearing the deepest employment losses. (Source: BDC Economic Outlook, Oct 2025)
Pierre also emphasized how three major federal investments in housing, defense, and electricity infrastructure will open up new domestic manufacturing opportunities across Canada:
<ul>
<li>$13B+ in housing construction (Build Canada Homes initiative)</li>
<li>$21B+ in defense procurement, benefitting shipbuilding, vehicle manufacturing, aerospace, and electronics</li>
<li>Over $150B in electrical grid infrastructure modernization upgrades by 2035 (e.g. $100B in Québec, $36B in BC, $16B in Ontario)</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>“The manufacturing sector is readjusting. 
We believe the worst is behind us – growth will be modest, but positive.”
Pierre Cléroux</blockquote>
While the export outlook remains constrained by U.S. tariffs, BDC’s advice was clear: diversify markets, boost productivity, and invest in tech adoption to maintain competitiveness.
<h2>Issues Affecting Manufacturing: EMC’s Sector Pulse with JP Giroux</h2>
EMC President Jean-Pierre (JP) Giroux followed with an insightful overview of EMC’s Workforce Pulse – developed in partnership with the Future Skills Centre and 13 national organizations.
The Workforce Pulse captured real-time insights from over 2,145 employers, including more than 800 manufacturers (predominantly SMEs), highlighting both the resilience of Canada’s manufacturing community and the pressures it continues to face.
Top Issues Affecting Manufacturers:
<ul>
<li>Trade exposure and supply chain disruptions</li>
<li>Skills and labour shortages – especially in skilled trades and technical occupations</li>
<li>Rising energy and operational costs</li>
<li>Need for new customer acquisition and market diversification</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>“The shift from general labour to skilled technical roles is now undeniable,”
Jean-Pierre (JP) Giroux, President, EMC</blockquote>
Referencing Pulse data, JP noted that skilled trades are now ranked ahead of general labour as the most difficult positions to fill in manufacturing today.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-15780 size-large" src="https://partners.blackbean.marketing/emc/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/EMC-90-Days-1024x570.png" alt="" width="640" height="356" srcset="https://partners.blackbean.marketing/emc/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/EMC-90-Days-1024x570.png 1024w, https://partners.blackbean.marketing/emc/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/EMC-90-Days-300x167.png 300w, https://partners.blackbean.marketing/emc/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/EMC-90-Days-768x428.png 768w, https://partners.blackbean.marketing/emc/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/EMC-90-Days.png 1270w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" />
&nbsp;
41% of manufacturers are still actively recruiting; 9% plan reductions and 7% are uncertain, reflecting continued volatility. (Source: EMC Workforce Pulse, Sept 2025)
Workforce Pulse Highlights:
<ul>
<li>43% of manufacturers indicate stable workforce levels.</li>
<li>41% of manufacturers continue to recruit – unchanged from prior surveys.</li>
<li>9% plan to reduce staff over the next 90 days; 7% remain unsure, indicating the weight of uncertainty.</li>
<li>Key workforce needs: Hiring/retention, productivity, supply chain streamlining, and upskilling.</li>
<li>Most disruptive trend: Labour shortages and retention – particularly in supervisory, technical, and sales/BD roles.</li>
</ul>
JP also shared how EMC is addressing these issues through:
<ul>
<li>Green and advanced manufacturing training programs</li>
<li>Workforce upskilling across technical, leadership, and essential skills</li>
<li>National working groups focused on productivity, supply chain mapping, and technology culture</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>We’re seeing a real shift – SMEs embracing robotics and automation, with the most skilled people now working beside the robots,” reinforcing that adoption of 
AI and advanced manufacturing is accelerating, but demands targeted support.
JP Giroux</blockquote>
<h2>Q&amp;A Highlights and Final Reflections</h2>
The session’s live Q&amp;A covered several timely themes:
<ul>
<li>Energy cost competitiveness: While manufacturers are looking for lower electricity rates, Pierre emphasized that provinces are currently investing heavily in grid upgrades, making near-term rate reductions unlikely.</li>
<li>Immigration and labour supply: Canada’s reduced immigration targets will affect consumption and hiring. Businesses were encouraged to invest in automation and workforce development to mitigate risk.</li>
<li>AI and cybersecurity: As AI adoption increases, so does the need for cybersecurity, IP protection, and standardized risk management</li>
<li>CUSMA renegotiation (2026): Pierre positioned this as a potential opportunity to eliminate tariffs and strengthen the trade framework – but acknowledged the uncertainty ahead.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Looking Ahead</h2>
This national briefing underscored a key central message: while growth will be modest and uncertainty persistent, Canada’s manufacturing sector is not standing still.
Between BDC’s data-backed outlook and EMC’s workforce intelligence three clear actions emerged for 2026
<ul>
<li>Pivot toward new markets – Asia-Pacific, Europe, and stronger domestic supply-chain connections</li>
<li>Invest in technology and productivity to protect margins and profitability</li>
<li>Strengthen Workforce Readiness through targeted training and retention strategies</li>
</ul>
<blockquote> “Uncertainty doesn’t mean recession 
– it means we must make decisions differently.”
Pierre Cléroux</blockquote>
<h2>Next Steps &amp; Resources</h2>
For those who were unable to join us, you can access Pierre’s and JP’s presentations below, along with the session recording and EMC’s Manufacturing Workforce Pulse Report
<ul>
<li><a href="https://email.emccanada.org/e3t/Ctc/I5+113/cHcKx04/VWD7VP4T4mKnW8G4jM22vbbgjW6wcfC_5Dmps9N7Rflxqcf6NKW5BXHtx6lZ3lSW46PjP747Ly5vW6c9BGR7Crhb_F94b0qpW3ykW1ts3T65h8MXgW2q2mq35zTSYZVZtR_h5vvD9jN72L-mpKPP6CVd22F86wvZG_W1wlD6Q3HR36sW3JdZ2N90MGC1W72tSXR1JfQ_NW4Dfc4k2N5-4DN1BJyY7PcgrzW3BrHqD7pns5sW4hBkq31XfLLbW73gw-K3zXv5TW7xySfn1DzhGgN8p5BcjKkxk9W5P-5_X1yTZ-nW24j1zX6-wdGwN2vyMn2DhtVqW7Q3KXr3hP_M-W7r9g3H4G-yLQW4dRNrm3XsKqdW1knfz63YmDWvW4QkBcH2KkhxSW79kyyz1vdKJ9VmT_zb563jj2W7Y6Z4J6sPDZkW1y-VBz8X9nl6W5GrGrz6vX_sYW8XSslv7g1RXTW92hD8w57P-TZW293LhH1PcvlHW17nbXj7zK8TnW9j9p--46d3h7W8SbZTy6HFm4XW2Jc2sW1B5xWLW3BMxgG33yRZ0W6V7nXt2TfTBSW5lMGSt8wcPz5W7cnJdD5zpBnSW27g6M24PSNBsW32msXm3GSRZ6W3TPz513CGfddN6cRDvxfMn2pW71b7-05YCC1mN6HglByPMTLdW11vp348GnBzVW4ly2ZN2sq2VPW6VKxd67pFxWlVhhv1Q5BQ6szW6ztxkG5YZSGBW66hN_b4Z8drDVmSdYr3_6TLVMnfdyqYGDlPN6q4_wD96N7mW4zyY4W8M9KCSW65kBMD2ZB6ZhW816xGf3TBB87W2xdQlD1xYY-kVPpd3z577VHrW7jl0QH2VZWDjW6h5NhY7rKZZ-W6ktmZ43P-JWYW8x-4wf5Kp3rVW8ZBnT94wv125W3gx5G44wZdf0V6lWkd2PTp1SW6wRTBt4WbxZQW6PwH9j7nZK1nW45bvWj3Tf__1W810TwX1k8_2RW8T4vgW45KGJJW5hqfyY6MG7tcVv6Z_26srFYJW28Sqj94k6s7wW5wKRJN5Z3YX3W7rg4X54p-t2kW1Nn7Tc4qMLG6W3mgSSN35GyJFN86zlkxXVTbxf730htg04">Presentation Slides</a> (BDC &amp; EMC)</li>
<li><a href="https://email.emccanada.org/e3t/Ctc/I5+113/cHcKx04/VWD7VP4T4mKnW8G4jM22vbbgjW6wcfC_5Dmps9N7Rflx69gBgxW50lwYY6lZ3n3W7mvjX42Kd3HcW3hv7vJ3mWkWwW1xd-CX9f6y3MW5-xhTw246JtKN6PvWRDKJZ1KW1smY-k2b8dnHN6KB1ScX1QjHN7TD8FSH__M9W3mQH5w6Y_6gTW3xbqn13YJxLsW74nfQZ3BmvFfW1Z81RC3RZ_R1N1c4Gy_RN7xsW2mBhdz1Ww-1zW2DFF8N7mWQ1MW1dLZbW9833lrW5pGb254p12nHW6nqfmQ4Pdjj4W4ndkbT1W0GCNN7PQNXrfcBX4W8pYBJ07WQyVsW8jRQn01Hlr74W73RXs96r2yByW8sh4Mc7228HnW4rfZvR23m7ZyW6RFd-T6DmFhVW5-0P426rdkVcW4Np6K16p5wvxN66jBlx3_3qqW6rXdzg7d_H30V1Vtss3pMJjrW68k2Cv3DVkp3W42RT3Z2qSZJ-W6CYKXR2jLbVpW6xfJrW5bgZnNW9k9BqZ4V5dmLW4WY86460K-DxW86TCDP7PF-wQVbkXp83bkYy_W2N1HhQ1-8bvwW7thVN73cbrBSN93tc1Z8jTCrW7j70Hv1pbp3gW6ht_sb4zz3z9VKR8fq1711tLW5DTXK-4TyXcrW38W6k81sGjmhW6mTs9s51h-7yW7zC3v07-jPr1N3Zn00mPfBd9W4SKl9j7MbgNRW4dn1LP6JJXM3W5YHrLg3g9bpyN8pv_LdPS0KrW38Dvxh7YhcyfW7gS6-y46b13BW38cDrm72fLtPN6gb5c0YxqjKW7Zj2Gm3d2LYWW1fhtmV1vz1JSW5ylrmS3RmK1SW7N8HSQ2_sClDW3HHSdW4zNLtkW6xt1W87ST-Qpf8PYWfY04">Presentation Recording</a></li>
<li><a href="https://email.emccanada.org/e3t/Ctc/I5+113/cHcKx04/VWD7VP4T4mKnW8G4jM22vbbgjW6wcfC_5Dmps9N7Rflzb9gBgxW95kKkH6lZ3nFW9kXFtz6jVWVsW6JRgb_8F7RlqW1blmPH3t-Pq8W8xgTx11783JNW97Psyl5rxNPBW2w0Cm-2Q2HvLW3rkM0c7xJzkYVtGV9k53CnVfW5nptTr8gD60gMNpMk1RK28tW7xl8L68mmGRvVs5rbp1kCVgnW1lpTrR8JWjzpW8c4Q9r4H_gC1W4JqBRM4-6vGNW8bydHc7kmlNrW3zXgdJ8VVMd0W1RrTgF1fF6CWW4y2_MC5F35v4W51nbl33W_R9sW2jRtfn8xPNH8N1s9CS3rSkY6N83V74tcHGbHVwpFz74nxnnGF51SYgYz5JRW6587Vx4-6kDPW70pZwF6xngfxN5j5tcCB0J6_W1-hyj83Y_PDYW84h6Bk4bsztpV_hzyM9krFQ1W14p_xW7T0xd2W73xC_Z7PB9YzW1DGykz7_0J50N957rNqY3FG8W6LJfV58Yk3LGW3Ztknk1P2WLnW3SVFRp6mZg8nVmpPT88zrCZRW53-7mY258_JDW8ZLf0g6hzL9TW9lhKKH1gVVJhW3D4slF7bfLydW7St9rg1CwWqDW2tjVZd6ZdRm1N5RV-_jh6Xb2N4Dn_CBLlBBHW5S47D248mcmKW56_LWH2pnTKPVch7CF7QTkl8W7nGj6V1TV_JtW6lrtmD6FyfsYN3Q2CpZK6jXCW2cr_106FLwFRVGYHTC6fYkHdW906d5D7JQHx6W6f71mh43cZ9BW6nm_Lh1qDpzMW7mFY3d2Gcn8VW32-fDx8t2LDnW5lT0rp24wqwKN5422D-1s9GgW3d71289hV6cFW4gZ7qc6cf-gxW94lTt45m45LvW6dLpln3KPmRHTKrB62r-9LpW1cMFgm9fp0bhW6m5H6d25XyLgN2j21mMfSx07W83MmZM7XJRwJW62wBhs7tBLYfW1ZNlkQ36BtR9W94QWMm210XDcW5WZjWg58Qhs6W6y12bh8D0fSCN5PCmRKZrMwpW7cDWYK2_Y5Ppf5vb9xH04">Manufacturing Workforce Pulse Survey Report</a></li>
</ul>
Also watch for the upcoming release of EMC’s 2026 Advanced Manufacturing Report (with Plant Magazine and Canadian Manufacturing Online), and stay connected through our Manufacturing Excellence Forums and regional working groups this Fall and throughout the year.
As I noted in the recent Fall edition of Plant Magazine, “Despite the challenges, Canadian manufacturers remain builders, problem solvers and innovators at heart. Manufacturers are not retreating from the future – they are reshaping it.”
Together, we’re helping to elevate Canadian manufacturers – building resilience, growing capabilities, and creating value from innovation, collaboration, and new opportunities.
Written by Scott McNeil-Smith is Vice President, Manufacturing Sector Performance for Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium of Canada (EMC, Canada’s largest manufacturing consortium.

Employers Struggling to Fill Critical Roles Across Sectors

Canada’s manufacturing employers are navigating a period of cautious stability—balancing optimism with ongoing challenges. EMC’s Workforce Pulse, in partnership with the Future Skills Centre and 13 other national organizations, gathered insights from over 2,145 employers, including 816 in manufacturing, to capture what’s really happening in today’s labour market.

Grounded Insight. Informed Action. A Stronger Workforce.

Highlights:
<ul>
<li>Labour shortages were structural and widespread, with skilled trades, technical, supervisory, and frontline positions in highest demand.</li>
<li>Tariff-exposed sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and transportation reported the sharpest disruption, while less exposed industries faced ongoing but different workforce challenges.</li>
<li>Despite pressures, stability prevails — fewer than 10% of employers anticipated reducing staff in the Fall 2025, while most expected to maintain or grow their workforce.</li>
</ul>
To read the complete report on all sectors, visit <a href="http://www.workforcepulse.ca">www.workforcepulse.ca</a>
To review full manufacturing report, <a href="https://5702860.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/5702860/EMC%20WORKFORCE%20PULSE%20(MANUFACTURING)%202025-09-30.pdf">visit here</a>.

Northern Ontario

Coordonnées

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