The Right Move at the Right Time

A New Canadian Industrial Strategy
June, 2025
By Travis Southin, Bentley Allan, Chris Bataille, Marisa Beck, Michael Bernstein, Aaron Cosbey, Michael Mehling, Nancy Olewiler, Rachel Samson, Dave Sawyer, Barbara Zvan

The recent Speech from the Throne enunciated an overarching priority: to build the strongest economy in the G7. We believe Canada is facing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do that. But the focus must be broader than projects—or rather, by “projects” we should mean more than infrastructure projects, broadening our vision to include focused nation-building efforts to drive lasting prosperity in the technologies and sectors of the future.

Released jointly by the Transition Accelerator and the Commission on Carbon Competitiveness (C3), this report offers a new strategic approach to address long-standing problems of under-performance on productivity and innovation, and foster enduring prosperity through Canada-based growth opportunities. Its recommendations apply to novel sectors such as mass timber and EV battery supply chains, as well as to legacy sectors such as steel and cement.

While the scope is industrial policy generally, it is clear that many of the most important growth opportunities involve claiming a share of the burgeoning global low-carbon markets of the future. With the US abandoning pursuit of those markets, now is an opportune time for Canada to step up as a stable destination for investment in our abundant resources and innovative clean technologies.

About the Author

Travis Southin, PhD

Future Economy Lead

Travis Southin has deep expertise on the role of innovation and industrial policy in facilitating the transition to a net-zero economy, with a particular focus on scaling Canadian cleantech firms. Prior to joining the Transition Accelerator, he provided analysis and policy recommendations for the Net-Zero Advisory Body.

Travis has worked with James Meadowcroft as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Carleton University’s School of Public Policy and Administration. His research examined the politics of innovation policy and the broader role of the state in facilitating the transition to a net-zero economy in Canada and Australia. Travis completed a PhD in Political Science from the University of Toronto working with David Wolfe at the Innovation Policy Lab of the Munk School for Global Affairs. His dissertation, titled “Overcoming Barriers to Policy Change: The Politics of Canada’s Innovation Policy,” illuminates the political barriers constraining the Government of Canada’s ability to shift its innovation policy mix away from neutral/horizontal policy instruments, such as research and development tax credits, towards more targeted innovation policy instruments, such as large-scale direct grants, loans, and public procurement.

More

Southin, T. et al. (2025). The Right Move at the Right Time: A new Canadian industrial strategy. International Institute for Sustainable Development, Clean Prosperity, Canadian Climate Institute, and The Transition Accelerator. Version 1.0