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Ep 39: Skills, Supply Chains, and National Resilience - Canada's Manufacturing Renaissance
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This is part 2 of my conversation on all things manufacturing and industrialization with Alex Greco, Senior Director of Manufacturing and Value Chains at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
Manufacturing's future in Canada hinges not on machines but on people. The sector faces what Alex describes as a "skills mismatch" rather than just a labor shortage. While companies struggle to find workers, the real challenge lies in finding people with the right skills in data analysis, cybersecurity, electronics, and robotics that modern manufacturing demands.
Solving this requires a multi-faceted approach, says Alex and includes developing programs directly linked to industry needs, creating ongoing learning and reskilling initiatives for current workers, expanding STEM and trades education in schools, and aligning immigration policies to bring in high-demand skilled workers. A national workforce strategy emerges as the critical missing piece—one that introduces manufacturing to students early, streamlines credential recognition, and creates clear career pathways into the sector.
Alex also points to the power of government procurement and how it represents a powerful yet underutilized tool for building manufacturing resilience. With federal spending around $20 billion annually, shifting from low-cost to strategic purchasing could drive demand for domestic innovation. Reforming the RFP process to incentivize local content and partnerships with Canadian companies would give manufacturers the runway they need to scale new technologies.
As Greco puts it, "Every dollar spent by government is a vote for the kind of economy we want." This philosophy extends to addressing forced labor in supply chains and building defense manufacturing capabilities to meet Canada's ambitious NATO commitments.
The path forward requires coherence and urgency—building not just for trade, but for Canada's economic future across all provinces and territories.
Quick heads up, this episode was recorded on August 6, 2025 so while the news may have changed since this conversation was recorded the thoughts and ideas still remain relevant.
Check out the Canadian Chamber of Commerce's Work:
What a ‘patent box’ is and why it can help solve Canada’s productivity problem - The Globe and Mail
Q&A: Curing Our Productivity Paralysis Will Require Incentives, Innovation and IP - Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Canada’s next move starts a few thousand feet below the ground - The Hill
Canada-U.S. Trade Tracker - Business Data Lab
How to Undermine U.S. Manufacturing: Debunking Aluminum Tariff Myths - Business Data Lab
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By Julia PennellaSend us a text
This is part 2 of my conversation on all things manufacturing and industrialization with Alex Greco, Senior Director of Manufacturing and Value Chains at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
Manufacturing's future in Canada hinges not on machines but on people. The sector faces what Alex describes as a "skills mismatch" rather than just a labor shortage. While companies struggle to find workers, the real challenge lies in finding people with the right skills in data analysis, cybersecurity, electronics, and robotics that modern manufacturing demands.
Solving this requires a multi-faceted approach, says Alex and includes developing programs directly linked to industry needs, creating ongoing learning and reskilling initiatives for current workers, expanding STEM and trades education in schools, and aligning immigration policies to bring in high-demand skilled workers. A national workforce strategy emerges as the critical missing piece—one that introduces manufacturing to students early, streamlines credential recognition, and creates clear career pathways into the sector.
Alex also points to the power of government procurement and how it represents a powerful yet underutilized tool for building manufacturing resilience. With federal spending around $20 billion annually, shifting from low-cost to strategic purchasing could drive demand for domestic innovation. Reforming the RFP process to incentivize local content and partnerships with Canadian companies would give manufacturers the runway they need to scale new technologies.
As Greco puts it, "Every dollar spent by government is a vote for the kind of economy we want." This philosophy extends to addressing forced labor in supply chains and building defense manufacturing capabilities to meet Canada's ambitious NATO commitments.
The path forward requires coherence and urgency—building not just for trade, but for Canada's economic future across all provinces and territories.
Quick heads up, this episode was recorded on August 6, 2025 so while the news may have changed since this conversation was recorded the thoughts and ideas still remain relevant.
Check out the Canadian Chamber of Commerce's Work:
What a ‘patent box’ is and why it can help solve Canada’s productivity problem - The Globe and Mail
Q&A: Curing Our Productivity Paralysis Will Require Incentives, Innovation and IP - Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Canada’s next move starts a few thousand feet below the ground - The Hill
Canada-U.S. Trade Tracker - Business Data Lab
How to Undermine U.S. Manufacturing: Debunking Aluminum Tariff Myths - Business Data Lab