The Empire Club of Canada
Hybrid
Friday, September 26, 2025
Building the Economy of the Future and The AI Nation: The Urgent Mission to make Canada AI and Quantum Strong
The future of economic prosperity and security will be determined by the revolutionary technologies AI and Quantum. From healthcare to defence to public services, AI and quantum will transform how government serves Canadians, reshaping nearly every corner of society. Canada needs to secure its place as a pioneering leader in both fields and build on our competitive advantages in research, talent and energy.
At this pivotal moment, The Empire Club of Canada will host The Honourable Evan Solomon, Canada’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, for a keynote speech and fireside chat on how Canada will become an AI and Quantum Nation. He will speak about the plan to build the capacity, sovereignty, and global partnerships needed to lead in the next technological era. This conversation will be moderated by Nicole MacIntyre, Editor-in-chief of the Toronto Star.
Please join us on Friday September 26th, 2025!
The Honourable Evan Solomon
Canada’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation
Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre
The Honourable Evan Solomon was appointed Canada’s first Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation in 2025. He also serves as Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and is the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre.
Solomon is no stranger to turning moments of profound change into opportunities to build a better future for Canadians. Before entering public life, he forged a dynamic career as both entrepreneur and journalist. He co-founded Shift magazine, a pioneering publication on technology and culture that captured the spirit of a digital generation. From there, he built a reputation as one of Canada’s most recognized journalists.
For more than two decades, Solomon was a trusted voice in Canadian media. As the acclaimed host of CTV’s Power Play and Question Period, and CBC’s Power & Politics, he earned a reputation for incisive analysis and fearless interviews. His work as a columnist for Maclean’s and The Globe and Mail, as well as his role as publisher of GZERO Media and senior executive at Eurasia Group, made him a fixture not just on Canadian airwaves but among global leaders seeking clarity amid complexity.
A bestselling author, Solomon has penned works including Fueling the Future and Feeding the Future. His contributions to Canadian public life have been recognized with the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
At what he has called a “hinge moment” for the country, Solomon returned to public service to help Canada seize the opportunities of artificial intelligence, quantum, and digital technologies—determined to build a trusted, sovereign digital future that delivers better services for Canadians.
Solomon is a proud graduate of McGill University, where he studied English literature and religious studies. He lives in Toronto with his wife and is the devoted father of two children.
Nicole MacIntyre is the Editor-in-chief of the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest daily newspaper. She joined the paper in 2021 as a managing editor, returning nearly two decades after she was part of the Star’s esteemed one-year internship program that has launched many of the country’s top journalists. Previously, Nicole served as the deputy national editor and Toronto editor at the Globe and Mail. In the early years of her career, Nicole was an enterprising reporter covering crime and municipal politics in several of Ontario’s largest metro newsrooms.
