The Empire Club of Canada
Hybrid
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
As Canada approaches the 2026 review of the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), Ontario stands at the centre of a defining national challenge. In an era marked by rising protectionism, geopolitical instability, and intensifying competition for capital, talent, and industrial capacity, the decisions made now on trade, energy, supply chains, and investment will shape Ontario’s competitiveness — and Canada’s economic trajectory — for years to come.
On Wednesday, October 14, the Empire Club of Canada is pleased to welcome back The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, for a keynote address entitled “Protecting Ontario, Building Canada: Leadership in a Defining Moment.” At this pivotal event, Premier Ford will set out Ontario’s strategy to strengthen economic resilience, protect key sectors, and help shape a stronger, more coordinated Canadian position as North America enters a consequential new phase of trade and industrial realignment.
His address will be followed by a fireside conversation with Dr. Andrew Furey, Former Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and Vice Chair, National Bank, bringing a national perspective to the urgent questions facing governments, business leaders, and investors alike. Together, they will examine the role of provincial leadership in advancing interprovincial cooperation, securing strategic supply chains, unlocking major projects, and positioning Canada to compete with greater confidence in an increasingly fragmented global economy.
Ahead of the return of the Ontario Legislature, this event comes at a consequential moment for economic strategy, national cohesion, and investor confidence. For policy insiders and business leaders, it will offer a timely window into how Ontario intends to protect its interests, influence the national agenda, and help build Canada’s next chapter of growth.
Join us for this timely and high-level conversation on the economic choices, trade dynamics, and provincial leadership that will help define Ontario’s future — and Canada’s place in a changing world.
Premier Doug Ford is a builder.
As a businessman, he built a successful company.
As a Toronto city councillor, he championed building subways and kept costs down for families.
As premier of Ontario, he is building roads, highways and transit for a growing province. He’s building a stronger economy with 700,000 more jobs and is attracting game-changing investments to build electric vehicles and batteries right here in Ontario.
Premier Ford is passionate about the Etobicoke neighborhood where he grew up. He is a dedicated husband to Karla and a proud father of four daughters.
Dr. Andrew Furey is Vice Chair of National Bank of Canada, where he works across the organization to support strategic growth initiatives, client development, public policy engagement, major project origination, and executive-level relationships across Canada and internationally.
A physician, executive, humanitarian, and former Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, Dr. Furey brings a unique combination of leadership experience spanning government, healthcare, capital markets, economic development, infrastructure, energy, and international affairs.
As Premier, Dr. Furey led some of the most consequential economic and policy initiatives in Newfoundland and Labrador’s history. His accomplishments included leadership of the Churchill Falls hydroelectric negotiations, securing a $5.2 billion federal rate mitigation agreement, advancing a new memorandum of understanding with
Québec related to future hydroelectric development, supporting the long-term sustainability of Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore oil and gas industry, and helping establish the province as a leader in the emerging wind-to-hydrogen sector.
Throughout his tenure, he led the province through the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing upon his graduate training in Clinical Epidemiology and evidence-based decision-making. His government implemented fiscal and economic measures that contributed to a credit rating upgrade and improved investor confidence in the province.
Dr. Furey developed extensive relationships with senior political, business, and institutional leaders across Canada and internationally. He chaired the Council of Atlantic Premiers and worked closely with federal and provincial governments on economic development, trade, energy, infrastructure, healthcare, and intergovernmental relations. He has worked alongside Canadian prime ministers, provincial premiers, Indigenous leaders, global investors, and international partners to advance major economic and public policy initiatives.
Prior to entering public office, Dr. Furey established a distinguished career in medicine as an Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon. He completed fellowship training at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital and has served as Chief of Orthopaedics for Eastern Health and Associate Professor of Surgery at Memorial University. He continues to maintain an active clinical practice and is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Memorial University
Beyond medicine and public service, Dr. Furey is the founder of Team Broken Earth, one of Canada’s largest physician-led humanitarian organizations. Under his leadership, the organization expanded from a single mission to a global humanitarian initiative involving more than 1,000 volunteers delivering medical care and disaster relief in underserved and crisis-affected regions around the world.
Dr. Furey currently serves on a number of corporate and not-for-profit boards and advises organizations on strategy, governance, public policy, stakeholder engagement, major projects, and growth opportunities. His experience spans government, healthcare, financial services, infrastructure, energy, mining, technology, and international development.
Dr. Furey holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc), Master of Science (MSc), and Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Memorial University of Newfoundland. He completed fellowship training in Orthopaedic Trauma at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC). He also holds a Diploma in Organizational Leadership from the University of Oxford.
He is the author of Hope in the Balance: A Newfoundland Doctor Meets a World in Crisis and has received numerous honours, including Memorial University Alumnus of the Year, the King Charles III Coronation Medal, an Honorary Doctorate from Canadian University Dubai, and the Canadian Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year Award.
