Ottawa is experiencing a defining moment. Across our city, leaders are grappling with rapid technological change, global economic uncertainty, a downtown in transition, and a federal workforce undergoing transformation. At the same time, Canada is doubling down on productivity, innovation, defence, clean energy, and long-term competitiveness. Rarely are national priorities and local opportunity so tightly aligned. For Ottawa’s business community, this is not a time for caution or passivity. It is a time for leadership.
As President and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade, I see daily how this convergence is reshaping the decisions businesses are making about investment, talent, automation, market expansion, and location. I also see the urgency of ensuring Ottawa does not simply react to change but actively shapes it. Our capital must remain competitive, vibrant, and globally relevant, and that will only happen if the business community is organized, influential, and at the table when critical decisions are made.
In 2026, the OBOT agenda is firmly anchored in this reality. We are championing a bold vision for a revitalized downtown that is not dependent on federal office occupancy alone, but animated by residents, culture, innovation, tourism, and private investment. We are advancing Ottawa’s role as a global centre for defence and security innovation, and as a leader in clean, reliable energy that supports both economic growth and climate responsibility. We are advocating for modern infrastructure, from transit and goods movement to digital connectivity, that allows people, products, and ideas to move efficiently in a competitive global economy. And we are pressing for the policies that matter most to business competitiveness: smart regulation, competitive taxation, faster approvals, and a fiscal environment that supports growth rather than constrains it.
This work is not abstract. It directly affects whether companies choose to scale here, whether talent chooses to build their lives here, whether global firms see Ottawa as a first-choice destination, and whether our downtown becomes a magnet for opportunity once again. It also determines whether our region can fully leverage federal investment in innovation, defence, and productivity at a time when capital and talent are more mobile than ever.
That is why OBOT membership matters more now than at any point in recent history. In a period of rapid policy change and major investment decisions, sitting on the sidelines is not a neutral position. Membership means your voice helps shape the business positions we advance with municipal, provincial, and federal leaders. It means access to timely intelligence, decision-makers, and peer networks at a moment when insight and influence are strategic assets. And it means practical support that helps businesses manage costs, find partners, and identify opportunities in a fast-moving economy.
Ottawa has everything it needs to succeed on the global stage: world-class institutions, a highly educated workforce, a thriving innovation ecosystem, and an exceptional quality of life. The question is not whether the potential exists. The question is whether we, as a business community, will step forward collectively to realize it.
Joining the Ottawa Board of Trade this year is more than connection, more than an investment in visibility, influence, and business growth. It is a statement that your business intends to help shape Ottawa’s future, not simply adapt to it. It is a commitment to leadership, collaboration, and to building a capital city that is competitive, resilient, and prosperous for generations to come. Join us today by visiting https://www.ottawabot.ca/membership/why-be-a-member/.
This is Ottawa’s next chapter. Now is the moment to help write it, and to take your place among the leaders building what comes next.