Canada and the New Geoeconomic Order

The world economy is being reshaped by a new kind of power dynamic — one where economic policy is now a tool of geopolitical influence.

Trade agreements, energy security, technological sovereignty, and climate transition are no longer separate agendas: they are parts of a single strategic fabric.

For Canada, a country built on openness and interdependence, this shift represents both a risk and an opportunity.

At Convenio, we believe Canada must redefine its competitive position in this geoeconomic order, by aligning its innovation, resource, and industrial strategies around a clear national purpose: resilient prosperity.

The End of Economic Neutrality

For decades, Canada’s prosperity relied on its ability to remain a trusted, neutral trading partner — a reliable exporter of resources, a bridge between markets.

But neutrality is no longer a viable economic stance.

The fragmentation of global supply chains, the weaponization of trade, and the race for clean energy have redefined the rules.

Economic independence now demands strategic choice: deciding where to invest, with whom to partner, and how to defend national competitiveness in an era of blocs.

Canada can no longer rely solely on openness; it must build economic sovereignty through selective interdependence.

A Shift from Trade to Strategy

Traditional trade policy focused on market access.

Geoeconomic policy focuses on power access — ensuring that nations can protect their technological advantage, secure critical resources, and control their digital infrastructure.

For Canada, this means rethinking industrial policy not as protectionism, but as positioning.

Investing in semiconductors, critical minerals, green hydrogen, and AI capacity are not sectoral bets; they are strategic imperatives.

In this new order, the winners will be those who integrate economic, technological, and environmental strategies into a coherent national value proposition.

Innovation as a Sovereign Asset

Canada’s innovation ecosystem — universities, startups, and creative industries — remains one of its strongest assets.

But innovation without scale creates brilliance without impact.

To thrive in a geoeconomic world, Canada must turn innovation into industrial advantage.

That requires coordination between government, private sector, and academia — a “Team Canada” model of coherence.

It also requires embracing risk, rewarding investment in deep tech, and accelerating public–private partnerships that transform ideas into value chains.

Innovation is no longer just an economic goal — it’s a geopolitical defense strategy.

Energy, Climate, and Credibility

Canada’s energy and environmental transition will define its credibility in the global economy.

Balancing energy independence with climate responsibility is not a contradiction; it’s a strategic necessity.

The challenge is to move from defensive narratives (“not as bad as others”) to proactive leadership — exporting clean technologies, electrification expertise, and sustainable resource management.

By aligning environmental policy with competitiveness, Canada can become not just a supplier of energy, but a supplier of solutions.

Conclusion

The new geoeconomic order rewards clarity, speed, and coherence.

Canada’s long-term competitiveness will depend on its ability to think as a system, not a sum of sectors.

This means uniting its industrial, environmental, and innovation policies under one strategic vision: building resilience not through isolation, but through intelligent interdependence.

Because in this century, power will belong not to the biggest economies — but to those who are most coherent in purpose.

“Economic power is no longer measured by size or resources, but by coherence — the ability to align innovation, sovereignty, and sustainability in a single strategy.” — Martin Lessard, President, Convenio