Canadian tech advocacy group’s new CEO pledges more support for businesses as Trump releases U.S. national security strategy

The Canadian Council of Innovators' new CEO Patrick Searle says 2026 will be consequential for Canadian businessesYou can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.The Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI) will have a new chief executive in 2026 as the non-profit business advocacy group deals with ongoing trade tensions with the United States and as the federal government launches new technology initiatives.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Patrick Searle, who has served as CCI’s vice-president of corporate affairs since 2022, will become CEO in January, when current chief executive Benjamin Bergen, who was CCI’s first employee in 2016, steps down to lead the Canadian Venture Capital Association.“I’m excited for the next chapter and big shift of CCI, which is becoming more the voice of Canadian business and not only for tech,” he said. “The economy has shifted. These days, every company is a tech company. It’s important to have institutions like CCI that are solely representative of Canadian-headquartered companies.”Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.The CCI currently represents 175 businesses, largely high-growth scale-ups spanning industries from finance and banking to health, housing and legal, such as quantum computing company Xanadu Technologies Inc. and legal tech firm Themis Solutions Inc., better known as Clio.Searle said 2026 will be consequential for Canadian businesses as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) renegotiations play out and as the federal government releases its updated national strategy on artificial intelligence (AI) and announces a major quantum computing initiative.National security policy will also play a role in CCI’s thinking. The U.S. last week announced its national security strategy, with the goal of being “the world’s strongest, most dynamic, most innovative and most advanced economy” by tying its technological and economic strength to its sovereignty and national security.“If we take anything away from (the U.S.’s announcement) last week, it’s that they have shifted their view that technology companies are national security assets. We do not have the same view in Canada,” Searle said. “Our job at CCI is to make sure that the government is having those important conversations. The moment is now to recalibrate and reorient; (otherwise), we’re going to be left behind in the next race.”Jim Balsillie, CCI chair and former co-CEO of BlackBerry Ltd., who helped found CCI alongside venture capitalist John Ruffolo in 2015, agreed with Searle.“Trump has cranked up the unilateral nationalist behaviour. Canada needs to come up with a plan and I’ve not seen it yet,” he said, adding that Ottawa’s latest budget offered more of the status quo.“The budget was an ideal opportunity to reorient, but there’s nothing on data as an economic asset. There’s nothing of any real consequence for artificial intelligence and nothing on intellectual property. The stakes just got higher and the CCI is going to continue to advocate for this reorientation.”Searle, who joined CCI in 2017 as director of communications, has helped the organization develop its flagship projects and events, such as the annual Canada CEO Summit and executive leadership training program.The CCI has also broadened its lobbying mandate in recent months.In October, it launched Signa Strategies, a for-profit business staffed by the CCI team, to help Canadian small- and mid-sized companies lobby the federal and provincial governments. The new entity is a way to offer additional support — such as personalized meetings with policymakers — for its members, Searle said.Under Signa and the CCI’s partnership terms, the former’s earnings will help bankroll the council’s programs and events; the business will also share information with the CCI.“Our vision is to help Canadian companies out-navigate foreign incumbents that are sophisticated and savvy in navigating governments in Ottawa and across the country,” he said.Balsillie in January also donated $10 million to set up the Canadian Shield Institute, a think tank dedicated to public policy research on national security, industrial strategy, and innovation.“This is the big moment for Canadians and our government to wake up to these tough conversations we need to have about what sovereignty in Canada looks like in 2026 and beyond,” Searle said. “I’m confident that 2026 will be the year of sovereignty.”• Email: ylau@postmedia.com Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. 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