Now entering its 17th year, Life Sciences Ontario’s Ideas to Action Forum returns in September 2026 as the premier gathering for leaders across industry, academia, and government to shape the future of Ontario’s health innovation ecosystem.
Get ready for TED-style talks, high-impact audience engagement sessions, and a political pundit panel diving into real talk behind science policy, funding, and global collaboration. With a sharp focus on Ontario’s global advantage, the future of collaboration, and navigating science in a new world order, this year’s Forum promises fresh insights and bold ideas.
From dissecting misinformation and the “attack on science,” to addressing the economic realities facing the sector, to spotlighting advanced therapeutics and biomanufacturing, Ideas to Action is where real conversations drive real change.
Whether you’re leading strategy, shaping policy, or championing innovation, this is the room you want to be in.
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Time: 8 A.M – 6 P.M
Venue: The Arcadian, 401 Bay Street, Simpson Tower, 8th Floor, Toronto
TICKETS (All prices + HST)
Regular
- Members: $300
- Non-members: $400
- Government / Registered Charities / Full-time Students: $150
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact leela@lifesciencesontario.ca
Program
| 8:00-
8:30 am |
Registration & Networking Breakfast
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| 8:30- 8:40 am | Welcome Remarks
Jason Field, President and CEO, Life Sciences Ontario |
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| 8:40- 8:50 am | Special Announcement | ||||||||
| 8:50- 9:00 am | Opening Remarks
Speaker: Honourable Victor Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade |
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| 9:00- 9:45 am | Keynote Address
Speaker: Dr. Dante Morra, Founder and CEO, CAN Health Network |
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| 9:45- 10:35 am | Cross Ministry Panel: Health Innovation Pathways and FAST Pilot Update
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Speakers
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| 10:35-10:55 am | Morning Networking Break
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| 10:55-11:25 am | Nuclear Medicine as a National Strategic Asset
This TED-style talk will explore Canada’s leadership in nuclear medicine and the strategic role it can play in advancing health, innovation and economic resilience. From medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals to next-generation diagnostics and targeted therapies, Canada has significant capabilities across the nuclear medicine value chain. The session will highlight how continued investment in research, manufacturing infrastructure, talent and commercialization can strengthen patient care, reinforce secure domestic supply chains and position Canada as a global leader in this rapidly growing area of life sciences. Speaker: Melody Greaves, Executive Director and Vice President Government Relations, Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council
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| 11:25 am – 12:25 pm | Protecting Canada’s Life Sciences Sovereignty
This discussion will be system-level sovereignty discussion that will integrate MFN, tariffs, and trade issues into holistic conversation about how Canada can protect and grow its life sciences sector under ongoing U.S. pressure (bipartisan and long-term). What are the implications for clinical trials, innovation, and market access in Canada? How Canada can move from reactive responses to a proactive sovereignty strategy in health and life sciences (seeing health as an investment not just a cost) Moderator: Ryan Wiley, President, Shift Health
Panelists:
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| 12:25- 1:25 pm | Buffet Lunch | ||||||||
| 1:25- 2:25 pm | Unfiltered: Hot Takes on Policy, Innovation, and the Future
Moderator: Parimal Nathwani, Managing Partner, Life Sciences Venture Fund, BDC Panelists: – Brian Bloom, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Bloom Burton – Anne Woods, Managing Director, Life Science & Healthcare, RBCx – Cate Murray, Stem Cell Network |
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| 2:25- 2:55 pm | VITAL: A Nation-Building Project for Health Data
Health data is national infrastructure. Just as railways and highways once connected and strengthened Canada, VITAL is a vanguard investment in health data infrastructure that will underpin the AI era. Building on Ontario’s GEMINI hospital data research network, VITAL is scaling nationally through a landmark $210M investment connecting data from hospitals covering >80% of Canadians. This session makes the case for health data as critical infrastructure: infrastructure that underpins Canada’s sovereignty, fuels innovation and competitiveness, and accelerates clinical trials, made-in-Canada AI, and better patient outcomes, all while maintaining rigorous privacy protections. Speaker: Dr. Fahad Razak, Co-Lead, VITAL; Internist and Scientist, Unity Health Toronto |
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| 2:55- 3:15 pm | Afternoon Break | ||||||||
| 3:15- 3:45 pm | Unleashing Canadian agriculture for economic growth and better health outcomes
Canada’s agriculture and food industry goes largely unnoticed despite being one of Canada’s most significant economic drivers and underpinning our national food security. Innovation has made Canadian agriculture more productive and sustainable than it has ever been with great promise to support better health outcomes for Canadians and a more resilient food system in the face of changing climate conditions. With the right regulatory conditions Canadian agriculture has significant opportunities for growth that stand to benefit all Canadians. Speaker: Pierre Petelle, President and CEO,Crop Life Canada |
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| 3:45- 4:45 pm | Political Pundits Panel
Strategists from across the political spectrum sit down for a candid read on what’s next for life sciences policy, from federal-provincial alignment to the political moments on the horizon, including the federal budget and the shifting Canada-U.S. dynamic. Moderator: – Michelle McLean, President and CEO, HealthCareCAN Panelist: – Jason Lietaer, President, Enterprise Canada – Jordan Leichnitz, Political Advisor, Curse of Politics – Sarah Letersky, Senior Vice President, Rubicon Strategy – Vandana Kattar, CBC Political Commentator |
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| 4:45- 4:50 pm | Closing Remarks (Government)
Honourable Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health
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| 4:50- 5:00 pm | Close the Day & Next Steps from Committee Co-Chairs
Isra Wani, Government Relations and Policy Lead, Ontario Jill Kennedy, Director, Government Affairs and Market Access (Canada) Matthew Bureau, Director, Government Affairs, Ontario and Western Canada
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| 5:00- 6:00 pm | Networking Reception
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