**Industry Minister Mélanie Joly spoke at the Canadian Club of Toronto on Oct. 9, outlining Canada’s industrial strategy. / SCREENSHOT**

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly outlined what she called Canada’s “plan for industrial leadership” in a major economic address at the Canadian Club of Toronto on Thursday, emphasizing the need to “protect, create, and attract” in order to secure the country’s future prosperity amid rising global tensions.

Joly framed economic growth as a matter of national security, emphasizing that “economic strength is the backbone of national strength” in a world where trade relationships and alliances are increasingly uncertain. She laid out a three-pillar strategy: protect Canadian industries and jobs, create new opportunities, and attract talent and investment.

On the first pillar, protecting domestic industries, Joly highlighted targeted support for sectors affected by tariffs, including steel, aluminum and autos. “We won’t let these industries down, and we will do that for the sake of our workers, of our industries and for our nation.”

The second pillar focuses on creating jobs through defence investments, major projects and the development of Canadian champions. Joly emphasized the role of procurement in creating employment, stating, “Companies would rather have contracts than subsidies from the government.”

Joly also underscored the importance of nurturing Canadian champions like CGI, CAE, Bombardier and Maple Leaf Foods to expand both domestic and international influence. “Why? Obviously to create jobs here at home, obviously to create jobs around the world, but in a much more complicated world, what do we need? We need to increase our influence,” she said. “We need more soft power, and that is why building strong Canadian companies is important, and we will make sure that we open markets for them, that we promote them, that we help them grow. And ultimately that they're strong at home and abroad."

The third pillar, attracting talent and investment, aims to draw global expertise while supporting homegrown talent. “Our goal is to attract the best talent on Earth and to grow even more our homegrown talent,” she said, also emphasizing de-risking investment and improving permitting processes would help Canada offer “a stable environment with no surprises” to investors.

Joly said businesses and government must work together. “These are real investments in real people that will generate real growth right here at home. We have a generational challenge to solve, but a generational opportunity,” she said.