Talent is the platform we need to meet this moment.

Dana Stephenson argues that Canada’s ability to navigate today’s economic and geopolitical challenges hinges on talent — the country’s most valuable resource. He stresses that while Canada has one of the most educated workforces in the world, underutilized skills and short-term funding models are holding back productivity. To address this, he calls for long-term, evidence-based investment in talent infrastructure, comparing it to past nation-building investments like railways and pipelines. He points to Riipen’s Level UP program as an example of how scalable, inclusive work-based learning can equip students with real-world experience, help employers identify skills gaps, and ultimately strengthen Canada’s economy.