In this episode of Canada’s Economy, Explained, host Marwa Abdou explores Canada’s pivotal role as G7 and B7 president in 2025 and the country’s opportunity to lead on AI adoption and sustainability. Joining her are Tom Mosseau and Franco Amalfi from Capgemini Canada—a global consulting and technology firm—who break down the challenges and possibilities facing Canadian businesses.

Tom Mosseau points out that “legacy infrastructure, skills shortages, and investment hesitancy” continue to slow down digital transformation, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. While 61% of Canadian firms believe generative AI could reshape their business strategy, only 28% are actively integrating it into operations. Franco Amalfi raises a red flag: AI’s environmental impact is significant, with “high energy consumption, increased e-waste and water use,” yet only 12% of companies are tracking it.

Capgemini calls for a “responsible by design” approach, emphasizing smaller AI models, renewable energy, and sustainable supply chains. The episode closes by highlighting how coordinated public-private collaboration and long-term digital investment can help Canada build a competitive, ethical, and environmentally responsible economy.

Resources:
2025 B7 Communique
Key Takeaways from the B7 Summit
Capgemini – Data & AI
Capgemini – Developing sustainable Gen AI
Prompting Productivity Report