Candid Conversations for Financial Markets

This podcast sets out the impact of tokenization as a reconfiguration of specific parts of the capital markets value chain from issuance through to post-trade. It addresses where the frictions, skepticisms and opportunities lie. Duane Block, Managing Director with Alvarez & Marsal’s Crypto Advisory practice in Chicago speaks about why tokenization matters and its impact on market structure. Th...

Corporate spinoffs—known in Canada as “butterflies”—are a powerful tool for unblocking capital and sharpening competition. They let companies separate business lines so each can focus, invest, and compete more effectively. In this episode we explain how spinoffs work in Canada and the U.S., why they matter for competition and capital markets, and what policy and tax design should do to make sure b...

Based on the Competition Bureau’s “Your Data, Your Control,” this episode connects policy to day-to-day outcomes. Canada is moving toward “your data, your rules.” That shift could reshape how you bank, shop, and compare prices. The big idea: data portability lets you take your information with you securely so switching providers is easy, competition heats up, and better products show up faster. Th...

Tokenization—the representation of financial and private assets as digital tokens on a blockchain or distributed ledger—is moving from concept to reality. Across the financial services landscape, tokenization is more than a technological shift but emerging as a structural evolution with the potential to fundamentally transform how financial products are created, distributed, and serviced. Join us ...

Flow-through shares are a uniquely Canadian financing mechanism at the intersection of tax policy, capital formation, and resource strategy. This episode will provide a focused perspective on the funding gap they were designed to solve and their ability mobilize capital for critical minerals including rare earths. Guest Geoff Clarke Partner, Miller Thomson LLP

Why do some exchanges consistently attract more listings while others struggle to get noticed? In this episode we explore: What truly shapes the frequency and size of IPOs globally. How policymakers, regulators, and exchanges can create conditions that boost listings. Practical lessons for market participants navigating today’s and tomorrow’s capital markets. Guest Dr. Pedro Gurrola-Perez Head of...

Prediction markets are no longer on the fringes — they are moving towards the financial mainstream. Platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket have experienced rapid growth by allowing investors to buy and sell event contracts tied to real-world outcomes — elections, policy decisions, inflation prints, regulatory rulings, even championship games — turning uncertainty into a marketable asset. In the U...

Stablecoins are growing fast — but is Canada ready? In this episode of Candid Conversations for Financial Markets, CCFIMPresident and CEO Laura Paglia is joined by Dr. Andreas Veneris, Professor of Finance at the University of Toronto and co-founder of the LedgerHub at Rotman.

Market data is no longer just a by-product — it’s become one of the most expensive necessities in Canadian capital markets. In this episode of Candid Conversations for Financial Markets, CFFiM President and CEO Laura Paglia is joined by R. Tee Williams, a global expert in market structure and data pricing, to break down the tangled costs behind something as simple as a stock quote.

In Episode 5 (Part 2) of Candid Conversations for Financial Markets, IIAC President and CEO Laura Paglia continues her discussion with Senator Colin Deacon on how to rebuild Canada’s competitiveness. This half focuses on real-world solutions: how Canada can strengthen its innovation ecosystem, attract domestic investment, support entrepreneurship, and modernize its regulatory framework.

In Episode 4 (Part 1) of Candid Conversations for Financial Markets, IIAC President and CEO Laura Paglia sits down with Senator Colin Deacon to discuss why Canada's economy is losing ground in global competitiveness. Senator Deacon outlines the historic policy decisions, regulatory burdens, and complacency that have led to declining productivity and weakened innovation.

How is Canada positioned in the global race for energy and clean tech innovation? In Episode 2 of Candid Conversations for Financial Markets , IIAC President and CEO Laura Paglia speaks with Professor Ari Pandes (University of Calgary) about the future of Canada’s oil & gas sector, clean tech growth, and energy market dynamics between Canada and the U.S.

Canada’s public equity markets are at a turning point. In this premiere episode of Candid Conversations for Financial Markets , IIAC President and CEO Laura Paglia sits down with Thomas Kalafatis , Managing Partner of Hullwright Advisors, to examine the dramatic decline in TSX listings—down 50% since 2008—and what’s behind this hollowing out of the market.