Making it in Ontario

 Given the ongoing potential for tariffs and trade negotiations with the United States, we’re bringing back an episode that’s increasingly relevant and that you might have missed when it premiered during the holiday rush. This episode features numbers from Trillium’s newly released Automotive Trade Data Bulletin. Hosts Brendan Sweeney and Michelle Samson discuss where Canadian-made cars are sold,...

As we come to the end of Trump’s first week in office, with the tariff question live but (as yet) unresolved, we’re exploring the varying degrees of trade dependence of Canada’s manufacturing industries. Drawing from a Trillium Network Data Bulletin, the data shows that some are highly reliant on international trade, while others are far less so. Find out which industries are most and least expose...

Season 11 is kicking off with one of the most important people in Canadian manufacturing today. Rob Wildeboer is the Executive Chair of Vaughan-based Martinrea International, one of the few Canadian companies that consistently make the Auto News ‘Top 100’ Global suppliers list. As we enter what’s sure to be a dynamic year for politics and industry, Rob shares frank opinions on trade & tariffs,...

For the season finale of Making it in Ontario, we’re getting feedback on the season’s top takeaways from a real-life advanced manufacturer who’s on the floor daily dealing with productivity, strategy, workforce, and trade challenges. What does he think of the ideas shared by our previous guests? Are they practical for someone running an SME? Our guest is Ben Whitney, the President of Armo Tool and...

As we approach the end of 2024 and the end of this season of Making it in Ontario, we’re taking inspiration from Spotify and presenting a special “Wrapped” episode. Season 10 featured titans from across the advanced manufacturing ecosystem, and this episode compiles their most cutting-edge, insightful, and necessary takeaways. 01:52 NGen’s Jayson Myers: University Programs for Manufacturing 03:24...

This episode of Making it in Ontario features hot off the press numbers from Trillium’s newly released Auto Trade Data Bulletin. Hosts Brendan Sweeney and Michelle Samson discuss where Canadian-made cars are sold, the sources of cars bought in Canada, and the cross-border movement of automotive parts. With hard facts, they directly address a persistent claim (or is it a myth?) about the number of...

In this episode, hosts Brendan Sweeney and Michelle Samson discuss productivity, advanced technology adoption, skills development, and red tape with Toronto Region Board of Trade CEO Giles Gherson. Giles highlights the need for better planning, streamlined regulations, initiatives to support small and medium-sized manufacturers (including a new manufacturing technology hub), and how the TRBOT is b...

In this episode, we welcome back Michelle Sangster, CHRO of Eclipse Automation and a Managing Director at Accenture, to explore the evolution of the company since its acquisition by Accenture. Topics include manufacturing innovation, workforce development, industry partnerships, and the growing importance of nuclear power. When it comes to HR, Michelle highlights the importance of authenticity, di...

In this episode, Jean Marc Leclerc, President and CEO of Honda Canada, discusses Honda's recent announcement of the largest manufacturing investment in Canada's history, focusing on electrification, sustainability, and innovation. Additionally, Jean Marc shares insights on workforce development, leadership during crises, and the importance of partnerships and collaborations. The episode concludes...

This episode features Dennis Darby, the CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME). Our wide-ranging conversation covers CME’s role in making the most out of Canada’s trade relationships with the United States and Mexico, CME's work on the Ontario Advanced Manufacturing Strategy Council, the ROI associated with manufacturing, and why robots won't take our jobs. Stay for a fun piece of Ott...

This episode of 'Making it in Ontario' features Jim Stanford, an economist and Director of the Centre for Future Work. We discuss the resilience of Canada's automotive industry through economic highs and lows and the existential implications of China's rise in the electric vehicle market. All this before getting into a substantial discussion of what a “good” manufacturing job is, how to prioritize...

A new report on the current state of manufacturing in Ontario reveals that, compared to ten years ago, the sector is doing better in some ways, and worse in others. The conclusion is that now more than ever, we need a strategy to guide the industry to new heights. In this episode of 'Making it in Ontario,' hosts Michelle Samson and Brendan Sweeney offer a first look at Trillium’s proposed strategy...

Productivity in Ontario's manufacturing sector is the subject of Part 2 of our chat with NGen CEO Jason Myers. The conversation revolves around a new joint report by NGen and the Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing addressing Canada's “productivity problem”. The episode highlights the importance of understanding productivity to solve it, different ways to measure productivity, and the role...

This episode features an in-depth discussion with Scott MacKenzie, Director of Corporate and External Affairs at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada. We cover a lot of ground, including his take on how the automotive industry in Ontario has changed over the past 25 years, Toyota's approach to electrification, a glimpse inside Toyota's battery plant Japan, the automotive industry labour market, and a...

In this episode of 'Making it in Ontario,' co-hosts Michelle Samson and Brendan Sweeney share highlights from Trillium’s latest data bulletin focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Ontario's manufacturing sector. A key finding is the inverse relationship between pay and the proportion of women and visible minorities in various industries, with some notable exceptions. The episode del...

In this episode, we have a big picture discussion with Jayson Myers, the CEO of NGen (Next Generation Manufacturing Canada) and an award-winning economist, about the evolution of manufacturing in Ontario and Canada, how smaller manufacturers are finding huge opportunities as they refine their value proposition, why Ontario's unique asset mix is so powerful, and how NGen is facilitating connections...

'Making it in Ontario' has gotten a makeover! New hosts Brendan Sweeney and Michelle Samson introduce themselves and re-introduce the organization behind the show: the Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing. The episode explores favorite past episodes, Trillium’s evolution over the last ten years, diversity in manufacturing, and the state of manufacturing in Ontario today. Future episodes wil...

Making it in Ontario is your window into what's next in manufacturing. Ontario’s economy depends on manufacturing, but the latest research reveals concerning trends that could undermine the sector’s strength—if we don’t address them. Join us as we talk to CEOs and other leaders at the forefront of the sector about productivity, strategy, talent markets and career opportunities, and the role of man...