From AI governance and digital rights to trade policy and cybersecurity, the forum will bring together leaders from government, civil society, academia, and the private sector for timely, forward-looking discussions on Canada’s role in shaping the future of the internet.
De la gouvernance de l’IA, aux droits numériques, en passant par la politique commerciale et la cybersécurité, le forum réunira des dirigeant·es du gouvernement, de la société civile, du milieu universitaire et du secteur privé pour des discussions opportunes et tournées vers l’avenir sur le rôle du Canada dans l’avenir de l’Internet.
In addition to being the 10th anniversary — 10 years! — this will be the first event the ICI has held in a Francophone community, as well as in ‘la belle province’ of Quebec. Expect the event to be fully bilingual.
The ICS is the primary convening for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to build a digital future on their own terms. It continues to bridge the digital divide by nurturing our continent-wide network of advocates, youth leadership, policy buffs, connectivity champions, community organizers and industry experts through the Summit.
En plus de marquer le 10e anniversaire — 10 ans ! — il s’agira du premier événement tenu par l’ICI dans une communauté francophone, ainsi que dans « la belle province ». L’événement se déroulera entièrement en formule bilingue.
L’ICS est le principal rassemblement des communautés des Premières Nations, inuites et métisses vouées à bâtir un avenir numérique selon leurs propres termes. Il continue de réduire la fracture numérique en cultivant notre réseau continental de défenseurs, de jeunes leaders, de mordus des politiques publiques, de champions de la connectivité, d’organisateurs communautaires et d’experts de l’industrie.
Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, would prohibit children under 16 from holding social media accounts unless platforms meet safety standards established by a new regulator. The proposal has quickly become one of Canada’s most debated technology policy issues, raising important questions about how governments can best protect young people online.
Australia offers a valuable case study. As policymakers there have pursued similar restrictions, the debate has exposed difficult questions about age verification, platform incentives, and whether limiting access is the most effective way to improve online safety.
Guest Lucy Thomas, co-founder and CEO of Project ROCKIT, an Australian youth-driven movement against bullying and online harm, will share insights from Australia’s experience and discuss what Canadian policymakers should consider as they evaluate Bill C-34.
SPEAKERS Lucy Thomas – Co-founder / CEO, Project ROCKIT
HOST / MODERATOR Lawrence Zhang – Head of Policy, Centre for Canadian Innovation and Competitiveness, ITIF
Lawful access reform is being presented as a modest update to police powers for the digital age. Bill C-22 is more than that. Accessing data a company already holds is one thing; requiring companies to redesign their systems so private messages can be unlocked on demand is another. That requirement risks creating unintended security consequences.
Serious bad actors can move to foreign or self-built tools that sit outside Canadian law. The security burden falls instead on families, businesses, and professionals using mainstream services that would now be required to build in access points. Canada’s own Centre for Cyber Security has long urged Canadians to protect themselves with stronger encryption. Bill C-22 moves in the opposite direction.
The virtual panel examined what Bill C-22 would actually do, why building in backdoors tends to introduce new security risks rather than contain them, and what a more targeted approach could look like.
SPEAKERS Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia – Executive Vice President, Public Policy, TECHNATION Natalie Campbell – Senior Director, North American Government and Regulatory Affairs, Internet Society Michel Liboiron – Head of Public Policy and Government Relations, Shopify
HOST / MODERATOR Lawrence Zhang – Head of Policy, Centre for Canadian Innovation and Competitiveness, ITIF
On April 15 2026, The Canadian Internet Society (TCIS) hosted its annual Digital Access Day policy conference. The 2026 theme is ‘Access, Autonomy, and the Open Internet‘ and asks a simple question: how do we build stronger Canadian capacity for AI, cloud, and networks without breaking the open, global internet that people rely on every day?
01 Opening
Franca Palazzo – Executive Director, The Canadian Internet Society Karim Bardeesy – Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR
02 Keynote: Digital Sovereignty, Access, & Inclusion
Mark Schaan – Associate Deputy Minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR
03 Panel 1: AI Adoption, Skills & Access: Making AI Work For People, Not Just Platforms
Introduction: Dr. Wendy Cukier – Founder and Academic Director, Diversity Institute; Academic Research Lead, Future Skills Centre Vidya ShankarNarayan – Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, People, Culture, and Digital Solutions, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Dr. Wendy Cukier – Founder and Academic Director, Diversity Institute; Academic Research Lead, Future Skills Centre Shannon Lundquist – Vice Chair and Senior Client Partner, Deloitte
Moderator: Karen Savoie – President & Founder, Savoie Faire Consulting VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR
04 DAD Talk: Community Story – Haudenosaunee Digital Sovereignty
Jeff Doctor – Impact Strategist, Animikii VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR
05 Panel 2: Cybersecurity, Critical Infrastructure & Sovereign Cloud: Building Resilience in Essential Systems
Emily Laidlaw – Canada Research Chair, Cybersecurity Law & Associate Professor, University of Calgary Charles Noir – VP, Community Investment, Policy & Advocacy, CIRA Sami Khoury – Government of Canada Senior Official, Cyber Security
Moderator: Brent Arnold – Chair, The Canadian Internet Society; Partner, INQ Law VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR
06 Panel 3: Oceans, AI, & Data Sovereignty
Christiana Cavazzoni – Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Digital Officer, Fisheries and Oceans Canada Jad Taher – CEO & Cofounder, Goflek Sarkis Abrahamian – Director of Business Development, Government & Defense, Evertz
Moderator: Georgia Evans – Consultant, Earnscliffe Strategies VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR
07 Panel 4: Access, Affordability, & Sovereign Infrastructure: Who Really Benefits?
Shelley Robinson – Executive Director, National Capital FreeNet Joel Templeman – Executive Director, Internet Society – Manitoba Chapter; Project Manager, North End Connect Dr. Michael Geist – Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, University of Ottawa
Moderator: Matthew Gamble – AVP, Network and Security Services, Canadian Tire Corporation; Principal, Int13 Consulting Inc. VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR
08 Closing Panel: What Comes Next? Digital Access and Sovereignty in a Changing Landscape
Bill Abbott – Director, Regulatory Law at TELUS Natalie Dunleavy Campbell – Senior Director, NA Government and Regulatory Affairs, Internet Society Josh Tabish – Senior Director for Canada, Chamber of Progress
Moderator: Lena Trudeau – President, The Canadian Internet Society; Owner & CEO, Inclined Analytics VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR
This breakfast panel examined those themes, assess what was emphasized in the government’s “What We Heard” release, and discussed what may have been under-emphasized, including trust and public confidence.
INTRODUCTION Katie Preiss – Vice-President, Public Policy and Government Relations, TELUS
PANEL Erin Kelly – President and CEO, Advanced Symbolics Inc. (ASI) / Co-Founder and CEO, askpolly.ai Michael Geist – Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, University of Ottawa Jaxson Khan – Founder and CEO, Aperture AI / Senior Fellow, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy
Moderator: Brent Arnold – Chair, The Canadian Internet Society / Partner, INQ Law
HOST Franca Palazzo – Executive Director, The Canadian Internet Society
On September 16-18, 2025, the Indigenous Connectivity Institute (ICI) hosted the 9th Indigenous Connectivity Summit (ICS 2025) in Algonquin territory in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada This community-led forum is a focal point for Indigenous leadership and their partners to gather and collaborate on building a digital future on their terms.
01 Welcome and Opening Ceremony Fred McGregor – Emcee Elder Karen MacInnis YOUTUBE | PODCAST | SUMMARY EN / FR | TRANSCRIPT
02 Introducing the ICS Calls to Action Mark Buell Natalie Campbell – Internet Society / ICI YOUTUBE | PODCAST | SUMMARY EN / FR | TRANSCRIPT
03 Case study – Rapid Lynx Telecommunications Sherry McCuller – Rapid Lynx Telecommunications YOUTUBE | PODCAST | SUMMARY EN / FR | TRANSCRIPT
04 What Role Can AI Play in Digital Equity? Norman Valdez – CERIC / BrainTrainr Jeff Doctor – Animikii Olivia Craggs – First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC) Dan Clouston – First Nations Technology Council (FNTC) Moderator: Gerry Lawson – UBC Commentary: Fred McGregor YOUTUBE | PODCAST | SUMMARY EN / FR | TRANSCRIPT
05 LEOs: the good – the bad – and the ugly Michelle Beck – Telesat Brenda Norris – First Mile Lyle Fabian – Katlotech Communications Madeleine Redfern – CanArctic Inuit Networks Moderator: Dr. Gordon Gow – University of Alberta YOUTUBE | PODCAST | SUMMARY EN / FR | TRANSCRIPT
06 Data Center Opportunities for Indigenous Communities Sharayah Lane – Internet Society (virtual) Michael McCormick – Wiikwenkoong Unceded Territory Skylee-Storm Hogan Stacey – FNIGC Moderator: Asennaienton Frank Horn YOUTUBE | PODCAST | SUMMARY EN / FR | TRANSCRIPT
07 Information Session – KatloTech Communications Lyle Fabian – CEO – KatloTech Communications YOUTUBE | PODCAST | SUMMARY EN / FR | TRANSCRIPT
08 Information Session – Sustainability and Efficiency in Networks Joaquin Wray – Equitable Origin YOUTUBE | PODCAST | SUMMARY EN / FR | TRANSCRIPT
12 The Role of Mentorship in Workforce Development Sarah Jacknife YOUTUBE | PODCAST | SUMMARY EN / FR | TRANSCRIPT
13 Engaging in Youth Policy Advocacy Courtney Comber – North End Connect, Winnipeg Jessica Brooks Darryl Blackbird Collin Obey Moderator: Majedah Hawk YOUTUBE | PODCAST | SUMMARY EN / FR | TRANSCRIPT
14 Changing Political Landscapes in Canada and the US: What Does It Means for Digital Equity? John Perrino – Internet Society Brenda Cook – Mohawk Network Davida Delmar – Navajo Nation / NDIA Moderator: Natalie Campbell – Internet Society YOUTUBE | PODCAST | SUMMARY EN / FR | TRANSCRIPT
16 Spectrum Advocacy: Are We Headed in the Right Direction? Lope Trjillo-Perdomo – Not2Far / IEEE Jonathan Fleury – Norway House / Cree Nation Tricia Toso – on behalf of Eeyou Communications Network Moderator: Dr. Gordon Gow – University of Alberta YOUTUBE | PODCAST | SUMMARY EN / FR | TRANSCRIPT
18 Have we made progress in building an Indigenous workforce in networking? Shawn Yellowbird – Standing Rock Innovations Peter Leaton – Sichuun Nikki Muswaggon – Manitoba SchoolNet Tricia Toso – on behalf of Eeyou Communications Network Moderator: Asennaienton Frank Horn – ICI YOUTUBE | PODCAST | SUMMARY EN / FR | TRANSCRIPT
19 First Mile Connectivity Consortium Update Tim Whiteduck – First Mile Connectivity Consortium Sally Braun – Western James Bay Telecom Network (Retired) Bill Murdoch – Norway House / Clear Sky Connections David Coty – Western James Bay Telecom Network Brian Macagee – Western James Bay Telecom Network Tricia Toso – on behalf of Eeyou Communications Network YOUTUBE | PODCAST | SUMMARY EN / FR | TRANSCRIPT
20 Mentoring Program for Indigenous Youth Asennaienton Frank Horn – ICI Candace Bennett – First Nations Housing Authority YOUTUBE | PODCAST | SUMMARY EN / FR | TRANSCRIPT
On Monday November 25 2024, The Canadian Internet Society (TCIS) will hold a Policy Forum in Ottawa, with the theme ‘Solutions for Canadian Digital Policy and Legislation‘. Focused on practical solutions, the forum invites participants to contribute insights that will help shape Canada’s digital landscape and influence the future of internet governance, accessibility, and security.
PROGRAM (UTC-5)
01 Welcome & Opening Remarks – VID | AUD | EN | FR Franca Palazzo, Executive Director, The Canadian Internet Society 02 Laying the Groundwork: Defining Canada’s Digital Policy – VID | AUD | EN | FR Tim Denton, Chair, The Canadian Internet Society Philip Palmer, Vice President, The Canadian Internet Society 03 Keynote & Fireside Chat: The State of Digital Policy in Canada – VID | AUD | EN | FR Mark Schaan, Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet – Artificial Intelligence, Privy Council Office of Canada
Moderator: Hannah Daley, The Wire Report 04 Session 2: Advancing Collaborative Impact – VID | AUD | EN | FR Michele Austin, Vice-President, Public Affairs, Bell Canada Sue Gardner, Founder & CEO, Tiny Ventures Matthew Gamble, Founder, Int13 Consulting Inc., Vice Chair, The Canadian Internet Society Rodrigo Rosales-List, Senior Director, Service Modernization & Digital Transformation, Indigenous Services Canada
Moderator: Valérie Gervais, Founder & CEO, RKESTRA Communications 05 Session 3: Foresight in Digital Policy – VID | AUD | EN | FR Yana Lukasheh, Senior Principal, Public Policy, AWS Canada Jeanette Patell, Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google Shannon Lundquist, Vice Chair, Federal Account Leader, Deloitte Anil Arora, Chief Statistician of Canada (Ret’d), Global Digital Consultant, World Bank
Moderator: Jesse Hirsh, Futurist Farmer, Knowledge Professional, Public Speaker, and Punk 06 Closing Remarks: Next Steps for Canadian Digital Policy – VID | AUD | EN | FR Franca Palazzo, Executive Director, The Canadian Internet Society
10:00 Opening Remarks Karim Bardeesy – Executive Director, the Dais Dana Cramer – President, Youth IGF Canada The Hon. Senator, Andrew Cardozo – Senate of Canada
10:45 Panel: Youth Leadership in Canadian Internet Governance Rida Tahir – Policy Advisor, ISED / ICANN GAC Jenna Manhau Fung – Head, NetMission.Asia / Digital Policy and Community Relations Manager, DotAsia Christelle Tessono – University of Toronto / The Dais Dana Cramer – President, Youth IGF Canada
13:00 Panel: Language Diversity Online – Inuktitut and Canadian Indigenous Languages in Internet Script Joe Catapano – ICANN Louis Houle – PointQuébec Tsista Kennedy – Indigenous Friends Association Bridget Chase – Typotheque
Moderator: Luzalen Marcos – Youth IGF Canada
14:30 Panel: Both Wireline and Wireless Broadband Access for Youth Michel Mersereau, University of Toronto Jewel Pierre-Roscelli – North End Connect Greg Lang – CRTC Vitali Berd – TELUS
Moderator – Nathaniel Sukhedo – Youth IGF Canada
16:00 Keynote Speech The Hon. Arif Virani – Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Moderator: Dana Cramer – Youth IGF Canada
16:50 Panel: What the Online Harms Act Means for You(th) Bianca Salamis – Youth IGF Canada Esli Chan – McGill University Donel Kadima – Children First Canada Amira Shousha – The Youth Guide
Moderator – Julianna Kowlessar – Youth IGF Canada
