A propos de
Le Conseil des innovateurs canadiens a été créé en 2015 par les chefs d'entreprise technologiques les plus prospères du Canada afin de s'assurer que leur voix soit entendue dans le processus d'élaboration des politiques publiques. Les experts en innovation affirment qu'un élément essentiel de la croissance régionale soutenue est la présence de concentrations significatives d'entreprises locales à forte croissance. Les entreprises qui passent de millions à des milliards d'euros sont celles qui rapportent le plus aux économies nationales. Depuis bien trop longtemps, la politique publique du Canada en matière d'innovation est dominée par des multinationales étrangères et d'autres acteurs dont l'objectif premier n'est pas de créer de la croissance économique au Canada.
Actuellement, le Conseil est composé de plus de 150 chefs d'entreprise qui dirigent des sociétés à forte croissance ayant leur siège au Canada. Le Conseil est présidé par Jim Balsillie, ancien co-PDG de Blackberry, et John Ruffolo, fondateur et associé directeur de Maverix Private Equity, et fondateur d'OMERS Ventures.
Notre histoire
2015
En septembre 2015, l'ancien codirecteur général de Blackberry, Jim Balsillie, s'adresse à un groupe de PDG d'entreprises technologiques canadiennes lors d'un événement organisé par OMERS Ventures, fondé et dirigé par John Ruffolo. Le message de M. Balsillie au groupe était que le gouvernement fédéral définissait des politiques qui auraient un impact sur les entreprises technologiques, mais qu'Ottawa n'écoutait pas les entreprises technologiques canadiennes. C'est à l'issue de cette réunion que les graines de l'ICC ont été plantées.
In October, the Liberal Party of Canada wins the 2015 federal election on a platform which includes a promise to hike taxes on employee stock options, a policy which would severely harm scale-up technology companies’ ability to recruit skilled talent. This served to underscore Balsillie’s message about policy being created without consulting with domestic tech companies and acted as a galvanizing force.
CEOs begin a public and government relations campaign, penning opinion pieces and writing letters to the Minister of Finance.
2016
In response to pressure from the tech sector, the Liberal government revised the policy to exempt most scaling technology companies from tax hikes on employee stock options. Bill Morneau, who was finance minister at the time, remarked, “I heard from many small firms and innovators that they use stock options as a legitimate form of compensation, so we decided not to put that in our budget.”
This proved to many CEOs on the sidelines of the CCI movement that linking arms and advocating with one voice can spur meaningful policy changes and was essential for updating Canada’s economic playbook for the 21st century innovation economy.
In March, Benjamin Bergen was hired as executive director and the first employee of the Council of Canadian Innovators.
Summer
CCI begins working with then-Immigration Minister John McCallum, consulting with scaling technology companies. The result of this work would be the Global Talent Stream, which greatly reduced visa processing times for skilled workers coming to Canada — one of CCI’s first clear policy wins for members.
Around 50 CEOs travel to Ottawa to participate in CCI's first CEO Summit, which includes meetings with key federal ministers and civil servants and exposes CEOs to in-person advocacy firsthand.
2017
The federal government announces the Global Skills Strategy, which includes the Global Talent Stream pilot part of theTemporary Foreign Workers Program. CCI is selected as the only non-governmental referral partner to the program. Following the 2017 federal budget, CCI hosts its first pan-Canadian budget debrief for innovators.
Summer
CCI begins to expand its sectoral advocacy efforts into clean technology, health technology, cybersecurity, fintech, and digital services. CCI hosts various advocacy days in Ottawa for innovators.
Automne
CCI begins working on behalf of innovators at the provincial level, working first in Ontario to reorient provincial strategies towards supporting homegrown firms.
2018
L'ICC continue de s'imposer comme une voix de premier plan pour donner la priorité aux entreprises technologiques canadiennes par le biais de politiques publiques stratégiques, notamment les négociations de l'accord de libre-échange nord-américain, les propositions budgétaires actuelles du gouvernement fédéral et le projet Sidewalk Labs proposé pour Toronto.
Printemps
CCI hosts CyberCanada Senior Leadership Summit in Toronto, convening innovators, federal and provincial government leaders, and officials from our national security and defence agencies. In Ottawa, CCI appears before parliament calling for a national data strategy.
Automne
CCI hosts second CEO Summit in Ottawa, bringing together over 100 scale-up leaders from across Canada for over 40 meetings focused on increasing access to talent, capital and customers, and new marketplace frameworks for the 21st century economy.
2019
CCI opens a bureau in Québec with a dedicated provincial affairs lead, a new brand – Conseil canadien des innovateurs – and the addition of Louis Têtu to the Board of Directors of CCI. When the Quèbec government tables their 2019 budget, CCI is on site in Quèbec City analyzing each measure through an innovation lens.
Printemps
CCI hosts Spring Intellectual Property Symposium in Toronto, coalescing CCI's calls for a national IP strategy that helps innovators expand their freedom-to-operate to scale globally.
Automne
CCI hosts meetings in Winnipeg with the Manitoba Government, laying the seeds for CCI's future expansion into the Prairies.
2020
At the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, CCI acted swiftly to ensure innovators and business leaders across Canada had access to essential information to keep their businesses running. In March, CCI launched the COVID-19 Slack Channel, which rapidly grew to over 2,500 members nationwide. CCI also began hosting webinar briefings with federal and provincial leaders, providing a platform for business leaders across Canada to engage in critical Q&A sessions during a time of significant economic uncertainty. These forums also allowed business leaders to share best practices and strategies with their peers.
As governments rolled out relief measures, CCI emerged as a vital voice for Canadian tech, advocating for improvements to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, which proved inadequate for high-growth technology companies. This advocacy ultimately contributed to the creation of the $250 million Innovation Assistance Program, providing much-needed capital to innovative tech companies that did not qualify for other programs. CCI also urged faster release of funds from Regional Development Agencies to help companies manage the growing operational pressures they were facing.
2021
CCI lance le programme de gouvernance de l'innovation afin de former les futurs membres des conseils d'administration aux compétences et aux connaissances nécessaires pour assurer efficacement la surveillance de la gouvernance d'entreprise dans les entreprises technologiques canadiennes en pleine expansion.
2022
L'ICC renforce la défense des intérêts régionaux - en mobilisant les entreprises technologiques de l'Alberta pour tirer la sonnette d'alarme sur la réglementation excessive des ingénieurs en logiciel, et en rassemblant les entreprises technologiques du Québec pour s'opposer à une législation trop onéreuse en matière de langue française. L'ICC est également une voix active de l'innovation locale dans les élections générales de l'Ontario.
2023
L'ICC organise son premier Capital Summit à Toronto, réunissant des investisseurs institutionnels canadiens de premier plan et des PDG d'entreprises technologiques à forte croissance.
Le gouvernement du Canada annonce d'importants changements dans les flux d'immigration économique du Canada, y compris une stratégie pour les nomades numériques et un flux de talents technologiques à haut potentiel, en réponse au plaidoyer continu de l'ICC. Bon nombre des changements politiques ont été directement reflétés dans la Stratégie 2022 pour les talents et les compétences de l'ICC.
2024
L'ICC joue un rôle de premier plan dans l'examen par le gouvernement fédéral du crédit d'impôt pour la recherche scientifique et le développement expérimental, en insistant sur les changements de politique qui profitent au maximum aux entreprises en expansion.
L'ICC fait des marchés publics une priorité nationale en tant qu'outil essentiel permettant aux gouvernements de soutenir les entreprises technologiques innovantes.
Notre conseil d'administration
Notre équipe
Carrières
Rejoignez une équipe de professionnels travaillant à l'intersection des politiques publiques et des technologies de pointe, pour le compte des entreprises technologiques les plus dynamiques et à forte croissance du Canada.
Director, Provincial Affairs - British Columbia (Senior Position)
THE COUNCIL OF CANADIAN INNOVATORS (CCI):
Le Conseil des innovateurs canadiens (CCI) est une association nationale d'entreprises qui représente plus de 150 entreprises canadiennes à forte composante technologique dont la croissance est la plus rapide. Les entreprises du portefeuille du CCI sont des leaders du marché dans leurs secteurs verticaux et commercialisent leurs technologies dans plus de 190 pays, générant entre 10 et 750 millions de dollars de revenus annuels récurrents. Les entreprises membres de l'ICC ont toutes leur siège au Canada et emploient collectivement plus de 52 000 Canadiens d'un océan à l'autre.
CCI was created in 2015 by the leaders of Canada’s most innovative companies to reorient Canada’s economic strategies towards supporting domestic scale-up companies to aid in their pursuit of becoming engines of Canada’s future economic prosperity. CCI works closely with our members and leaders within federal and provincial governments to develop economic strategies that increase access to talent, capital, and customers for homegrown firms, all while updating Canada’s economic playbook for the 21st century economy. Since 2015, CCI’s advocacy has led to government improving the way businesses access international talent, patent their inventions, and navigate the global data-driven economy.
L'ICC est un réseau de pairs composé de chefs d'entreprise et d'innovateurs canadiens qui se tournent vers la direction et les membres de l'ICC pour obtenir des conseils stratégiques et une vision prospective, une navigation experte au sein des gouvernements fédéral et provinciaux, et des connexions avec d'autres innovateurs et institutions qui peuvent les aider à développer leurs entreprises à l'échelle mondiale.
Today, CCI is headquartered in Toronto and has staff located in Vancouver, Edmonton, Atlantic Canada, Ottawa and Montreal. CCI is established as a not-for-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors, with Jim Balsillie, retired chairman and co-CEO of BlackBerry, serving as Chair, and John Ruffolo, founder of OMERS Ventures and Managing Partner of Maverix Private Equity, serving as Vice-Chair. Both are also co-founders of CCI.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Reporting to the Vice President, Strategy and Advocacy, the Director of Provincial Affairs - British Columbia will work closely with CCI’s membership base to drive provincial advocacy and policy development goals and priorities in British Columbia. The Director will be responsible for increasing CCI’s visibility within the provincial government, identifying opportunities for collaboration between CCI’s members and the B.C. government, cultivating relationships with government officials, media, and stakeholder groups, and working to achieve CCI’s advocacy priorities in British Columbia.
The Director will work on a wide range of public policy files and will immerse themselves in discussions taking place within the B.C. government, acting as are source to CCI’s membership. Topics include, but are not limited to, provincial procurement modernization, skills and talent development, technology commercialization, clean tech policy, data and privacy regulations, cybersecurity frameworks, and intellectual property strategy.
The role also involves staying informed about provincial business support programs targeted toward innovative and technology-intensive companies, and regularly communicating these opportunities to CCI members.
FONCTIONS ESSENTIELLES :
- Support the work of the Vice President, Strategy and Advocacy, and work closely with the President and Vice President, Corporate and Public Affairs, to deliver on CCI’s mission and vision.
- Develop and execute comprehensive provincial advocacy strategies aligned with the Council’s priorities and objectives.
- Develop a strong understanding of CCI member business models, market landscapes, and industry trends, focusing on ICT, cybersecurity, healthtech, cleantech, fintech, and AI sectors in B.C.
- Serve as the primary liaison between CCI and provincial officials, including MLAs, ministers, senior bureaucrats, and political staff.
- Organize and lead meetings with high-ranking government officials, business leaders, and CEOs to advocate for CCI’s positions and build relationships.
- Represent CCI at legislative committee hearings, consultations, and other public forums, presenting on behalf of the organization and its members.
- Attend government consultations and provide clear, concise feedback reflecting the innovation sector’s needs in B.C.
- Grow and maintain relationships with provincial media outlets by developing and delivering strategic media pitches advancing advocacy efforts.
- Work collaboratively with CCI’s Community Success and Business Development team to organize and host briefings and events for CCI members related to
provincial advocacy and programs.
- Work closely with CCI’s Policy team to inform current and future policy research and development relevant to B.C.
- Draft press releases, public communications products, and op-eds related to key B.C. policy issues and legislative developments.
- Abide by all provincial lobbying rules and regulations.
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in government relations, public policy, or a related field, with at least 2 years focused on provincial affairs in British Columbia.
- Proven track record in drafting, negotiating, and advocating for public policy issues related to the innovation economy and tech sector.
- Deep understanding of B.C. parliamentary routines, legislative processes, and the provincial policymaking landscape.
- Excellent public speaking and presentation skills, with comfort in high-stakes public settings, such as legislative hearings.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a small, fast-paced team environment.
- Ability to work at the private sector’s pace, meeting the high-paced demands of innovative businesses and government deadlines.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with CEOs, MLAs, ministers, senior bureaucrats, and government officials.
- Attention to detail and superior organizational skills.
- Self-starter with the ability to work independently with minimal oversight.
- Pre-existing relationships with provincial media outlets in B.C. are an asset.
- Legally entitled to work in Canada
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Interested candidates should submit their resume and cover letter to CCI’s Vice President, Strategy and Advocacy, Dana O’Born, doborn@canadianinnovators.org
CCI is committed to diversity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women, people of colour, and individuals with disabilities.
SALAIRE ET AVANTAGES :
- Salary range: $104,013–$147,808 CAD
- Education/training spend: $2,500 per year
- Generous benefits, including dental and medical coverage
- Parental leave benefits
- 3 weeks’ vacation annually, in addition to a summer closure in July (1 week) and a winter closure (2 weeks), totalling six weeks off annually