CPCA CONFERENCE 2024

May 22-24, 2024
Sheraton Four Points Hotel, Gatineau, QC

Program Highlights

Ottawa Insight
Paul Wells
Acclaimed Political Journalist

Nobody knows Ottawa better than Paul Wells. One of Canada’s leading political journalists, he has spent more than 25 years on the Hill, covering eight federal elections, four prime ministers, and a big piece of Canada's history. Fresh, funny, and authoritative, Wells speaks in both official languages on all matters of the day, from the nation’s position in the global economy, to the inside scoop on what’s really happening inside the Parliament buildings and beyond.

Adapting to Industry 4.0
Ryan Kershaw
Board Member, The International Society of Automation (ISA)

While change tends to be the only constant in manufacturing, the pace of change increased significantly recently. The advent of Industry 4.0 and the new face of the workforce has made change a revolution rather than an evolution. How will instrumentation and controls fit into the new architecture and what will the next workforce be looking for from technology? This presentation will cover cloud, edge, AI, and the importance of data.

CRN Harmonization Update
Paul Bastel
Strategic Project Manager, Phoenix Contact 

The Canadian Registration Number (CRN) is an alpha-numerical identifier which serves as proof that a pressure equipment design has been registered for use by a provincial or territorial regulator. Several years ago, the CPCA joined a consortium to address concerns that the cost, administrative burden, and time associated with the CRN process impede investment, innovation, and product choice.  This was accomplished through the Canadian Free Trade Agreement's table on Regulatory Reconciliation and Cooperation, the CRN for Pressure Equipment Reconciliation Agreement came into effect on January 2, 2020, allowing for the mutual recognition of the review of pressure vessel equipment. Paul will provide a status report on the CRN process, what's improved, and some of the sticking points still in place.

Trends in Energy and the Transition
Scott McKnight
Research Associate, Lupina Foundation Innovation Policy Lab, University of Toronto

Has the transition to renewables begun? Has the shift to electric vehicles stalled out? Are we anywhere near our climate goals? Is the Russia-induced oil and gas crisis over? Has big legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act started to erode China’s early lead in ‘green’ tech? These are some of the big questions that Dr Scott McKnight will address in this session.

Off-Duty Conduct
Stuart Ducoffe
Founder, e2r™

This presentation will explore the tension between an employee’s interest in maintaining the employee’s off duty private life (including social media) separate from the employee’s work life versus the employer’s interest in ensuring the employee’s off duty conduct does not compromise the employer’s interests. Stuart Ducoffe, founder of e2r, will review a few key decisions in this area and draw out the fundamental principles that guide the courts and tribunals in this growing area of concern for both employees and employers.

CleanTech & Green Manufacturing Pulse
Jean-Pierre Giroux, President, Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC)
Scott McNeil-Smith, Vice President, Manufacturing Sector Performance, Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC)

Join us for a discussion on the current state of sustainability in Canada’s manufacturing sector, identified by industry leaders, in EMC’s 2024 Green Manufacturing and Clean Technology Adoption Report. The presentation will also review issues affecting manufacturing, current challenges faced in the transition to low carbon/net zero, and the impacts on supply chains, customers and production ecosystems.