Government of Canada Housing and Infrastructure Data and Research Conference

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About

The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, and Statistics Canada are proud to present the Government of Canada Housing and Infrastructure Data and Research Conference. Join us for two full days, from 8:50AM to 4:00PM EST on Wednesday, November 12 and Thursday, November 13 for this free, bilingual event. For those attending in-person, the event will take place at Statistics Canada’s R.H. Coats building, in the Simon Goldberg Conference Room.

Registration opens at 8:15 AM. We recommend arriving early to allow plenty of time for registration and to be escorted to the conference room before the event begins.

This dynamic two-day conference on data and analysis brings together policymakers, data experts, and practitioners from all levels of government, the private sector, and academia. This event explores the evolving role of data and research in shaping housing and infrastructure policy in Canada. Through thought-provoking keynote addresses and interactive panel discussions, the conference will showcase innovative data practices and tools, highlight innovative data practices, and identify emerging data needs to support evidence-based decision-making.

If you have any additional questions, or for more information, please feel free to contact us at gchidr-conference-gcdrli.statcan@statcan.gc.ca.

Conference Agenda

Day 1: November 12, 2025

9:00AM - 9:10AM	Opening Remarks
	André Loranger, Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada
9:10AM - 9:30AM	Keynote Speaker
	Mathieu Laberge, Chief Economist and Senior Vice-President, Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation
9:30AM - 10:30AM	Realizing the Vision: Supporting Decision Making Through Data Sharing and Modernization
Moderator:	Janet Goulding, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
Panelists:	Josée Bégin, Assistant Chief Statistician, Statistics Canada
	Vinay Bhardwaj, Director, Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation
	Dr Amine Ouazad, Associate Professor, Hautes Études Commerciales de Montréal
	Lisa Prime, Director, Diamond Schmitt
10:30AM - 11:00AM	Trade Show and Networking Break
11:00AM - 12:00PM	Meeting the Moment: Housing System Data to Meet Housing Needs
Moderator:	Lise Pichette, Director, Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Panelists:	Jim Dunn, Associate Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, McMaster University
	Nathanael Lauster, Professor, University of British Columbia
	Steve Pomeroy, Executive Advisor and Industry Professor, McMaster University
	Tim Richter, President and CEO, Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (TBC)
	Dr. David Wachsmuth, Professor, McGill University
12:00PM - 12:45PM	Lunch Break
12:45PM - 1:45PM	Increasing and measuring the production of housing
Moderator:	Dr. David Wachsmuth, Professor, McGill University
Panelists:	Aled ab lorwerth, Deputy Chief Economist, Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation
	Nathaniel Baum-Snow, Professor, University of Toronto
	Tony Bonen, Executive Director of Economic Research, Conference Board of Canada
	Kevin Lee, CEO, Canadian Homebuilder Association
	Andrew Ramlo, Board of Directors, Canadian Institute of Planners
1:45PM - 2:15PM	Trade Show and Networking Break
2:15PM - 3:45PM	Innovation and Housing Data: Promises, Practices, and Possibilities
Moderator:	Jens von Bergmann, Housing Economics and Insights Scholar in Residence, Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Panelists:	Royce Fu, Manager of Planning, City of Ottawa
	Dr. Majid Komeili, Associate Professor, School of Computer Science, Director of the Intelligent Machines Lab, Carleton University
	Saeid Molladavoudi, Director, Centre for AI Research and Excellence, Statistics Canada
	Brian Peterson, Senior Policy Advisor, Bank of Canada
	Alina Turner, CEO & Co-founder, Help Seeker Technologies
3:45PM - 4:00PM	Closing Remarks
	Mathieu Laberge, Chief Economist and Senior Vice-President, Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation
	Eric Rancourt, Assistant Chief Statistician at Statistics Canada

Day 2: November 13, 2025

9:00AM - 9:10AM	Opening Remarks
	Jennifer Withington, Assistant Chief Statistician, Statistics Canada
9:10AM - 9:30AM	Keynote Speaker
9:30AM - 10:30AM	Infrastructure for Economically Resilient Communities
Moderator:	Mary Rowe, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Urban Institute
Panelists:	Andrew Ghattas, Director, Critical Minerals Centre of Excellence Policy and Economics Branch, Land and Minerals Sector, Natural Resources Canada
	Polina Hristeva, Director, Data and Digital Solutions, National Supply Chain Office, Transport Canada
	John McNally, Head of Research, Canada Insfrastructure Bank
	Dr. Lyndsey Rolheiser, Professor, York University
10:30AM - 11:00AM	Trade Show and Networking Break
11:00AM - 12:00PM	Infrastructure for Environmentally Resilient Communities
Moderator:	Dr. Ursula Eicker, Professor, Concordia University
Panelists:	Cassandra Pacey, Chair of the Canadian Network of Asset Managers / Manager of Asset Management City of Waterloo
	Dr. Stephen Wong, Assistant Professor, University of Alberta
12:00PM - 1:00PM	Lunch Break
1:00PM - 2:00PM	Presentation on Housing, Infrastructure and Community Modernization
Presenters:	Alexandre Beaulieu, Director, Natural Resources Canada
	Dr. Howard Ramos, Professor, Western University
2:00PM - 2:30PM	Trade Show and Networking Break
2:30PM - 3:30PM	Municipalities, Provinces and Territories: Forward-Looking Infrastructure Data
Moderator:	Kate Burnett-Isaacs, Acting Chief Data Officer, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
Panelists:	Scott Butler, Executive Director, Good Roads Association
	Christel Kjenner, Director, Housing Action Team, City of Edmonton
	Iman Mohamed, Director Policy and Research, Federation of Canadian Municipalities
3:30PM - 4:00PM	Closing Remarks

FAQ

Is there a cost to attend the event?

There is no cost to attend the event.

Is the event bilingual (English and French)?

Simultaneous interpretation between English and French will be available for all sessions, this includes all opening and closing remarks, presentations, keynotes, and panels. Participants are encouraged to speak in the official language of their choice.

How many seats are available for in-person attendance and can I forward the invitation to my colleagues?

There will be 100 seats available for in-person attendees and the opportunity for up to 1000 people to connect virtually. Due to the space restrictions, in-person attendance is limited and invitations cannot be mass forwarded. Invitations can be delegated but not forwarded.

Will food and beverages be provided?

Yes. Lunch, snacks, and beverages will be provided during break times throughout the conference.

How do I access simultaneous interpretation?

Virtual participants may access it by selecting the language channel for their preferred language before they join or at any time during the conference.

1	Before you join (or during the conference), click Interpretation.
2	Select your preferred interpretation language or Original audio (floor), if you want to hear the audio without interpretation.
3	Click Join meeting. If the original audio is in the same language as your preferred interpretation language and the interpreter stops speaking, after a few seconds, you hear the original audio.

How do I access real-time translation?

Each participant can select their own preferred caption language for translations. The preferred caption language can be chosen by selecting the “show closed captions” button at the bottom left of the screen once in the meeting. Then, simply select Caption language and choose the desired language.

How do I get to the conference venue?

The conference will be held at Statistics Canada in the Simon Goldberg Conference Room, R.H. Coats Building, 100 Tunney's Pasture Driveway, Ottawa.

Statistics Canada is an approximately 5-minute walk from OC Transpo's Tunney's Pasture station, which is served by many bus routes on the rapid transit network and by train on the OC Transpo Line 1 (Confederation Line). For more information, you may consult the OC Transpo website.

Is parking available?

Visitors are permitted to park in areas designated by a sign that reads "Parking for Tunney's Pasture employees and visitors."

How do I pay for visitor parking at Tunney's Pasture?

Visitor parking is managed by Reef Parking and available throughout the Tunney's Pasture Complex. You can pay using payment kiosks near parking spots, or you can use the PayByPhone app on your personal phone. PayByPhone is available on the Blackberry App World, Google Play, and the iOS App Store. Instructions for all platforms can be found on PayByPhone's website.

Please consult the City of Ottawa parking website or Parkopedia for information on additional parking nearby. Since parking spaces in the area are limited, the use of public transit or carpooling is recommended.

What do I do when I arrive?

Upon arrival, please enter through the main entrance to the R.H. Coats Building at 100 Tunney's Pasture Driveway. You will be greeted at the entrance and escorted down to the Simon Goldberg Conference Room.