The $2 Trillion Imperative:
A Strategic Framework for Securing Canada's Economic Continuity
Monday, September 28th, 2026
Virtual National Symposium
National Forum on Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA) | Succession Planning & Economic Resilience
A significant demographic and economic transition is underway. Projections indicate that approximately $2 trillion in assets held by Canadian small and medium enterprises will transfer ownership over the next decade. This is not merely a routine market realignment—it represents a material risk to Canada's economic fabric. Without coordinated intervention, anticipated outcomes include widespread business closures, net job losses, and the erosion of locally held community wealth.
This forum advances an alternative trajectory. We recognize this transition as a generational opportunity to convert systemic risk into a durable engine of economic renewal—preserving commercial legacies, advancing purpose-driven enterprise, and expanding inclusive wealth through innovative and proven ownership models.
STRUCTURAL RISK MEETS STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY
Conventional startup-centric models, while valuable, do not alone address the impending succession crisis. Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA) offers a structurally sound, empirically supported alternative. Under this model, qualified individuals acquire established, profitable enterprises from retiring owners, supported by private investment capital. ETA provides a direct, scalable mechanism for business continuity, leadership renewal, and wealth creation across Canadian communities.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP THROUGH ACQUISITION (ETA) AS A POLICY-RELEVANT SOLUTION.
The window for effective action is finite. This forum serves as the primary catalyst to mobilize a coordinated national response. We will convene industry pioneers, institutional and private capital holders, legal and financial advisors, and policy stakeholders to advance a cohesive framework that transforms business ownership structures and their beneficiaries. This convening is designed to translate dialogue into actionable outcomes.
WHY THIS FORUM IS NECESSARY NOW
IGNITE THE MOVEMENT: Quantify and communicate the scale of the succession challenge and establish the non-negotiable imperative for positive economic and community impact.
EQUIP STAKEHOLDERS: Deliver a clear, replicable, and actionable framework for executing the ETA and search fund process—from capital formation to transaction close.
CONNECT THE ECOSYSTEM: Facilitate structured networking and knowledge transfer among searchers, investors, business owners, and professional advisors to accelerate the maturation of Canada's ETA community.
CHAMPION IMPACT: Position ETA as a primary vehicle for the development of sustainable, purpose-driven enterprises that generate shared value for workers, communities, and ownership stakeholders.
IGNITE. EQUIP. CONNECT.
Canada stands at a strategic crossroads. This is not a theoretical discussion.
The following principles guide our collective commitment:
No viable Canadian business shall cease operations due to an absence of qualified successor buyers.
No aspiring entrepreneur shall be excluded from ownership participation solely on the basis of insufficient collateral.
No community shall experience the dissolution of locally held economic wealth when proven succession solutions exist.