As 2026 begins, CanadianSME Small Business Magazine presents a special New Year edition featuring messages from Canadian business leaders, policymakers, and industry executives, including Nina Tangri, Associate Minister of Small Business; The Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State for Small Business and Tourism; Michelle Biase, President and Managing Director at HP Canada; Ryan Sydor, Area VP at Okta Canada; Sean Griffin, President of UPS Canada; and Mohamed Basma, General Manager of Small Business Services at ADP Canada.
Their reflections on the lessons of 2025 provide clear direction for the coming year. Economic shifts, rapid technological advancement, and changing market demands have put businesses to the test over the past year. Canadian small businesses have continued to adapt and grow thanks to their resilience, disciplined leadership, and long-term thinking.
Government leaders such as Nina Tangri and Rechie Valdez reaffirmed their commitment to supporting entrepreneurs through policies that encourage growth, innovation, and expansion, while helping businesses scale beyond domestic markets. Industry leaders, including Michelle Biase, Ryan Sydor, Sean Griffin, and Mohamed Basma, emphasized future readiness, spanning workforce transformation and responsible technology adoption, dependable infrastructure, and people-first solutions.
Together, these perspectives acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead while reaffirming the power and relevance of Canada’s small business community. As 2026 approaches, this edition urges company owners to reflect on their path, stay focused on impact and consistency, and continue to build firms that benefit communities and shape the future of Canadian business.
