Empowering tomorrow’s leaders: Coalition for a better future inspires students

In these turbulent times, with many young people worried about what the future might hold, Coalition for a Better Future co-chairs, the Honourable Anne McLellan and the Honourable Lisa Raitt reassured uOttawa students that their prospects are brighter than they may think — provided they put in the effort.

The former political giants visited campus on March 24th  as featured guests of the 2025 Better Canada Youth Forum.

Four years ago, with the support of business and industry associations, McLellan and Raitt founded Coalition for a Better Future to help shape a stronger Canada, not only for today but also for the next generation. “Their vision is for the country to take a hard look in the mirror — beyond political divides — to unite all Canadians in reaching higher levels of economic prosperity,” explained Telfer Dean Stéphane Brutus.

The Coalition measures the well-being of Canadians through a scorecard that tracks the country’s economic and social progress using 21 key metrics. Contributing to the research is a team from Telfer, made up of Professor Wadid Lamine and Professor Hien Tran, and PhD candidates Shirin Biglari and Meraj Bousaki. 

The Coalition co-chairs, who have a sense of humour, introduced themselves as “recovering politicians” before diving into a panel discussion alongside Justine Hendricks, president and CEO of Farm Credit Canada and a member of Telfer’s strategic leadership cabinet.

McLellan is a former Liberal MP who served as deputy prime minister. Raitt is a former Conservative cabinet minister and deputy leader of the official opposition.

Serving as moderator was student Danielle Wilson, vice president of social affairs for the Telfer Students’ Association. The forum also featured a breakout session, where students collaborated in groups to tackle key questions together.

Coalition for a Better Future has been generating ideas to strengthen the Canadian economy. It supports the elimination of interprovincial trade barriers to reduce economic disruptions caused by President Donald Trump. “It’s about taking control of the things that are within our control,” said McLellan, who encouraged the students to tap into their potential to create positive change.

“If you bring your 'all' every day, you will make this country, this city, or wherever you're living, a better, more inclusive, equitable and sustainable place.”

She stressed the importance of diversity in creating a more productive workforce. “We need inclusive workplaces in this country because we need everyone who is able to work. We need you all to work and to work at your fullest capacity. Otherwise, we won’t achieve the economic growth we need, we won’t have the productivity necessary to stay competitive with other countries we compare ourselves to.”

Raitt reminded the students that a strong education equips them with the tools to navigate the world and improve their quality of life. She encouraged them to get involved in political parties and campus organizations. “To save the country, you’ve got to work. I know you can do it, I know you can do it.”

She acknowledged the concerns students raised during their group discussions about the need for change. “I’m hearing that you want to be entrepreneurs: ‘Please take away the regulations.’ You want the ability to own a home: ‘Please build more houses’.”

Students learned how the co-chairs have been breaking barriers throughout their careers. Raitt has a background in fields traditionally dominated by men, including science, law, politics, transportation, and now banking. She’s vice-chair and managing director of global investment banking at CIBC Capital Markets.

She joked that she’s considering priesthood for her next career move. “It’s the last area I need to break the glass ceiling on.”

Raitt also argued that, to elevate more women to the top of corporate ranks, leaders should be incentivized through measures like executive pay, for mentoring women and creating meaningful advancement opportunities for them.

“I’m going to be as frank and honest as I possibly can. Why do I care so much about getting women in management positions, especially in underrepresented areas like finance and CEOs?

“It’s because that’s where the money is. If you have money, it matters if you want to change the world. I’m being crass, but I’m just telling you the way it is: money matters. You become an incredible philanthropic force, and that matters in your community.”

It can lead to making deals and influencing change in ways that aren’t possible from a middle-management position, she added.

The forum was organized in partnership with Shell Canada as part of its campus tour series, with support from CIBC.