PAAC ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2026 · #PAAC2026
NAVIGATING WHAT'S NEXT
Leading Public Affairs Through an Era of Transformation
PAAC brings together the people, ideas and conversations shaping Canada's public affairs landscape. Join the conversation in Toronto and be part of what comes next.
Tuesday, November 24, 2026 · Sheraton Centre Hotel · Toronto
WHY BE IN THE ROOM
BIG IDEAS
Timely issues, policy shifts, emerging risks and practical insights that help attendees perform better in their roles.
INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE
Speakers, leaders and peers attendees want access to, learn from and build relationships with.
VALUABLE CONNECTIONS
Networking, receptions, informal conversations, mentorship and business-development opportunities.
PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY
PAAC members, sponsors, award recipients and the shared identity of Canada's public affairs profession.
THE ESSENTIAL GATHERING
The annual conference is the essential gathering for Canada's public affairs community — a place to access timely insights, influential people and high-value professional connections.
Who is in the room: public affairs and government relations leaders, communications and corporate affairs professionals, consultants, lobbyists and association executives, government and public policy professionals, and emerging professionals and students.
Queen's Park reception — Monday, November 23
Separate evening reception the day before, hosted with PAAC Ontario.
PROGRAM
Registration & Light Breakfast
Welcome Remarks & Opening Address
Beyond the Registry: Navigating Lobbying Compliance, Ethics and Risk in a Changing Public Affairs Environment
Moderator-led discussion · federal and provincial registrars, legal counsel, senior practitioners
Emerging compliance risks, enforcement trends and ethical grey zones — where organizations most commonly get into trouble, what regulators expect, and how to build compliance frameworks that protect reputation and public trust.
Lobbying compliance is no longer limited to registering communications and filing returns. Public affairs professionals must navigate evolving lobbying rules, heightened public scrutiny, social media engagement, political activity restrictions, and increasing expectations around transparency and ethics.
This session brings together federal and provincial lobbying regulators, legal experts, and practitioners to explore emerging compliance risks, enforcement trends, and ethical grey zones. Through real-world case studies and practical examples, panelists will examine where organizations most commonly get into trouble, what regulators expect, and how practitioners can build effective compliance frameworks that protect both organizational reputation and public trust.
Canada Under Pressure: Political Fragmentation, U.S. Uncertainty and the Future of Public Affairs Advocacy
Moderator-led panel · political analysts, GR leaders, trade experts, former officials
How domestic and cross-border forces are reshaping the public affairs landscape, and what organizations must do to adapt advocacy strategies in an era where political alignment can no longer be assumed across jurisdictions.
Canada's public affairs environment is becoming increasingly complex. Growing regional divisions, evolving federal-provincial relationships, western economic tensions, Quebec nationalism, and the emergence of more fragmented political coalitions are changing how governments make decisions and how organizations advocate effectively.
At the same time, uncertainty in the Canada-U.S. relationship, shifting trade dynamics, border pressures, industrial policy competition, and increasing regulatory divergence are creating new challenges for businesses, associations, and advocacy professionals.
This session will examine how these domestic and cross-border forces are reshaping the public affairs landscape and what organizations must do to adapt their advocacy strategies in an era where political alignment can no longer be assumed across jurisdictions.
Coffee Break
Women Leading Public Affairs: Leadership, Influence and the Future of Advocacy
Accomplished women leaders from government, industry, associations and consulting on career journeys, sponsorship and mentorship, leadership development, and creating more inclusive pathways for the next generation.
Women continue to play an increasingly influential role in shaping public policy, driving advocacy strategies, and leading organizations across Canada's public affairs landscape. Yet challenges remain, including navigating leadership pathways, building influential networks, overcoming barriers to advancement, and balancing authenticity with expectations in traditionally male-dominated environments.
This session brings together accomplished women leaders from government, industry, associations, consulting, and public affairs to share candid reflections on their career journeys, lessons learned, and perspectives on the future of the profession. Through an engaging conversation, panelists will explore strategies for career growth, sponsorship and mentorship, leadership development, and creating more inclusive pathways for the next generation of public affairs professionals.
AI and Public Affairs: From Experimentation to Responsible Practice
Moderator-led panel · practitioners, AI experts, legal and privacy counsel, ethics specialists
Where AI creates value, where human judgment remains essential, and how organizations can establish governance frameworks that support responsible use.
Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way public affairs professionals research issues, monitor policy developments, prepare briefing materials, analyze stakeholders, and engage decision-makers. As AI tools become increasingly accessible, organizations are grappling with how to capture their benefits while managing risks related to confidentiality, accuracy, ethics, intellectual property, and reputation.
This session explores the growing role of AI in public affairs and government relations, examining both the opportunities and challenges facing practitioners. Through practical examples, expert insights, and real-world case studies, panelists will discuss where AI creates value, where human judgment remains essential, and how organizations can establish governance frameworks that support responsible use.
Networking Lunch
Keynote Address: Emerging Challenges and Best Practices in Public Affairs
Keynote speaker to be announced
Under the Microscope: Managing Advocacy, Reputation and Government Relations During Times of Scrutiny
Moderator-led panel · public affairs leader, crisis communications expert, legal counsel, former political staffer, journalist
Coordinating government relations, legal strategy, executive leadership, stakeholder engagement and media relations while maintaining credibility with decision-makers and preserving public trust.
In today's environment, organizations can face intense scrutiny from governments, regulators, auditors, media, and the public with little warning. Whether responding to an Auditor General report, public inquiry, regulatory investigation, legislative committee appearance, procurement controversy, or reputational crisis, public affairs professionals are often at the center of the response.
Success depends on more than effective communications. Organizations must coordinate government relations, legal strategy, executive leadership, stakeholder engagement, and media relations while maintaining credibility with decision-makers and preserving public trust.
Coffee Break
Roundtable: What Will Define Successful Public Affairs in 2030?
The Modern Government Relations Function — From Advocacy to Strategic Risk Management
Integrating GR into enterprise risk and strategy · linking policy developments to business impacts · measuring value for executives and boards · data-driven advocacy
EVENING AWARDS PROGRAM
Public Affairs Association of Canada Awards Presentation
Networking Reception
VENUE
Sheraton Centre Hotel
123 Queen Street West, Toronto
Steps from Osgoode and Queen stations. Discounted delegate room block — booking deadline applies.
REGISTRATION
Super early bird until September 4, 2026
Member
Includes full conference registration, Queens Park and Awards reception attendance
$368
+ HST
Non-member
Includes full conference registration and awards reception attendance
$479
+ HST
Non-member
Includes full conference registration, awards reception attendance, and one-year individual membership with PAAC
$593
+ HST
Student
Includes full conference registration and awards reception attendance
$150
+ HST
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Public affairs and government relations leaders, communications and corporate affairs professionals, consultants, lobbyists and association executives, government and public policy professionals, and emerging professionals and students.
The Queen's Park reception takes place the evening before the conference, on Monday, November 23, and is hosted with PAAC Ontario. It is included with member registration; other delegates register for it separately.
No. Non-member registration includes a one-year individual membership with PAAC, so non-members join the association as part of registering.
Yes. All registration types include attendance at the PAAC Awards presentation and the networking reception that follows, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM.
Cancellation terms and deadlines are set out in the registration system at checkout.
The Sheraton Centre offers step-free access to all conference rooms. Accessibility and dietary requirements can be noted during registration or sent to the conference team.