CAFII’s Annual Members Luncheon was held on May 5, 2026, at the beautiful facilities of SixtyEight in downtown Toronto. The luncheon included a panel discussion featuring three economists: Jimmy Jean, Vice President, Chief Economist, and Strategist at Desjardins Group; Cynthia Leach, Assistant Chief Economist at RBC; and Alex Grassino, Global Chief Economist at Manulife Investment Management. The speakers were introduced by CAFII Board Chair Val Gillis (SVP, TD Insurance) and thanked by incoming Board Chair Julie Gaudry (VP, RBC Insurance), and the panel was moderated by CAFII’s Executive Director, Keith Martin, and Senior Research and Policy Analyst, Robyn Jennings.
The conversation was fascinating, with the panel discussing the state of the Canadian economy, interest rate expectations, the risk of a recession, and geopolitical issues. The impact of the conflict in the Middle East on the Canadian economy was discussed, particularly inflation and rising gas prices. Population and demographic issues were also explored, including the increase in provincial health care budgets, which now account for over 50% of provincial budgets in most provinces. There was also discussion of mortgage trends and the impact of costs on the likelihood that people will not obtain optional insurance.
