The conversation around tackling climate change in Canada is framed around two themes: giving up or paying up. So far, federal government initiatives have been focused on development restrictions and taxes, leading to a host of consequences including the current alienation of the West. That is only one part of the solution. Canada has a responsibility to ensure that it fights climate change, while ensuring the economy remains prosperous for all Canadians. It's time to change the conversation and focus on Canada's ability to innovate.Canada will be a world leader in the fight against climate change, if we invest in Canadian manufacturing—entrepreneurs, scientists, engineers and managers—that can invent and manufacture products that can drastically reduce, not only Canada's carbon footprint, but the world's.Just over 60 years ago, the Cold War-era space race between the U.S. and former Soviet Union posed a seemingly impossible scientific challenge. Yet, President Kennedy was able to martial the resources of some of the world's greatest sciences (including many from Canada) to not only successfully launch a satellite into orbit, but to get to the moon in just over a decade. Since then, this giant leap in technology has allowed us to improve the lives, nutrition, education and life span of millions of people, and it allows us to measure and understand the effects of the climate change crisis we are currently facing.Fighting climate change does not have to be lose-lose, but a chance to make things better. Targeted investments in innovative technology and government incentives for Canadian companies to develop and commercialize new green technologies can both complement our existing energy sector and attract new investment.With the federal government setting the tone and working in partnership with the manufacturing industry and academia, Canada can lead the world into the next industrial age.Canada needs to focus on the development of safe, economical carbon-free energy systems. Earlier this week the premiers of Ontario, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick announced plans to support the development of small modular nuclear reactor technology within their provinces. The federal government must also support these types of initiatives to accelerate the development of this carbon-free energy source. Canada is already a world leader in designing safe nuclear energy plants, by investing in better managing and encapsulating the waste products, including existing technology that reuses depleted uranium for power, we can truly move towards carbon-free power.While emissions-free technology from wind and solar power is important, there are many areas of the country where the technology cannot practically be used, such as the high north. In these cases, nuclear is the best option.Ontario is one of the largest auto-makers in the world. Every year, more than two million cars are produced in Canada. It is time for the federal government to provide incentives to companies to move forward with commercialization of electric vehicles in Canada. There are still significant gaps in the energy storage technology for electric vehicles that Canadian know-how can fill, including building better batteries or truly exploring hydrogen fuel cells. While the government is providing consumers with rebates if they choose electric vehicles, a more effective solution is to ensure that electric vehicles are widely available, and cheaper than cars that drive on fossil fuels. Smart investment by the Canadian government can make Canada a world-leader in this area.Finally, it is time to focus on commercialization of carbon sequestration technologies. The technology already exists to trap carbon emissions, but we are not yet using it at scale. Canada is always focused on ensuring it is maintaining its competitiveness in the world. Canada needs to take a bold stance by making focused, sustained investment in this area. It's not about competing; it's about leading.The truth is even if Canada disrupts its current economy to stop using fossil fuels and derived products, it will only have a marginal effect on the world's problem. If we instead focus our energy on commercializing and exporting new green technologies that use our resources in smarter ways, we can effect real change for the world.The conversation in Canada can no longer be about banning and taxing. It must be about innovating and leading.Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters has been advocating for and representing the interests of manufacturers since 1871. Today it directly represents 2,500 leading companies that operate nationwide and its initiatives, including the Canadian Manufacturing Coalition connect more than 100,000 companies from coast to coast to coast. Dennis Darby joined CME in 2017, after spending nine years as CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists' Association. Prior to this role, he spent 24 years at Proctor & Gamble, including holding leadership roles in the U.S. and Europe. Dennis is a registered Professional Engineer in Ontario.