RBC Capital Markets hosted investors and 38 Canadian companies at a three-day conference in Toronto starting May 19 that focused on key issues including tariff and trade policy uncertainty, infrastructure and defence opportunities, the improving outlook for freight transportation, the role of AI and technology in operational efficiencies, and disciplined capital allocation. Sectors represented included transportation and infrastructure, engineering and construction, industrial products, aerospace and defence, and business services. In the airlines and aerospace sector, “defence spending and Canadian government investment emerge as a common tailwind” for Bombardier Inc. (BB/D:TSX), Chorus Aviation Inc. (CHR:TSX) and Exchange Income Corp. (EIF:TSX), RBC analysts said in a  May 22 report on the conference. In construction and engineering the growth outlook across the country looks strong for companies including Aecon Group Inc. (ARE:TSX), AtkinsRealis Group Inc. (ATRL:TSX), Stantec Inc. (STN:TSX), WSP Global Inc. (WSP:TSX) and Toromont Industries Ltd. (TIH:TSX), the analysts said. In freight, RBC said that demand was “stable but uneven,” but that rail prices were starting to rise at Canadian National Railway Co. (CNR:TSX) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. (CP:TSX) supported by a record grain harvest. RBC also flagged Cargojet Inc. (CJT:TSX) for its “steady and solid growth.”