A 68-year-old man with long-standing type 2 diabetes (HbA1c 7.6%) and hypertension presents with microalbuminuria (ACR 12 mg/mmol) and eGFR 48 mL/min/1.73 m². According to Diabetes Canada, in addition to blood pressure control with an ACE inhibitor, which medication class should be strongly considered to reduce renal and cardiovascular outcomes?