Empire Club of Canada

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Critical Race Theory: The Case For Evaluating What We “Know” and How We Teach Critical Race Theory (CRT) challenges us to understand and address the social, economic, political, and legal conditions that contribute to racial power disparity and inequality in our society. Yet, despite being in an era where we know we must think critically about what we hear and what we’ve learned, a basic lack of agreement on its scope and purpose has caused a questioning of CRT’s value in Canadian classrooms, and society generally. Further, debates around this topic that filter to us from the United States bias our judgment about the role “race” plays in Canadian society.  Join us on February 21, 2023 for a moderated discussion on Critical Race Theory, where our panelists will challenge us to reconsider what we “know” about Canada and its values. Moderator: Nancy Simms M.A. ADR, Candidate Ed.D. Higher Education and Policy. OISE, University of Toronto Speakers:  Kearie Daniel, Executive Director & Co-Founder, Parents of Black Children Joshua Sealy-Harrington, Assistant Professor and Counsel, Lincoln Alexander School of Law at Toronto Metropolitan University and Power Law Craig Wellington, Executive Director & CEO, Black Opportunity Fund *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Progress on Transit Expansion in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Metrolinx is undertaking the largest transit expansion program in North America, delivering a $75-plus billion capital plan over the next 20 years. Metrolinx, while also operating GO Transit, UP Express and PRESTO, is building an integrated regional transit system that will create exciting new possibilities in the region and provide economic and environmental benefits for our communities. As people are returning to transit to get where they need to go and we continue to build back ridership, Metrolinx, under the leadership of CEO Phil Verster, is transforming the transit system to connect communities and meet the expanding needs for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, which is expected to grow to 5 million people by 2051.  On February 13, 2023, the Empire Club is pleased to host Phil Verster, CEO of Metrolinx, in a sit-down discussion with esteemed journalist Anita Sharma. Phil will provide an update on Metrolinx’s capital and construction projects and discuss how Metrolinx is working together with communities to build and deliver a seamless transportation network, getting people where they need to go better, faster and easier. Moderator: Anita Sharma, Network News Anchor, Host, Moderator, CTV News Speaker: Phil Verster, President & CEO, Metrolinx *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Your Health: Helping You Connect to More Convenient Care Closer to Home Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones to provide a keynote address discussing the current state of Ontario’s health care system and how the Ontario government is putting you, the patient, back at the centre of health care. Ontario is preparing for the future by putting aside the ideas of the past and by being bold, innovative and creative. It is time to put you back in charge of your health. Moderator: Kulvir Singh Gill, 1st Vice-President, Empire Club of Canada Speaker: The Honourable Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier, Minister of Health, Government of Ontario *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: 2022 Nation Builder of the Year The Nation Builder of the Year award recognizes Canadians who have made a positive, timely and lasting contribution to Canadian Society and are inspiring role models for Canadians.  The Empire Club of Canada is proud to announce the recipient of the 2022 Nation Builder of the Year Award is Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser, Canadian Olympic Ice Hockey Player, Assistant General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Resident Physician.  Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser is best known as one of Canada's most accomplished hockey players and Olympians. As a consummate professional who unapologetically follows her passion, Hayley most recently shattered a glass ceiling for future generations when she became the first woman named Assistant GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Her dedication to the community as a medical professional throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and her advocacy for supporting access to sports for young Canadians are exemplary. Join us in celebrating with our partners in recognizing this year's award winner.  *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Annual Investment Outlook 2023 Join our expert panel in a discussion to address the economic challenges many businesses and individuals face today. Inflation, a looming recession, and global unrest are reasons to be concerned and uncertain as we enter the new year. In moments of economic downturn, what strategies can we employ to build financial resilience and lay the groundwork for more prosperous times to come? Our speakers will share their expertise in this year's 2023 investment outlook to help businesses and Canadians understand how to preserve and grow their wealth. Speakers: Thomas Caldwell, C.M., Founder & Chairman , Caldwell Financial Ltd Genevieve Roch-Decter, CEO & Founder, GRIT David Rosenberg, Founder & President, Rosenberg Research The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada. Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Ring of Fire Progress Update In Conversation with Minister Pirie, Minister of Mines, Chief Achneepineskum, Lawrence Baxter, Chief Wabasse, and Michael Fox Unlocking the potential of the Ring of Fire is a key priority for the province and Indigenous Leaders, and will help to attract new investments, develop supply chains and build key infrastructure that brings prosperity to northern and Indigenous communities. In order to make this a reality, the province, Marten Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation are working together to complete a series of road projects that would connect the two communities to the highway network and the area known as the Ring of Fire. In April 2022, Premier Ford joined Chief Wabasse and Chief Achneepineskum as they announced the submission of the terms of reference for the Northern Road Link – the road project that would connect the community road projects to the Ring of Fire. Join us for this dynamic conversation as we discuss how the province, the two First Nations and the private sector are working together to make the Ring of Fire a reality, protect the environment, enable further regional partnerships and First Nations self-determination.  Moderator: Sal Rabbani, President, Board of Directors, Empire Club of Canada Speakers: The Honourable George Pirie, Minister of Mines, Government of Ontario Chief Bruce Achneepineskum, Chief of Marten Falls First Nation Lawrence Baxter, Senior Community Advisor, Marten Falls First Nation Michael Fox, President & CEO, Indigenous Community Engagement Chief Cornelius Wabasse, Chief, Webequie First Nation *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Opportunities and Challenges in the Era of Polycrisis We are living through a new era of ‘polycrisis’ and uncertainty: A climate emergency. The socio-economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The highest levels of conflict since WWII. One hundred million displaced people. A rising cost of living. The war in Ukraine. Despite this uncertainty, the future of people and the planet is not predetermined. The world’s population will pass the eight billion mark for the first time in November 2022. It is a moment to reflect on the remarkable development and progress our global community has made – from lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty to expanding access to quality healthcare and education. If we have the power to create a new geological era- the age of humans- then we can harness humanity’s immense collective power to slow the climate emergency in its tracks, the defining challenge of our times. Mr. Achim Steiner will explore what CoP27 achieved and critically analyze if it is enough. He will attempt to define what “leave no one behind” means and outline the opportunities and challenges in our complex and ambiguous environment. Finally, he will discuss a framework of potential pathways for a new form of development through decarbonization and review why the United Nations, including UNDP, still must achieve these overarching objectives. Moderator: Leslie Woo, CEO, CivicAction Speaker: Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Program *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Rethinking the Citizen Experience Online As we enter a new digital age, what makes for an ideal citizen experience online? What does the future state architecture look like? A new industry survey highlights key trends and exciting findings that will enhance the citizen experience online, ensuring it is inclusive, accessible, secure and meets citizens’ needs. Our panelists will explore the survey findings, discuss the challenges and trends to get to the optimal citizen experience, and what the future state of government online services hold for citizens. Moderator: Jim Love, CIO & Chief Content Officer, IT World Canada (ITWC) Speakers: Victoria Abeling, Senior Director, Americas Commercial Security Sales, VMware Carbon Black Craig McLellan, CEO & Founder, ThinkOn The Honourable Kaleed Rasheed, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery, Government of Ontario *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Building Strong Municipalities With the October 25th Ontario municipal elections in the rear-view, the Empire Club of Canada will host an evening panel with current and former municipal leaders to debate the role of municipalities in the broader public service landscape and their influence on the public discussion. This comes at a time when commentary has been centred around the lack of participation in municipal public service, with one-fifth of races facing no contestants. The panel will explore some of the contributing factors to this lack of participation and has the role of the provincial government undermined or bolstered the role of municipalities with controversial legislation on council sizes, perspectives of regional governments and the power and influence of mayors at council. The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada. Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: A Pragmatic Approach to Delivering on a Cleaner Energy Future Join us to hear David Hutchens, the CEO of Fortis Inc. share his perspectives as the leader of this diversified North American electric and gas utility company. David will share his views on mitigating environmental impacts, adapting to climate change, and how we navigate the road to a cleaner energy future in the midst of macro-economic pressures and evolving public policy. Speaker: David G. Hutchens, President & CEO, Fortis Inc. The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada. Views and Opinions  Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.