Empire Club of Canada

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Ageing At Home: Is It An Affordable Option? The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have caused many Canadians to re-think where they want to age, with 91% now reporting they plan to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. Despite this overwhelming preference to age in place, many older adults are financially unprepared for a safe and comfortable retirement at home. A number of factors contribute to this landscape of financial vulnerability, including low levels of personal savings, higher levels of debt, a scarcity of workplace pension programs, inadequate government-run retirement programs, and a care system that provides greater financial coverage for institutional care over homecare. There are a number of strategies and programs that Canadians can use today to better secure their retirement, such as delaying the acceptance of CPP/QPP benefits, leveraging home equity assets, and purchasing private long-term care (LTC) insurance. Lasting solutions, however, must include public policy reform in areas like the creation of a national public LTC insurance program, promoting financial literacy and retirement planning, and encouraging employers to offer pensions. Moderator: Peter Mansbridge, Canadian Journalist and Author Panelists: Dr. Samir K. Sinha, Director of Geriatrics at Sinai Health System and the University Health Network Bonnie-Jeanne MacDonald, Director of Financial Security Research, National Institute on Ageing Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO, CanAge: Canada’s National Seniors’ Advocacy Organization *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: Fall 2021 P3 Market Update with the Hon. Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure The Hon. Kinga Surma, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure, shared the latest about public-private partnerships (P3s) infrastructure projects in the Fall 2021 Market Update. Released quarterly, Infrastructure Ontario’s P3 Market Update is a list of public infrastructure projects in the pre-procurement and procurement stages that the Ontario government has committed investments in. Previous Market Updates have confirmed historic government investments totaling approximately $60 billion towards enhancing healthcare, public transit and transportation, community amenities, economic growth and local job creation. As the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted, investing in the health and wellness of all Ontarians is more critical than ever.  Minister Surma also highlighted how the Ontario government is committed to protecting people’s health and safety by investing in a wide range of critical infrastructure in sectors like healthcare, transit, highways, education and community safety, to improve the quality of life for all Ontarians. Speaker: The Hon. Kinga Surma, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure *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: Tales from the Campaign Trail - Majority or Bust? Please watch this virtual discussion that breaks down the Canadian federal election. The event features a panel of political insiders and experts that are on the road with their leader or running the show from the campaign war room. The panelists share stories from the campaign and provide insights into what just happened. How did the political leaders, Prime Minister Trudeau, Erin O'Toole and Jagmeet Singh, stack up on critical issues related to pandemic response, economic growth, and climate change? Were the campaigns able to follow their election plan and stay on message? This panel looks at the critical moments that impacted the election results and breaks down for our audience what the new political landscape means for Canada going forward. David Coletto from Abacus Data kicks off the event with a brief polling session. Presentation: David Coletto, CEO & Founding Partner, Abacus Data Moderator:  Marieke Walsh, Political Reporter, The Globe and Mail Panelists: Dan Mader, Partner, Loyalist Public Affairs Jennifer Howard, Chief of Staff to Jagmeet Singh, NDP Braeden Caley, Senior Director, Communications, Liberal Party of Canada *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: How Canada's Changing Privacy Landscape Will Impact Business, Consumers, and You The Government of Canada's proposed changes to Canada's existing national privacy framework (Bill C-11) died on the Order Paper when the election was called. The need for modernization and a national approach have not changed. Given the opportunity to update that plan, how should the new Parliament act to best protect the personal information of individuals while recognizing the need of organizations to collect, use or disclose personal information during commercial activities? Practically speaking, how might those changes impact some of the modern conveniences we have come to take for granted as individuals, consumers and businesses. Our panel of experts provided their diverse point of views on the many legal and practical implications of privacy reform in advance of the debate heating up again this fall. Moderator: Alex Benay, Global Lead, Government Azure Strategy, Microsoft Speakers: Vass Bednar, MPP, Executive Director, Master of Public Policy in Digital Society Program McMaster University Éloïse Gratton, Partner & National Co-Leader, Privacy and Data Protection Group, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Dr. Teresa Scassa, Canada Research Chair in Information Law and Policy, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law *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: Canadian Leaders Prioritizing Talent, Health and Technology to Emerge Stronger While the COVID-19 pandemic has not impacted all organizations and industries equally, it has forced all leaders to reassess what is important and prioritize. Hear how leaders are prioritizing talent and technology to enable agility through disruptions and position their companies for success. Claude Guay and Kevin Strain also discussed how the pandemic has reinforced the importance of the mental and physical well-being of their people. The role of leaders has become ever more complex –financial and business acumen must be paired with human connection. They shared how leaders in Canada can adapt to this new way of working and help Canada emerge stronger. Speakers: Claude Guay - President & General Manager, IBM Canada Kevin Strain - President & CEO, Sun Life *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: The Role of the Aviation Sector on Toronto’s Economic Recovery   This virtual discussion focused on the critical economic impact of the Toronto Island airport to the successful restart of Ontario’s urban visitor economy.   The event featured Neil Pakey, CEO of Nieuport Aviation, owner and operator of the passenger terminal at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport; John Thomas, CEO of Connect Airlines, a planned new airline entrant to Canada via the Toronto City Airport; and Scott Beck, President and CEO of Destination Toronto. Farah Mohamed, long-time community resident, business leader, and social profit entrepreneur is the moderator. The panel explored the critical role of this airport in the urban visitor economy, its unique role in connecting Canada’s financial sector with our largest global trading partner, the United States, and discussed how strategic infrastructure investments are necessary for it to continue to evolve as a key urban gateway and tourism hub.  They also explored why U.S. carrier Connect Airlines has its eyes on Toronto City Airport as a new hub offering travelers more choice to key American cities.   Moderator: Farah Mohamed, Social Entrepreneur & Former CEO, Malala Fund   Panelists: Neil Pakey, CEO Nieuport Aviation   John Thomas, CEO Connect Airlines   Scott Beck, President & CEO Destination Toronto   *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: The Future of Elder Care in Canada COVID-19 has forced us to question how many current structures in society function, and the values that underpin them. How we care for elders is a striking case in point. In this virtual event, The Empire Club proudly welcomed Linda Knight CEO, CarePartners, and Dr Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics, Sinai Health System and University Health Network to participate in a panel discussion moderated by Globe and Mail health columnist André Picard,  to discuss how the healthcare system needs to be to redesigned to improve the lives of Canada’s elders. Moderator: André Picard, Health Columnist, The Globe and Mail & Author Panelists: Linda Knight, CEO, CarePartners Dr. Samir K. Sinha, Director of Geriatrics, Sinai Health System and University Health Network *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 Better in 2021 As Canadians begin their long-awaited summer, they have much to cherish, much to mourn and much to confront and reflect upon. Over the past year, we have come together across the land and around the world to survive the first waves of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic killed and harmed too many but brought out the best in us in many ways. As we pay respects to the lives lost, we also honour our frontline health heroes. We thank those behind the scenes who “had our backs” in this crisis and we highlight those leading our current quest to “build back better” as we create the many opportunities that await. We equally must address the many inequalities that the pandemic has intensified, the tragedies from our past that have now come to light, and the other shortcomings we still must repair. Inspired by over a century and a half of hard-won success in overcoming costly pandemics, economic recessions and foreign conflicts, we draw strength from Canadians who are committed to science, academics, business, and Indigenous communities, who now lead the way in building a better, fairer, more inclusive community at home and abroad. Moderator: The Hon. Jean Augustine, First Black Woman elected to the Parliament of Canada & former Cabinet Minister of Multiculturalism and Status of Women Panelists: Perry Bellegarde, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Margaret MacMillan, Professor of History, University of Toronto and Oxford University *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: Getting back to normal – What does it mean and what will it take? With millions of Canadians being vaccinated, and provinces slowly unrolling reopening plans across the country, when does Canada return to normal? What does the new normal look like for everyday Canadians and Canadian companies? Our panelists discuss the challenges we faced in continuing to protect Canadians from COVID-19 while getting our economy back to pre-pandemic levels. Our panel discussed the challenges Canada faced with achieving herd immunity, issuing vaccine passports and looking at the challenges Canadian businesses will face getting back to normal. How will we build back better? When do we get back to normal? What is the new normal? Moderator: Mike Kessel, President & CEO - Cleveland Clinic Canada Panelists: Dr. Julie Gerberding, M.D., M.P.H, Executive Vice President & Chief Patient Officer, Merck, Former Director - U.S. CDC Dr. Jia Hu - Chair, 19 to Zero Rocco Rossi, President & CEO - Ontario Chamber of Commerce *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: Back to the Ballot Box This virtual discussion focused on the Canadian federal election. The event featured a distinguished panel of professionals including  political insiders, the private sector and media. How do the political leaders, Prime Minister Trudeau, Erin O’Toole and Jagmeet Singh, stack up on critical issues related to pandemic response, economic growth, and climate change? How developments – from the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic slowdown – impact the outcome of this election? What the paths to victory for each major party and when will the election be called? The federal election was shaping up to be a highly contested race with major implications for Canada. The Empire Club of Canada federal election forecast covers all the scenarios and issues in the race for Prime Minister. A brief polling session kicked off the event with David Coletto from Abacus Data followed by a moderated panel discussion. Moderator: Marieke Walsh, Political Reporter, The Globe and Mail Polling Presentation By: David Coletto, CEO & Founder, Abacus Data Panelists: Jason Lietaer, President, Enterprise Canada Amanda Alvaro, President, Pomp and Circumstance Karl Bélanger, President, Traxxion Stratégies *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.*