Empire Club of Canada

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: The Honourable Chris Ballard, Ontario's Minister of the Environment and Climate Change On Confronting the Challenge and Opportunities of Climate Change During a Period of Accelerating Change Chris Ballard was first elected to the Ontario legislature in 2014 as the MPP for Newmarket—Aurora. Ballard currently serves as Minister of the Environment and Climate Change. He was previously Minister of Housing and Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy. Prior to that, he was Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy, and to the Minister of Government and Consumer Services. Ballard has served as a town councillor for Aurora. There he was Chair of the Economic Development Advisory Committee and of the Parks and Recreation Committee, and Vice-Chair of the Town’s Secondary Plan (Places to Grow) Study. As a councillor, his focus was on developing a complete community and facilitating residents’ access to municipal government. Ballard began his career as a journalist, starting with the Aurora Banner and Newmarket Era before moving to daily journalism. He worked in public affairs for the Scarborough Board of Education and launched a public affairs company more than 25 years ago. Ballard was president of the Public Affairs Association of Canada and was made an honourary Lifetime Member for his work. He worked on behalf of Ontario consumers with both the Consumers’ Association of Canada, where he was Executive Director of the Ontario group, and as a founding board member of the Consumers Council of Canada. Ballard is a strong advocate for consumer issues across the country. He has a first-hand understanding of Indigenous issues, having spent many years working for Dene and Gwich’in organizations in northern Canada. Ballard has had the opportunity to mentor young people as a part-time teacher at Centennial College, and has worked on behalf of seniors with the Ontario Long-Term Care Association. He is a member of both the Aurora Seniors’ Centre and the Aurora Legion. As a volunteer, Ballard stood with teachers during the turbulent education time of the 1990s, when he worked to build strong relationships among parents, teachers and school administrators by helping establish a successful School Council at his children’s public school. Ballard was born and raised in rural King City. He and his wife Audrey raised their three children in Aurora. Speaker: The Honourable Chris Ballard, Ontario's Minister of the Environment and Climate Change *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 Honourable Bill Morneau, Canada's Minister of Finance On Equality and Growth a Strong Middle Class Bill Morneau is Canada’s Minister of Finance and has been in that role since 2015. He is the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre, and an accomplished business leader. As Canada’s Minister of Finance, Bill has played a key role in shaping government policy and initiatives, including the introduction of the Canada Child Benefit, tax cuts for the middle class and small businesses, and the negotiation of an enhanced Canada Pension Plan. Between 1990 and 2015, Bill led the human resources firm, Morneau Shepell, through a period of transformational growth. Under his leadership, the firm grew from 200 employees to 4,000, becoming the largest firm of its kind in Canada, providing services to thousands of Canadian organizations and millions of Canadians. As a community leader, Bill has worked to support the arts, help at risk youth, and improve access to health care and education. Over a period of 20 years, he served as the chair of the board at St. Michael’s Hospital, Chair of Covenant House and Chair of the C.D. Howe Institute, and sat on many boards, including at the Loran Scholars Foundation and the Learning Partnership. Internationally, Bill founded a school for Somali and Sudanese girls in Kakuma Refugee Camp, a UNHCR camp in northern Kenya. Bill has co authored a book, The Real Retirement, and previously served as pension investment advisor to the Ontario government. He holds a BA from Western University, an MSc, Econ, from the London School of Economics and an MBA from INSEAD. Moderator: Amanda Lang, Anchor for BNN Bloomberg Speaker: The Honourable Bill Morneau, Canada's Minister of Finance *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 Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario On A Plan for Fairness and Opportunity in Ontario Kathleen Wynne is Ontario’s 25th Premier. Since taking office in 2013, Premier Wynne’s accomplishments include balancing the provincial budget for the first time in a decade, making record-breaking infrastructure investments in Ontario’s roads, schools, hospitals and transit systems, and securing a historic national deal to improve retirement security by enhancing the Canada Pension Plan. Premier Wynne’s plan for building Ontario up focuses on creating new opportunities for people and businesses, and ensuring a fairer, more secure future for everyone in the province. Under her leadership, as Ontario has regained its place as the economic engine of Canada, the Premier has worked to ensure the benefits of growth are shared evenly. To this end, her government is making tuition free for hundreds of thousands of students, raising the minimum wage for workers and creating 100,000 new child care spaces. Earlier this year, Premier Wynne introduced a ground-breaking plan for the biggest expansion of Medicare in a generation. OHIP+ will provide free prescription medication for young people in the province, from birth until they turn 25. The Premier also received international attention for launching a basic income pilot project in three Ontario communities. At a time of global change and uncertainty, Premier Wynne is unwavering in her support for a fair and open society, and has increased her advocacy for free trade and open borders. She has led international business missions to countries including China, India, Mexico and the United States. To ensure the interests of Ontario’s workers and businesses are represented as NAFTA is renegotiated, Premier Wynne has increased her U.S. engagement, focusing on building partnerships and deepening ties with the U.S. states that rely on free trade with Canada. Premier Wynne was first elected as the Member of Provincial Parliament for Don Valley West in 2003, and has served as Minister for five departments and been re-elected three times. When her three children were still in school, she was motivated to run for office by her passion for publicly funded education and her desire to give every child in Ontario the best possible start. Before becoming an MPP, Premier Wynne served as a trustee on the Toronto District School Board. Prior to that, she led citizens’ groups in a number of grassroots community projects and played a major role as an organizer, facilitator and mediator. Premier Wynne grew up in Richmond Hill, where she learned to question the status quo at a young age. In high school, she joined with her friends to challenge the rule that prevented girls from wearing pants to school. She has lived with her partner, Jane, in North Toronto for more than 25 years. She has three children and three grandchildren. Speaker: The Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Premier 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:  NAFTA Panel Featuring Hon. Andrew Leslie, Scotty Greenwood and Robert Benzie With The Giant Next Door: Navigating NAFTA in 2018 Panelists:  Andrew Leslie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Scotty Greenwood, Chief Executive Officer to the Canadian American Business Council Robert Benzie Queen’s Park Bureau Chief for the Toronto Star *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: Lisa LaFlammeSally Armstrong In Conversation With Sally Armstrong On Facts Or Fake News: Are You Being Informed or Misled? From established media outlets to digital upstarts and social platforms – the news is suddenly on trial. Join CTV News’ Chief Anchor and Senior Editor Lisa LaFlamme at the Empire Club of Canada on January 25, 2018 as she dissects the state of media credibility – as well as lies, manipulation, and the extraordinary need for truth-telling – in a discussion with journalist Sally Armstrong. Moderator: Lisa LaFlamme, Chief News Anchor and Senior Editor, CTV National News Speaker: Sally Armstrong, Human Rights Activist, Journalist and Award-Winning Author *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 Luncheon 2018 featuring: Ian Russell, CEO, Investment Industry Association of Canada; David Rosenberg, Chief Economist, Gluskin, Sheff & Assoicates Inc.; Nick Barisheff, President and CEO, BMG Group Inc. Ian C.W. Russell: Ian Russell is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Industry Association of Canada, a position he has held since its inauguration in April 2006. Prior to his appointment at IIAC, Mr. Russell headed the Industry Relations and Representation group of the Investment Dealers Association of Canada. In his 20-year tenure at the Association, he has participated actively in many committees and working groups involved in regulatory and tax issues related to the securities industry and capital markets in Canada. He is a frequent columnist in industry publications and is a presenter and speaker on industry issues and developments. This past June, Mr. Russell was appointed Chariman of the Standing Committee on Regulatory Affairs at the International Council of Securities Associations (ICSA). Mr. Russell has an honours degree in economics and business from the University of Western Ontario, and a postgraduate degree from the London School of Economics. He has completed the Partners, Directors and Officers Qualification Examination and is a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute. David Rosenberg: Mr. Rosenberg is the Firm’s Chief Economist & Strategist with a focus on providing a top-down perspective to the Firm’s investment process and Asset Mix Committee. Mr. Rosenberg received both a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Toronto. Prior to joining Gluskin Sheff in the spring of 2009, Mr. Rosenberg was Chief North American Economist at Merrill Lynch in New York for seven years, during which he was consistently ranked in the Institutional Investor All-Star analyst rankings. Prior thereto, he was Chief Economist and Strategist for Merrill Lynch Canada, based out of Toronto. Mr. Rosenberg is also the author of Breakfast with Dave, a daily distillation of his economic and financial market insights. Nick Barisheff: Nick Barisheff is the founder, president and CEO of BMG Group Inc., a company dedicated to providing investors with a secure, cost-effective, transparent way to purchase and hold physical bullion. BMG is an Associate Member of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), an Associate Member of the Responsible Investment Association (RIA) and signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). Widely recognized as international bullion expert, Nick has written numerous articles on bullion and current market trends that have been published on various news and business websites. Nick has appeared on BNN, CBC, CNBC and Sun Media, and has been interviewed for countless articles by leading business publications across North America, Europe and Asia... Speakers:  Ian Russell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Investment Industry Association of Canada David Rosenberg, Chief Economist, Gluskin Sheff +Associates Inc. Nick Barisheff, President and Chief Executive Officer, BMG Group 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.*

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: The Honourable Glenn Thibeault, Ontario’s Minister of Energy On Delivering Fairness and Choice Glenn Thibeault was first elected to the Ontario legislature in 2015 as the MPP for Sudbury. He was appointed Ontario’s Minister of Energy in June 2016. As Minister of Energy, Glenn is focused on ensuring all Ontarians have access to an affordable supply of clean, reliable energy. Beginning in Fall 2016, he is leading consultations across the province on Ontario’s renewed Long Term Energy Plan. He previously served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, focusing on bringing forward the Climate Change Action Plan. Prior to entering provincial politics, Thibeault was the Member of Parliament for Sudbury and the Executive Director of the Sudbury United Way. As a director with the United Way, he led many successful campaigns in support of community development. He has also been a volunteer with many not for profits, as well as with minor hockey and football leagues as a coach and official. Thibeault was born and raised in Sudbury, and is a graduate of Cambrian College. He lives in Sudbury with his wife, Yolanda, and their two daughters. Speaker: The Honourable Glenn Thibeault, Ontario’s Minister of Energy *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: Patrick Brown, Leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party Patrick Brown outlines his commitment to get the People’s Guarantee accomplished in his first mandate, or he won’t seek a second. Patrick Brown is the Leader of the Ontario PC Party and is the Ontario PC candidate for Barrie Springwater Oro Medonte. He was elected as Leader of the Ontario PC Party in May 2015, and MPP for Simcoe North in September 2015. Patrick studied political science at the University of Toronto before earning his law degree from the University of Windsor. Patrick has dedicated his life to public service. He was first elected at the age of 22 to Barrie City Council. Patrick then ran for the Conservative Party of Canada, defeating a Liberal cabinet minister to become the MP for Barrie, where he served for nine years. He is active in his community and has helped to raise nearly $2 million dollars for local hospitals and charities. What drives Patrick to serve is his optimism that Ontario can once again be the economic engine of the country, and he can make life more affordable for families who want to pay less and get ahead. Speaker: Patrick Brown, Leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party *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: Right Honourable Paul Martin, Former Prime Minister of Canada On Empowering Indigenous Children and Youth to build a Stronger Canada Mr. Martin will speak to the importance of Indigenous children and youth in Canada, and the need to support communities across the country to improve not only their children’s education but also the wider determinants that influence their educational outcomes all within a context that is culturally relevant. From their earliest years through to high school graduation, First Nations, Metis and Inuit children have the same potential to succeed as any other Canadian, and must have the same opportunities to succeed. The Right Honourable Paul Martin was Prime Minister of Canada from 2003 to 2006 and Minister of Finance from 1993 to 2002. During his tenure as Minister of Finance, he erased Canada’s deficit, subsequently recording five consecutive budget surpluses while paying down the national debt and setting Canada’s debt-to-GDP ratio on a steady downward track. He was the co-founder of the Finance Ministers’ G-20, and in September 1999 was named its inaugural chair. During his tenure as Prime Minister, Mr. Martin set in place a ten year, forty-one billion dollar plan to improve health care and reduce wait times; signed agreements with the provinces and territories to establish the first national early learning and child care program and created a new financial deal for Canada’s municipalities. Under his leadership the Canadian Government reached an historic deal with Aboriginal people of Canada to eliminate the existing funding gaps in health, education and housing known as the Kelowna Accord. After leaving public life, Mr. Martin created the Capital for Aboriginal Prosperity and Entrepreneurship (CAPE) Fund, an investment fund investing in Indigenous business and founded the Martin Family Initiative (MFI) focusing on the early childhoods and elementary and secondary education of Indigenous children and youth. The mission of MFI is to walk alongside Indigenous experts, communities and leaders to ensure that the educational opportunities from birth through to secondary school for Indigenous children are as good as any in the country and are culturally appropriate. Mr. Martin has advised the African Development Bank and works closely with the Advisory Council of the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa, sponsored by the African Union, the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the African Development Bank. He was a founding co-chair of the Congo Basin Forest Fund, a 200 million dollar British-Norwegian-Canadian poverty alleviation and sustainable development fund for the Congo Basin Rainforest. Mr. Martin was also a commissioner for the Global Ocean Commission. Before entering politics, he had a distinguished career as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The CSL Group Inc., the largest self-unloading shipping company in the world. Its acquisition by Mr. Martin in 1981 represented the most important leveraged buyout in Canada at that time. Speaker: The Right Honourable Paul Martin, Former Prime Minister 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: Andy Byford, Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Transit Commission On Reflections: The Ten Big Calls of My TTC Career Andy Byford was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Transit Commission in March, 2012. As such, he leads the largest transit agency in Canada, and the third largest in North America, carrying over 540 million riders on an annual basis. Mr. Byford initially joined the TTC as Chief Operating Officer in November, 2011 and was responsible for the delivery of safe, punctual, reliable bus, streetcar, SRT, subway and Wheel-Trans services. From 2009 to 2011, as Chief Operating Officer of Rail Corporation, Sydney, Australia, Mr. Byford delivered service to a million customers a day on Australia’s largest transit network. From 2003 to 2009, he held the positions of Operations Director and Operations and Safety Director with Southern Railway and South Eastern Trains Limited, UK. During his tenure with London Underground from 1989 to 2003, he held a variety of managerial positions including Group Station Manager, Kings Cross and General Manager – Customer Service for three of the busiest subway lines. Mr. Byford is a graduate of the University of Leicester from which he was awarded a B.A. joint honours degree in French and German. He also holds a Diploma in Transport from the University of London. Mr. Byford is from Plymouth in the United Kingdom. A member of the Institute of Railway Operators, he is married and lives in Toronto. Speaker: Andy Byford, Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Transit Commission *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.*