The British Columbia Economic Summit: Vancouver
PLENARY PANELS
THE STATE OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
As an economy built on trade, British Columbia is impacted by international markets and changing economic conditions. So what will be the impacts of the global financial crisis and the housing downturn in the United States? How long will they last? How will the impacts affect Canada and B.C.? What can jurisdictions like B.C. do to protect their financial health and ensure they are positioned to rebound when the turnaround comes?
Listen to Panelists: Thomas d’Aquino (mp3, 14min 25sec), chief executive and president of Canadian Council of Chief Executives; Elyse Allan (mp3, 17min 45sec), president and CEO of GE Canada
Chair: Colin Hansen, Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for the Olympics
NEW COLLABORATIONS
The United States and the Province of British Columbia have a history of successful collaborative projects. The New Collaborations plenary session will suggest approaches to build upon these successes. This session will offer an overview of the excellent relationships our province has established to date with the U.S. and examine future opportunities to expand these relationships. In light of the recent presidential election, the Province is well positioned to continue its efforts to move forward to advance our policies and work together with the U.S. on our economic challenges.
Listen to Panelists: Stephan Dolezalek (mp3, 6min 42sec), managing director and group leader of CleanTech, VantagePoint Venture Partners; Phillip Chicola (mp3, 6min 26sec), consul general, consulate general of the United States of America in Vancouver; Maryscott Greenwood (mp3, 8min 37sec), executive director of the Canadian-American Business Council
Listen to Chair: Joan McIntyre (mp3, 7min 22sec), Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations
CHANGING TIMES:
TODAY’S CHALLENGES, TOMORROW’S OPPORTUNITIES
The world economy is at a critical juncture, and the need for British Columbia to make the right economic choices going forward has never been more pronounced. Today’s decisions will have long-term implications for our province’s businesses, communities and families. What are the major challenges facing us in the months and years ahead, and what are the opportunities to be had during this international economic storm?
Listen to Panelists: David Emerson (mp3, 19min 26sec), executive chair and CEO of the BC Transmission Corporation and chair of the BC Economic Advisory Council; Graham MacLachlan (mp3, 13min 43sec), regional president of RBC Royal Bank
Chair: Colin Hansen, Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for the Olympics
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
SESSION 1
DEVELOPING B.C.’S HUMAN CAPITAL:
THE ROLE OF B.C.’S UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES
Finding solutions to our health-care, energy and economic challenges means relying, in part, on our ability to develop and attract the world’s brightest minds. If education and training hold the keys to our future, what can our universities and colleges do to ensure we are getting the job done, and are we turning out the kind of graduates B.C. needs to continue building a strong economy?
Listen to Panelists: Dr. Don Wright (mp3, 3min 52sec), president of the British Columbia Institute of Technology; Michael Kennedy (mp3, 4min 32sec), regional leader of Stantec; Dr. David Turpin (mp3, 9min 35 sec), president and vice chancellor at the University of Victoria
Chair: Murray Coell, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development
SESSION 2
ON THE MOVE:
THE PACIFIC GATEWAY AND B.C.’S TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS
Proximity and lower transportation costs have helped make the United States Canada’s largest trading partner. With massive potential markets for B.C.’s export sectors in countries like India, China, Japan and Korea, what transportation solutions are needed to maximize trade and investment with Asia and make B.C the preferred point of entry for goods in North America?
Listen to Panelists: Larry Berg (mp3, 5min 17sec), president and CEO of Vancouver Airport Authority; Dr. Larry Blain (mp3, 3min 34sec), president and CEO of Partnerships BC; Captain Gordon Houston (mp3, 4min 33sec), president of Port Metro Vancouver; Michael Murphy (mp3, 4min 33sec), vice president of government affairs for Canadian Pacific; Jim Vena (mp3, 5min 57sec), senior vice president of Western Region, CN
Listen to Chair: Kevin Falcon (mp3, 7min 25sec), Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure
SESSION 3
TOMORROW’S TECHNOLOGIES TODAY:
THE FUTURE OF B.C.’S TECH INDUSTRIES
Thanks to tremendous achievements in the biotech, communications, information technology and alternative energy sectors, British Columbia has a well-earned reputation as a hotbed of innovation. But with significant investment and time required to bring projects from the R&D phase to market, how can business and government work together to capture the world’s attention and capital? Are we doing all we can to compete in an increasingly knowledge-based economy?
Listen to Panelists: Pascal Spothelfer (mp3, 5min), president and CEO of the BC Technology Industry Association; Bruce Flexman (mp3, 6min 11sec), president of the International Financial Centre BC; Dr. Simon Pimstone (mp3, 6min 36sec), president and CEO of Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Chair: Ida Chong, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative
SESSION 4
TRADING PLACES:
B.C.’S INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND ASIA PACIFIC
With other countries looking to bolster their hard-hit economies, what are Canada and British Columbia doing to ensure our export sectors remain responsive in an increasingly competitive international marketplace? Equally important, do we have the right policies, tools and regulations in place to ensure that Canada’s Pacific province is as open and resilient as possible when it comes to selling what the world wants to buy?
Listen to Panelists: Shinji Kowase (mp3, 4min 12sec), president and CEO of Mitsubishi Canada Ltd.; Lindsay Gordon (mp3, 9min 38sec), president and CEO of HSBC Bank Canada; Dr. David Fung (mp3, 5min 51sec), chairman and CEO of ACDEG International
Listen to Chair: Pat Bell (mp3, 3min 18sec), Minister of Forests and Range
SESSION 5
WELCOMING THE WORLD:
OLYMPIC AND TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES
In just a few months, our country, province, communities and attractions will be centre stage as we welcome the world to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. It’s an unprecedented opportunity, but are we ready? What’s being done to make sure we make the most of this once-in-a lifetime experience, and what plans are in place to ensure there’s a 2010 bounce to our tourism sector?
Listen to Panelists: John Furlong (mp3, 5min 43sec), chief executive officer for VANOC; Mike Tretheway (mp3, 9min 11sec), executive vice president of InterVistas Consulting Inc.; Darcy Alexander (mp3, 8min 24sec), vice president and general manager of Sun Peaks Resort
Listen to Chair: Shirley Bond (mp3, 2min 39sec), Minister of Education and Minister Responsible for Early Learning and Literacy and Deputy Premier
SESSION 6
RESOURCES FOR OUR FUTURE:
FORESTRY, MINING AND BIOENERGY
Despite a troubled economy, British Columbia’s natural resource industries still account for the largest share of provincial revenue and jobs in our province. By any measure, they are a long way from being sunset industries in British Columbia. So, what are the choices and challenges ahead for these important industries that mean so much to individual communities and the province as a whole?
Listen to Panelists:: John Allan (mp3, 11min 9sec), president and CEO of Council of Forest Industries; Ross MacLachlan (mp3, 6min 29sec), president and CEO of Lignol Innovations; Doug Horswill (mp3, 9min 26sec), senior vice president of sustainability and external affairs at Teck Cominco Ltd.
Listen to Chair: Blair Lekstrom (mp3, 8m 32sec), Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
SESSION 7
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION:
FILM, TELEVISION AND DIGITAL MEDIA IN B.C.
Whether it’s movies, television or electronic games, entertainment is big business in British Columbia. With other cities, states and provinces looking to supplant Vancouver as the third-largest entertainment production centre behind Los Angeles and New York, how does B.C. plan to maintain its competitive and creative advantage as an A-list location and marquee player famous for attracting top talent and world-class productions?
Listen to Panelists: Peter Leitch (mp3, 5min 8sec), president of North Shore Studios/Mammoth Studios; Miro Cernetig (mp3, 5min 49sec), columnist, the Vancouver Sun; Dr. Gerri Sinclair (mp3, 6min 24sec), president of Great Northern Way Campus
Chair: Bill Bennett, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts
SESSION 8
GREEN MEANS BUSINESS:
OPPORTUNITIES IN A LOW CARBON ECONOMY
In B.C.’s alternative energy and other sectors, companies are developing innovative ways for businesses to go green while reducing their operating costs. As countries and companies around the world look for ways to reduce their own carbon footprints, what are the economic opportunities that come with greening the planet, and what’s the job-creating potential of carbon neutrality? In addition, how do we turn home-grown innovation into commercial opportunities that highlight B.C.’s green leadership?
Listen to Panelists: Jonathan Rhone (mp3, 5min 54sec), president and CEO of Nexterra Energy Corporation; Jeff Myers (mp3, 4min 46sec), chairman and CEO of Pristine Power; Mossadiq Umedaly (mp3, 10min 44sec), chair of BC Hydro
Listen to Chair: Barry Penner (mp3, 6min 54sec), Minister of Environment
SESSION 9
FEEDING THE FUTURE:
AGRICULTURE, B.C.’S GROWTH INDUSTRY
Thanks to British Columbia’s agricultural exports to more than one hundred countries, we have a well-earned reputation for great products and good taste. Faced with the challenges of an economic slowdown, increasing international competition and a growing global trend towards eating local, what can growers in B.C. do to further enhance and increase their market share at home and abroad? At the same time, what role can local consumers and the Province play in harvesting the potential of B.C.’s agricultural sector?
Listen to Panelists: Garnet Etsell (mp3, 5min 38sec), chair of the BC Agriculture Council; Dr. Alan Winter (mp3, 5min 32sec), president and CEO of Genome British Columbia; Tyler Galts (mp3, 5min 50sec), general manager of Quails’ Gate Okanagan Valley Winery
Listen to Chair: Ron Cantelon (mp3, 1min 42sec), Minister of Agriculture and Lands
SESSION 10
PRODUCTIVITY:
THE COMPETITION TO SUCCEED
More and more, the answer to our success at home and abroad is greater productivity – the ongoing ability of our industries and businesses to outperform against growing competition. Sounds simple, but how do we get the most out of our talent, location, resources and innovation in a world that’s getting smaller by the minute? How and where can we be more productive, and what can business, government and labour do to ensure our competitive advantages give us the edge?
Listen to Panelists: William Robson (mp3, 5min 23sec), president and CEO of the C.D. Howe Institute; Professor Stephen Toope (mp3, 6min 20sec), president and vice chancellor of the University of British Columbia; Pierre Gratton (mp3, 5min 47sec), president and CEO for the Mining Association of BC
Listen to Chair: Iain Black (mp3, 2min 33sec), Minister of Labour and Citizens’ Services
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