Breakfast with Ontario’s Political Leaders gave high-profile start
to day two of Ontario 2020 Conference
March 8, 2010
Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Transportation, Wayne
Arthurs, MPP and Parliamentary Assistant to the Finance Minister, NDP
leader Andrea Horwath and MPP Peter Tabuns were among the guests at the
morning Breakfast with Ontario’s Political Leaders.
Participants from business, government, union and
community groups were able to bring their issues directly to some of the
decision-makers who can effect change.
Justin Trudeau, Peggy Nash and Gary Goodyear gave the
headlining talks for day two of the Ontario 2020 Conference.
Advocating for youth and the environment, Justin
Trudeau, MP, spoke to the importance of empowering young people in
effecting economic change.
Peggy Nash, Federal NDP Party President, spoke of the
key role unions play in creating a diverse economy. Emphasising the
importance of work, Nash addressed the urgency of listening to women’s
voices to create a fair and balanced economy.
The new federal budget was the subject of Gary
Goodyear’s presentation. As Minister of State for Science and Technology
and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario,
Goodyear gave an overview of the new budget which highlighted investment
in science and technology.
While strategizing about the economic and community
sectors was the focus of day one of the conference, day two sessions
dealt with health care and education. Formulating suggestions based on
scenarios, participants then voted on the accumulated ideas for
improving these essential public services. Reports based on this
important feedback were compiled from the sessions.
Attendees at the 2020 Conference
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Justin
Trudeau, MP and Steering Committee
member Farley Flex
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Peggy Nash, Federal NDP Party President
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Dynamic Ontario 2020 Conference plans for the future
March 4, 2010
Stellar speakers and enthusiastic debate framed the first
day of the Ontario 2020 Conference.
Opening remarks included presentations by Steering Committee
members Smokey Thomas; Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance; and Frances
Lankin, President and CEO of United Way Toronto.
Roger Martin, Dean of the Rotman School of Management
addressed the challenge of education funding in the current economy.
Emphasising that investment in early education is key to a creative
workforce, Martin also confessed that he did not believe in post-secondary
fees reduction - a position which met with some opposition from the crowd.
Thomas Homer-Dixon, global visionary and author of the
acclaimed 'The Upside of Down' captivated the afternoon audience with his
exposition of how stresses such as energy scarcity and demographic shifts
are affecting the economy. Advocating for decentralized systems, Homer-Dixon
proposed long-term policy decisions and a move away from free-trade.
Through a cutting-edge interactive discussion and analysis
of scenarios, attendees actively participate in a visionary planning session
for Ontario's future.
The feature dinner speaker this evening is Mary Robinson,
former President of Ireland and Chair of the U.N. Human RIghts Committee.
The second day of the conference begins with a breakfast
with Ontario's political leaders. The day's events will include high-profile
government speakers Dwight Duncan, Peggy Nash and Justin Trudeau.
Conference attendees include representatives from business,
government, community groups and unions.
Patti Rout; Mary Robinson, former
President of Ireland; Smokey Thomas |
Roger Martin, Dean,
Rotman School of Management |
Thomas Homer-Dixon, global visionary
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Participants engaged in cutting-edge
interactive scenario discussion.
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