2022 Ontario Economic Summit

Building Ontario’s Growth Agenda

This year, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) hosted its flagship conference, the Ontario Economic Summit (OES), at the Fairmont Royal York on November 22 and 23. The Summit brought together thought leaders and difference makers from all sectors of the economy and all corners of the province to explore solutions to our most pressing public policy challenges.

OES 2022 featured interactive presentations, engaging keynotes and panels, and small group breakouts, providing delegates with the opportunity to engage with thought leaders from the public and private sectors. Speakers included top experts on the most pressing public policy issues facing Ontario including labour, supply chains, health care, climate change, and advancing Indigenous reconciliation. Additionally, the event was an opportunity for delegates to collaborate, forge new partnerships and network with like-minded professionals.

Highlights:

Introductory remarks by His Worship John Tory, Mayor of Toronto.

Allison Deer delivered a thoughtful keynote, discussing the role that business can play in championing the economic inclusion of Indigenous women and strategies to build meaningful partnerships and advance economic reconciliation.

Rudyard Griffiths (Chair, Munk Debates, and Executive Director, The Hub) moderated a timely debate on the resolution Be it Resolved: Ontario Needs Reshoring as Part of its Growth Agenda featuring Andrew Coyne (Columnist, The Globe and Mail), Bill Robson (CEO, C.D. Howe Institute), Sandra Pupatello (Canadian International Avenues Ltd.) and Sean Speer (Senior Fellow, University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy and Editor-at-Large, The Hub).

Ambassador David L. Cohen, U.S. Ambassador to Canada joined Ontario Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO, Rocco Rossi for a fireside chat, on the heels of the U.S. midterm elections, to discuss the increasingly complex challenges and opportunities facing the two countries.

OCC’s Senior Manager, Policy, Claudia Dessanti moderated a panel discussion featuring Ehren Cory (CEO, Canada Infrastructure Bank), Eric Campbell (Executive Director, Clean Economy Fund), Jennifer Edey (Senior Vice President, Operational Services & Business Development, Bruce Power), Priyanka Lloyd (Executive Director, Green Economy Canada) on what choices Ontario can make now to meet the demands of a changing climate.

The Globe and Mail’s André Picard (Health Reporter & Columnist) moderated a discussion between Douglas Ward (General Manager of MEDIC, Mohawk College), Erin Phllips (Head Lung Oncology, AstraZeneca) and  Isadore Day (Founder & CEO, Bimaadzwin) on what the role of the private sector in supporting a stronger, more resilient public health care system and help achieve positive health outcomes for all Ontarians.

The Honourable Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario’s Minister of Finance joined Adrienne Batra (Editor-in-Chief, Toronto Sun) for a discussion on the next steps of Ontario’s Plan to Build, introduced in Budget 2022, as well as the challenges, uncertainties, and opportunities that lie ahead for the province and its business community

Amid labour shortages and an aging population, Dr. Rhonda L. Lenton (President & Vice-Chancellor, York University), Kelly J. Lendsay (President & CEO, Indigenous Works and Founder & CEO, Luminary) and Zabeen Hirji (Executive Advisor, Future of Work, Deloitte) joined moderator Rosa Saba (Business Journalist, The Canadian Press) to discuss how to achieve an inclusive workforce and a diverse and competitive talent pipeline.

As one of Canada’s most successful business leaders, the Founder of the BlackNorth initiative, a CBC Dragon and the author of “No Bootstraps When You Are Barefoot,” Wes Hall concluded the Ontario Economic Summit by sharing his vision for optimism and resilience during times of uncertainty.

Cabinet Minister Roundtables
We were honoured to be joined by the Hon. Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health; Hon. Victor Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade; Hon. Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Hon. Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development; Hon. Doug Downey, Attorney General; Hon. Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation and  Francophone Affairs; Hon. Kaleed Rasheed, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery, Hon. David Piccini, Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, Hon. Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development and Indigenous Affairs; Hon. Prabmeet Sarkaria, President of the Treasury Board of Ontario and the Hon. Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity.

For partnership opportunities and to learn more about the 2023 Ontario Economic Summit contact Brent Edwards, Key Account Manager at brentedwards@occ.ca.