Canada and US Ambassadors Join Ontario Political and Business Leaders for Annual Ontario Economic Summit

(Toronto, October 18, 2018) – Kelly Craft, U.S. Ambassador to Canada and David MacNaughton, Ambassador of Canada to the U.S. are among the latest speakers announced for next week’s Ontario Economic Summit which takes place in Niagara-on-the-Lake from October 24 to 26.

Delegates will also hear from important members of the Ontario government, including Premier Doug Ford and the Hon. Jim Wilson, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade as well as thought leaders from business, academia, and the not-for-profit sector.

Presented by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the theme of this year’s event is “The Workforce of Tomorrow: Confronting Disruption as Ontario Transitions to a Learning-Based Economy.” Speakers will examine how the province can overcome emerging workforce issues including artificial intelligence, automation, and competition.

“We are bringing together leaders from different industries, backgrounds and experiences so that an exchange of ideas can happen and we can begin to generate solutions to some of the issues facing our economy. 77% of Ontario businesses saying that access to talent is critical to their competitiveness, so it is important we develop ways to ensure our workers are better skilled for new and emerging technologies,” explains Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “The future of the Ontario workforce will be vital to whether our province and our country can compete and excel globally.”

The summit gives delegates the opportunity to hear about the new priorities and policies of the new provincial government as well as to get an insight into U.S.-Canada relations. Key Ontario Cabinet Ministers will also hold in-camera roundtables with Ontario’s business leaders. Additionally, Kelly Craft, U.S. Ambassador to Canada and David MacNaughton, Ambassador of Canada to the United States, will hold a fireside chat.

The latest agenda can be found on the Summit website.

Date: October 24 – 26

Place: White Oaks Resort & Spa, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

Themes:

• Workforce demand/supply, and creating solutions to support broad economic transition
• The challenges businesses must face as we confront the future of work
• The changing nature of work (disruptions from AI, advanced robotics, and automation)
• How companies, non-profits, and governments from around the world are addressing the skilling and reskilling continuum

Key Ontario Government Decision-Makers:

• Premier Ford

Ontario Cabinet Ministers*

• Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, and Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues
• Jim Wilson, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
• Lisa Thompson, Minister of Education
• Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, and Minister of Indigenous Affairs
• Rod Phillips, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
• Vic Fedeli, Minister of Finance and Chair of Cabinet
• Todd Smith, Minister of Government and Consumer Services, and Government House Leader
• Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
• Monte McNaughton, Minister of Infrastructure
• Laurie Scott, Minister of Labour
• Sylvia Jones, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport
• Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities
• John Yakabuski, Minister of Transportation
• Peter Bethlenfalvy, President of the Treasury Board

*Cabinet ministers confirmed to date, listed in alphabetical order of Ministry

Keynote Speakers:

• M. Blake Hutcheson, President and Chief Pension Officer, OMERS and Chair, Oxford Properties Group
• Susan Lund, Partner, McKinsey Global Institute

Co-Chairs:

• Roberta L. Jamieson, President and CEO, Indspire and Executive Producer, Indspire Awards
• Michael Serbinis, CEO and Founder, League
• Irene Sterian, President & CEO, ReMAP
• Steven Murphy, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Special Guests:

• David MacNaughton, Ambassador of Canada to the United States
• Kelly Craft, U.S. Ambassador to Canada
• Patty Hajdu, Canada’s Minister of Workforce Development and Labour

Media Accreditation
For more information about the Ontario Economic Summit, to apply for media accreditation, or to arrange an interview with a summit speaker, please contact:

Ceara Copps – Edwards
Communications Advisor
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
cearacoppsedwards@occ.ca| Office: (647) 243-3562 | Mobile: (647) 472-3274
For the program and list of confirmed speakers, please visit the Summit website.

About the Ontario Economic Summit
The Ontario Economic Summit is the forum for visionary leaders in the public, private, education and not-for-profit sectors, to shape Ontario’s future growth and role in the global economy.

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