Ontario Economic Summit to Bring Together Business and Political Leaders to Discuss Challenges to Province’s Workforce

(Toronto, October 1, 2018) – Thought leaders from business, academia, the not-for-profit sector, and government will gather in Niagara-on-the-Lake from October 24 to 26 to discuss how Ontario can overcome emerging workforce issues including artificial intelligence, automation, and competition. Presented by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the summit focuses on the theme of, “The Workforce of Tomorrow: Confronting Disruption as Ontario Transitions to a Learning-Based Economy.”

“We are living in an era of disruptive change and one of the biggest issues facing our economy is whether we will have the skilled workforce to take us into the future,” explains Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “With 77% of Ontario businesses saying that access to talent is critical to their competitiveness, it is important for our leaders to come up with solutions today, so we can ensure our province and our country remains competitive.”

The summit provides delegates with the unique opportunity to develop strategies to chart a successful path forward and understand the priorities of the new government. Delegates will hear from Premier Doug Ford and the Hon. Jim Wilson, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade. Key Ontario Cabinet Ministers will also hold in-camera roundtables with Ontario’s business leaders.

The Ontario Economic Summit seeks to address how Ontario can capitalize on emerging opportunities and build the workforce of tomorrow. The latest agenda can be found on the Summit website.

Date: October 24 – 26, 2018

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 Government Decision-Makers:

• Premier Doug Ford

Ontario Cabinet Ministers:*

• Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, and Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues
• Michael Tibollo, Minister of Community, Safety and Correctional Services
• 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
• 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.

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

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:

Michelle Eaton
Vice President of Communications and Government Relations
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
michelleeaton@occ.ca
Office: (647) 243-3556 or Cell: (647) 261-4594

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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