Related News: "Innovation and Competitiveness"
Federal budget will improve skills training, but developing modern and efficient labour markets requires ongoing commitment, business leaders say
OTTAWA – The 2013-2014 federal budget includes a number of measures to address Canada’s labour market requirements, but much more needs to be done at all levels of society to ensure that skill shortages do not choke economic growth, according to the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE).
“Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has put his finger squarely on the problem: far too many well-paid jobs are going unfilled because employers can’t find people with the right skills,” said The Honourable John Manley, the CCCE’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
The CCCE is the senior voice of Canada’s business community, representing 150 chief executives and leading entrepreneurs in all sectors and regions of the country.
“Companies across the country, in sectors ranging from energy and natural resources to construction, manufacturing and services, are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit employees with the right qualifications,” Mr. Manley said. “It’s a problem today, and if left unchecked it will only get worse, undermining opportunities for Canadian workers and contributing to slower economic growth.”
In today’s budget, Mr. Flaherty pledged: new funding for businesses to train unemployed and under-employed workers; expanded support for apprentices; more internships for recent post-secondary graduates; and increased assistance for … Read more »
Post-budget conference examined Canada’s labour market needs and the transition from school to work
Is Canada’s education system properly preparing students for the 21st century job market? What can employers and educators do to help young Canadians find meaningful, rewarding careers? These questions and others were discussed at a special post-federal budget conference in Toronto on Monday, March 25, at the Park Hyatt Toronto, Avenue Road at Bloor Street West.
Hosted by the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) and the Canadian International Council (CIC), the half-day, invitation-only conference brought together approximately 100 business leaders, government officials, educators, policy experts and students. The full program, which will run from 8:45 a.m. to 12 noon, was live-streamed on the web.
The conference featured a keynote address by Dr. Rick Miner, author of “People Without Jobs, Jobs Without People”, two panel discussions moderated by Steve Paikin, host of TVO’s The Agenda with Steve Paikin, and closing remarks by Gerald McCaughey, President and Chief Executive Officer of CIBC.
Panel participants, in alphabetical order:
- Dr. Arvind Gupta, Chief Executive Officer and Scientific Director, Mitacs
- Linda Hasenfratz, Chief Executive Officer, Linamar Corporation
- Veronica Lacey, President and Chief Executive Officer, Veronica Lacey & Associates
- Sheldon Levy, President and Vice Chancellor, Ryerson University
- Sachin Maharaj, Graduate
Eric Miller to join CCCE Secretariat as Vice President, Policy, Innovation and Competitiveness
The Honourable John Manley, President and CEO of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE), today announced that Eric Miller will join the CCCE Secretariat as Vice President, Policy, Innovation and Competitiveness, effective March 18, 2013.
“Eric has a wealth of experience in policy development, trade and industrial sector negotiations and the identification and management of sectoral issues and strategies. He served most recently as Industry Canada’s representative at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C, where he acted as the point person in identifying and pursuing policy priorities for Industry Canada in the US. He served as a member of Canada’s team that developed the 2011 Beyond the Border Action Plan. Prior to this he acted as a Washington advisor for the Canadian Government’s investments in the 2009 restructuring of the North American auto industry.
“Eric has also worked as an independent consultant managing export development and trade projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. Working as a consultant between 1996-2005 with the Integration and Trade Development Department of the Inter-American Development Bank, he advised governments throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on trade negotiations and trade development strategies. During this period Eric worked on four free trade negotiations between … Read more »
CEOs welcome progress in implementing Canada-U.S. border and regulatory cooperation plans
In the 12 months since the launch of the Canada-U.S. Beyond the Border and Joint Regulatory Cooperation initiatives, the two governments have achieved solid progress in several important areas, Canada’s business leaders say.
“By helping to streamline cross-border travel and trade, these initiatives are promoting economic growth, job creation and competitiveness,” said The Honourable John Manley, President and CEO of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE). The CCCE is the senior voice of Canada’s business community, representing 150 chief executives and leading entrepreneurs in all sectors and regions of the country.
Mr Manley was commenting on the release of two progress reports, one dealing with the Canada-U.S. Border Action Plan and the other on the Regulatory Cooperation Council Joint Action Plan. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama announced the two plans during a meeting at the White House in December 2011.
Today’s reports offer a range of examples of progress in improving cross-border travel and commerce, including:
- The launch of a pilot project under which Canadian border guards screen international shipments at the Port of Prince Rupert for cargo destined to the United States by rail, without the requirement for a second inspection on the U.S.
Video of “Canada in the Pacific Century” half-day conference in Calgary
On Monday, December 10, 2012, the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) hosted a half-day conference in Calgary on Asia’s rise and the impact on Canada’s energy sector. Presented in partnership with The School of Public Policy, University of Calgary, this special event brought together CEOs, provincial and federal officials, policy experts and leaders of First Nations governments.
The conference included keynote remarks by The Honourable Ken Hughes, Minister of Energy, Alberta, and Grand Chief Edward John, a Hereditary Chief of Tl’azt’en Nation in Northern BC and Chair of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
In addition, panel discussions considered:
- the role of state-owned enterprises as investors in Canada’s oil and gas industry
- opportunities and challenges in exporting Canadian energy products to Asian markets
Panelists included:
- Hal Kvisle, President and CEO, Talisman Energy
- John Zahary, President and CEO, Sunshine Oilsands
- Paul Evans, Institute of Asian Research and Liu Institute for Global Issues, University of British Columbia
- Ray Boisvert, former assistant director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
- Richard L. (Rick) George, Chairman, Osum Oil Sands
- Lorraine Mitchelmore, President and Canada Country Chair, Shell Canada
- Ellis Ross, Chief Councillor of the Haisla Nation, Kitamaat
Foreign investment decisions will benefit Canadian economy, Manley says
Statement by The Honourable John Manley, President and CEO, Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE), on today’s foreign investment decisions by the Government of Canada:
“The decision to approve the acquisitions of Nexen Inc. and Progress Energy Resources Corp. sends a positive signal to investors in Canada and around the world. Canada welcomes foreign investment because it is good for our economy, good for job creation and increases competition, which in turn strengthens productivity.
“Canada’s population is small relative to those of the other major advanced economies, and we have a tremendous need for capital to develop our industrial base and achieve our potential as a leading exporter of energy and advanced energy technologies. At the same time, companies looking to invest in Canada must play by our rules and respect our values, adhering to Canadian laws, regulations, and environmental and labour standards.
“Based on a preliminary review, it appears that the guidelines introduced today will safeguard the national interest while ensuring that Canadians continue to reap the benefits of a welcoming approach to foreign investment. Equally significant, the guidelines recognize the essential role of private enterprise and free market principles in driving economic growth and prosperity. The government deserves … Read more »
Panel provides strong blueprint for Canadian aerospace industry, Manley says
Statement by The Honourable John Manley, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, in response to today’s release of findings by the federal Review of Aerospace and Space Programs and Policies:
“Canada’s aerospace companies generate $22 billion a year in revenues and employ nearly 80,000 Canadians in high-paying jobs at more than 400 firms across the country. Their collective efforts have made Canada a world leader in the design and production of regional aircraft, flight simulators, aircraft engines and landing gear, environmental control systems, and other advanced technologies.
“As successful as Canada’s aerospace sector has been to date, there is the potential to do considerably better. Driven by rising prosperity in emerging markets and an increasing emphasis on fuel-efficiency, the global demand for new aircraft and related products and services is likely to increase significantly over the next few decades. The space industry, too, faces important opportunities as a result of the growing need for advanced communications and security solutions. Against that backdrop, I strongly welcome today’s release of recommendations by the independent federal aerospace review panel. The panel has provided Canadians with a blueprint by which to ensure that our commercial aviation, military aerospace … Read more »
Most Canadians view Asia’s growing economic strength as an opportunity for Canada, survey finds
Six in 10 Canadians see Asia’s growing middle class as an opportunity for Canada, but fewer than half feel that Canadian firms are well-prepared to compete against their Asian rivals, a new Ipsos Reid poll reveals.
Overall, the poll found that Canadians are divided about the implications of Asia’s growing economic power and concerned about the impact on certain industry sectors. For example, 59 per cent of respondents agreed that Canada should be more open to foreign investment, but 76 percent said they are worried that increased foreign investment could cause Canada to lose control of its natural resources.
Ipsos Reid conducted the online survey for the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) in advance of a conference being held today and tomorrow in Ottawa on Asia’s rise and the impact on Canada’s economic future. Titled “Canada in the Pacific Century,” the conference brings together more than 200 CEOs, senior government officials, educators, policy experts, representatives of aboriginal communities and other thought leaders from across Canadian society.
Overall, 60 percent of those polled agreed with the statement that “Asia’s growing middle class population represents an opportunity for the Canadian economy”. In contrast, 40 percent agreed that “Asia’s growing economic strength … Read more »
Canada needs more, not fewer, national champions, Manley says
Comments by The Honourable John Manley, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, in response to yesterday’s statements by the outgoing Competition Commissioner, as reported in The Globe and Mail:
“I am profoundly dismayed at the Competition Commissioner’s reported suggestion that big companies are bad for consumers and bad for the economy. In a world in which scale matters, our public policies must enable Canadian companies to grow to a size that allows them to contend globally as top-ranked players. Indeed, the Competition Act itself recognizes that firms may need to combine to achieve the scale necessary for efficient operation and to be competitive in international markets. Similarly, the Competition Policy Review Panel recognized in its 2008 report that scale – defined in global terms – is a key competitiveness factor for Canada’s economic future.
“Large, internationally successful Canadian companies are vital to our country’s economy on many levels — as creators of well-paid, highly skilled jobs, as drivers of innovation, as sources of capital and opportunity for smaller ventures, and of course as significant generators of corporate tax revenue. Canada needs more, not fewer, enterprises that can aspire to become champions on the … Read more »
U.S., Canadian and Mexican Business Leaders Discuss Ways to Strengthen the North American Economy
Today, members of Business Roundtable (BRT), the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE), and Mexico’s Consejo Mexicano de Hombres de Negocios (CMHN) issued a joint statement following a dynamic meeting in Washington focused on North American competitiveness, trade, and energy issues of common interest.
“BRT, CMHN and CCCE have a long history of working together to strengthen the beneficial economic ties among our respective nations. While the North American market is huge, and trade between Canada, Mexico and the United States is healthy and growing, we need to seek ways to make our market more globally competitive.
“Over the past two decades, growth in North American trade and investment has promoted regional, cross-border supply chains that have benefited the United States, Canada and Mexico alike. However, at a time of major change in the global economy, our organizations believe it is essential that we continue to enhance the ability of U.S., Canadian and Mexican companies and workers to compete internationally.
“Our organizations endorse Mexico’s and Canada’s joining the United States and eight other Pacific Rim nations in the ongoing Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. The TPP will not only help strengthen North American economic ties, but also holds the promise … Read more »
-
-
News Archives