Leadership Perspectives – Details, episodes & analysis

The last four years have brought many changes to the ways in which we live, work and shop. These new habits are reshaping cities and the road to the new normal is proving very bumpy for cities across the country.  In this episode, our guests explore how cities are reinventing themselves and talk about the critical role cities and the people and businesses that comprise them form the backbone of our economy.

About our guests:

Mary W. Rowe, President and CEO, Canadian Urban Institute

Mary W. Rowe is one of Canada's leading advocates for place-based policy leadership, with a particular interest in how cities and communities across Canada and the United States foster their own economic, social, and environmental resilience. During her leadership at the Canadian Urban Institute, she has built new partnerships and platforms for city builders from the public, private and community sectors to learn and adapt to challenges in collaborative ways that catalyze sustainable, creative change.

Pedro Antunes, Chief Economist, The Conference Board of Canada

Pedro Antunes is the Chief Economist and primary spokesperson at The Conference Board of Canada. He provides insights and general direction for the Board’s economic products, including reports and economic indicators that relate to Canada and its regions and sectors. Pedro provides media interviews in English and French as well as expert testimony before parliamentary and senate committees. He is widely sought for speaking engagements and presentations to industry leaders and decision-makers on a broad range of issues and topics that impact Canadians.

Other links:

Conference Board of Canada: Cracking the Productivity Code: Charting a New Path to Prosperity

The Canadian Urban Institute is a leading organization dedicated to advancing urban solutions. CUI collaborates with city builders, researchers, and community leaders to create thriving, equitable, and sustainable urban spaces across Canada. Learn more at canurb.org today.

Looking for more like this? Check out CityTalk Live, Canada’s premier live webinar exploring what’s working, what’s not and what’s next for our cities. Produced by the Canadian Urban Institute. [citytalkcanada.ca]

The April 2024 federal budget is like game seven of a Stanley Cup playoff run for economists.  It’s a critical time when decisions on spending and taxation are made that can help or hinder our economic direction.  

In this special episode we call on various members of The Conference Board of Canada’s economic forecasting unit to help make sense of the key announcements in the budget.  Join us to hear their take on the impacts of federal budget 2024.

Canada’s mobile broadband usage numbers are dismal.  We rank dead last in mobile broadband users and have some of lowest mobile data usage compared to other G7 countries. These metrics need to improve.  While there is much discussion on the number of providers and the competitiveness of our telecommunications industry, there’s another way to move the needle.

Research by The Conference Board of Canada shows that increased tower sharing can play a role in changing this critical metric for Canadians.  It could allow for more tower development in rural and remote regions, eliminate redundancies in infrastructure development, reduce the environmental impact of passive infrastructure, and lead to improved connectivity.  In this episode, our guests Dan Carpenter, Research Associate, The Conference Board of Canada and Wendy Zatylny, Country Manager, SBA Communications Canada join us to discuss how changes at the federal and municipal levels could help foster the growth of the tower sharing industry in Canada.

Read more:

• Improving Tower Sharing in Canada: The Potential Role of a Healthy Independent Tower Industry (CBoC)
• Sharing Towers: Canada’s Potential for an Independent Tower Industry (CBoC)

About our guests:

Dan Carpenter is a Research Associate on the Innovation and Technology team at the Conference Board of Canada. Previous to this, he worked in the finance and tech sectors. Dan has conducted research on a range of topics, such as analyzing global cleantech markets, exploring how Canadian businesses are adapting to automation, and producing several Future Skills Centre reports on occupational transitions. Dan completed his Master’s in Globalization from McMaster University where he focused on the global governance of artificial intelligence. 

Wendy Zatylny is Country Manager, Canada, SBA Communications Canada.  Wendy Zatylny, the first female country manager in SBA's international markets. 

 Prior to joining SBA Canada, Wendy was the President of the Association of Canadian Port Authorities for nine years. With over 25 years of experience in domestic and international communications, Wendy is a skilled strategist and executive with a distinctive set of talents. Her expertise encompasses a broad range of areas, including strategic and policy planning and implementation, stakeholder relations, government affairs, event and media planning, crisis management, media spokespersonship, and writing. Additionally, she possesses proficiency in producing top-notch print and collateral materials, as well as multimedia and social media products. Beyond work, she is a ballroom dancer and a proud mother to a son who plays rugby.

In this episode of Economics Matters, we look behind the curtain at the world of economic forecasting.  Our colleague Ted Mallett, The Conference Board of Canada’s Director of Economic Forecasting, gives us his take on how he and his team approach business of economic forecasting. 

We discuss the mechanics of economic forecasting, the models, the data sources as well as the ways in which Ted and his team incorporate observations on human behaviours to guide the outputs of the models and derive meaningful insights on the direction of the economy.

About our guest: 

Ted Mallett is the Director of the Economic Forecasting team at The Conference Board of Canada. Ted is responsible for the strategic direction of this Knowledge Area, as well as its day-to-day operations. He oversees the planning and production of regular forecast publications at the national, provincial, metro, and industry levels.

Ted is a nationally recognized economist with more than three decades of experience in economic policy analysis and forecasting. He is known for producing innovative and unique insights in areas not often covered by traditional sources of data. As a frequent contributor to media and a member of several senior advisory bodies to governments, Ted is adept at identifying, anticipating, and articulating emerging trends and challenges leaders will face in our economy.

Check out Conference Board of Canada forecasts at: https://www.conferenceboard.ca/focus-areas/canadian-economics/ 

For economists, inequality is a critical issue because the more unequal a society is, the more challenging it is for that economy to grow and thrive. 

This episode we explore the data on inequality in Canada to separate fact from fiction. We discuss whether inequality is growing in Canada. We also explore the question of whether the way economists normally approach this topic is up to the task of addressing the various concerns that get lumped into discussions of inequality.

About our guests:

Pedro Antunes

Pedro Antunes is the Chief Economist and primary spokesperson at The Conference Board of Canada. He provides insights and general direction for the Board’s economic products, including reports and economic indicators that relate to Canada and its regions and sectors. Pedro provides media interviews in English and French as well as expert testimony before parliamentary and senate committees. He is widely sought for speaking engagements and presentations to industry leaders and decision-makers on a broad range of issues and topics that impact Canadians.

Dr. Mike Moffatt

Dr. Mike Moffatt is the Senior Director of Policy and Innovation at the Smart Prosperity Institute and an Assistant Professor in the Business, Economics and Public Policy group at Ivey Business School, Western University. Mike’s research at SPI focuses on the intersection of regional economic development, building child-friendly, climate-friendly housing and communities, and clean innovation. In 2017, Mike was the Chief Innovation Fellow for the Government of Canada, advising Deputy Ministers on innovation policy and emerging trends.

Read more:

Inequality in Canada: Separating Fact From Fiction | The Conference Board of Canada
Smart Prosperity Institute | https://institute.smartprosperity.ca/ 

Canada used to pride itself as being one of the best places to live in the world, but our international ranking is on the decline. Many people have questions about the long-term economic growth path for the country. How will demographic issues—high retirements and low birth rates—impact the country? Will Canada ever solve the innovation and productivity challenge that we face? How can Canadian policy-makers take steps today to help to build a better future.

In this episode, we hear two leading economists assess Canada’s long-term economic growth prospects and what steps we can take as a country to improve our performance in the future.

Read More:

Demographics Rule the Day - Canada’s Economic Outlook to 2045 | The Conference Board of Canada
Canada’s 20-year Outlook | The Conference Board of Canada

Brett House is Professor of Professional Practice in economics at Columbia Business School and a Fellow with the Public Policy Forum, the Munk School and Massey College

Brett House teaches and conducts research in macroeconomics and international finance at Columbia Business School. Prior to returning to academia, Brett was Deputy Chief Economist at Scotiabank, Chief Economist at a Toronto-based asset manager, and Global Strategist at a New York-based global macro hedge fund. Earlier in his career, Brett was Principal Advisor on Economic Issues in the Executive Office of the United Nations' Secretary-General and an Economist at the International Monetary Fund. He began his career in financial markets at the World Bank and Goldman Sachs. He has also held teaching and research roles at Columbia University, McGill University, Oxford University, and the University of Cape Town. Brett's analysis appears regularly in the Globe & Mail and Financial Post, while his segment "Dollars & Sense" is featured every Tuesday afternoon on Toronto's NewsTalk 1010 radio station. He tweets at @BrettEHouse.

https://ppforum.ca/person/brett-house/

Sohaib Shahid, Director of Economic Innovation at the Conference Board of Canada

Sohaib Shahid is the Director, Economic Innovation at The Conference Board of Canada.  As part of CBoC’s Economic Forecasting Knowledge Area, Sohaib leads the Economic Innovation Team and their new economic product research and development initiatives.

Prior to joining the Board, he was a Senior Economist at TD Bank leading TD’s  global economic forecast. He also worked as an Economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington, DC. Sohaib holds a MA and a PhD in Economics from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.

As we near the end of December, many economists are looking back at the year that was. But that’s the past. What can we expect for the future?

We’ve asked two leading economic thinkers to give us their forecasts on the key issues that the Canadian economy will face in 2023. Will the Bank of Canada’s initiatives be enough keep inflation down next year? What will the impact of monetary and fiscal policy be and where should government spending go? What will the impact of broader geopolitical challenges be on the Canadian economy? And, what questions should business leaders be asking about how and how often Canadian workers will return to the office in the year to come?

Our guests share their outlooks for the year to come for the Canadian economy.

Read more:

A Step Forward and a Step Back--Fall Economic Statement  | The Conference Board of Canada 
Index of Consumer Confidence | The Conference Board of Canada
Index of Business Confidence | The Conference Board of Canada
Index of Consumer Spending | The Conference Board of Canda
Canada’s New Workplace Mobility Report | The Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Canada’s New Workplace Mobility Interactive Dashboard | The Canadian Chamber of Commerce 

About our guests:

Sohaib Shahid, Director of Economic Innovation at the Conference Board of Canada

Sohaib Shahid is the Director, Economic Innovation at The Conference Board of Canada.  As part of CBoC’s Economic Forecasting Knowledge Area, Sohaib leads the Economic Innovation Team and their new economic product research and development initiatives.

Prior to joining the Board, he was a Senior Economist at TD Bank leading TD’s  global economic forecast. He also worked as an Economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington, DC. Sohaib holds a MA and a PhD in Economics from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.

Stephen Tapp, Chief Economist, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Stephen Tapp is the Chief Economist at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. He is a key member of the Chamber’s executive leadership team and is responsible for the operations of its new Business Data Lab.

Stephen brings 20 years of experience at many of Canada’s top economic organizations including: Export Development Canada as Deputy Chief Economist, the Bank of Canada, Parliamentary Budget Office, Finance Canada, two think tanks and academia. 

Stephen’s research was awarded the Purvis prize for Canadian economic policy. He has a Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from Queen’s University and an Honors B.A from Western.

Canadian Universities and Colleges are increasingly welcoming students from around the world to study in Canada.  We estimate that over the last ten years, over a million international students have come to study in Canada.  And that number is rising. 

International students represent some of the best and the brightest from around the world.  They come to Canadian post-secondary institutions hoping to get a world-class education and in many instances an opportunity to continue to build on the connections they make in school to jump into the Canadian labour force.

But the ideal isn’t always the reality. 

And Conference Board of Canada research has highlighted some major gaps in the pathway from international student to Canadian.  In this episode of Leadership Perspectives we examine the challenges facing international students on the path to Canadian citizenship and provide recommendations on how to improve this system. 

Read more:

From Student to Immigrant? Multi-step Pathways to Permanent Residence
After School: Keeping International Students In-Province

About our guests:

Iain Reeve:
Iain Reeve is the Associate Director for the Immigration Knowledge Area at The Conference Board of Canada. He runs the Board’s immigration research agenda and manages the National Immigration Centre. Through Iain and his team’s work, the Conference Board is shaping public and policy debates on immigration in Canada and beyond.

Iain strongly believes in the power of quality research, evidence-based policy making, and bringing people together to solve wicked problems. Iain spent his career developing a skillset in service of these goals, most recently as a Policy Analyst at Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada. 

Kathryn Dennler:
Kathryn Dennler joined the Immigration Knowledge Area at The Conference Board of Canada in March 2021. Her research examines Canada’s immigration and settlement policies and their impacts on newcomers. Kathryn has worked on immigration as a researcher, educator, and service provider for over fifteen years and across five countries. Kathryn holds a PhD in Geography from York University, Canada. 
 

Canada’s labour market is facing an unprecedented set of challenges. 

We keep hearing the dual realities of low unemployment levels but high job vacancies. There is a loud and growing chorus of business owners who complain that they can’t find the workers they need. And workers are increasingly expressing their frustration with the jobs they do have. 

From the great-resignation, to quiet quitting. From the turbulence that is affecting industries as diverse as travel, hospitality, restaurants, and healthcare to the ongoing pressure to address wages without creating a wage-price spiral.  Something is happening in the Canadian labour force.

In this episode of Economics Matters, we will be examining the causes of Canada’s labour market turmoil. 

Read more:
Cost of skills vacancies
Skills forecasting
Improving worker resilience
Minimum wage policy
https://www.thestar.com/authors.yalnizyan_armine.html

About our guests:

Michael Burt is a Vice President at The Conference Board of Canada and leads our Education & Skills and Economic Forecasting knowledge areas. He is also the executive lead for the work CBoC does with the Future Skills Centre. In his role, Michael oversees the convening and research activities of these different areas. Michael has more than 20 years of experience conducting and leading research activities.

Armine Yalnizyan is a leading voice on Canada’s economic scene. She is the Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers and writes a bi-weekly business column for the Toronto Star. She served as a senior economic policy advisor to the federal Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development Canada in 2018 and 2019, and has been a member of a high-level task group on women in the economy convened by the federal Ministers of Finance and Middle Class Prosperity during the pandemic. Armine helped shape and advance the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ Inequality Project from 2006 to 2016, provided weekly business commentary for CBC from 2011 to 2018, and served as Vice President and President of the Canadian Association for Business Economics from 2013-2019.

This is the first episode of Economics Matters, a Conference Board of Canada podcast. This series will bring you some of the leading economic thinkers from Canada and around the world to talk about key issues in the economy. 

In our first episode, we deal with one of the biggest questions facing our economy— what is Canada’s risk of falling into a recession and what, if anything, can be done about it.  To answer this question, our guests this episode share their views on whether Canada’s recession risk is increasing and provide their suggestions for how policy makers can work to minimize its effects.

• Read our outlook There’s a 70 Per Cent Probability of a Recession Next Year
• Access all our economic analysis and research at conferenceboard.ca

About our guests:

Sohaib Shahid is the Director, Economic Innovation at The Conference Board of Canada. 

As part of CBoC’s Economic Forecasting Knowledge Area, Sohaib leads the Economic Innovation Team and their new economic product research and development initiatives.

Prior to joining the Board, he was a Senior Economist at TD Bank leading TD’s global economic forecast. He also worked as an Economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington, DC. Sohaib holds a MA and a PhD in Economics from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.

Jimmy Jean is Vice-President, Chief Economist and Strategist for the Desjardins Group. 

He directs research, analysis and forecasting and makes positioning recommendations on a variety of issues, including monetary policy, macroeconomic developments and the outlook for interest rates. He acts as Desjardins spokesperson on economic news and major issues affecting the economy and financial markets. He holds a master's degree in applied economics from HEC Montréal and holds the CFA designation.

Before joining Desjardins, Jimmy Jean held the position of Senior Strategist at the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. He also worked as an economist at Moody's, RBC and Statistics Canada.