Leadership Perspectives

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 InstituteMary W. ...

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.

Everyone from the Bank of Canada to leading economists from across the country are discussing what’s at the root of Canada’s productivity challenges. To help us sort through the discussion, I’m joined this episode by the Conference Board of Canada’s Director of Economic Research Tony Bonen and the Founder and Executive Director of the Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) Andrew Sharpe.We discuss how we should understand productivity and why it’s important for it to impr...

In this episode, we delve into the minds of CEOs, exploring their concerns and insights as revealed in the 25th edition of the C-Suite survey conducted by The Conference Board. Our guests, Dana Peterson, Chief Economist, The Conference Board and Pedro Antunes, Chief Economist, The Conference Board of Canada provide a comprehensive analysis of the survey results, shedding light on the external and internal risks preoccupying global, US, and Canadian business leaders.About our guests:Pedro Antu...

In this final episode of 2023, we invite two leading economists to explore key issues facing the Canadian economy. We delve into how the world of work is evolving and consider whether Canada might be lagging behind other nations that are more readily adapting to the future of work. Additionally, we examine the increasing role of industrial policies as a strategy for governments to influence various aspects of the economy, ranging from supply chains to environmental performance.We also discuss...

Over the past months, various players have come out to point a finger at the role immigration is playing in a long list of what ails our country. From inflation, to housing affordability, to struggling post-secondary institutions, new Canadians have become an easy target. Our guests Pedro Antunes, Chief Economist at the Conference Board and Kathryn Dennler, Senior Researcher in the Conference Board’s Immigration Knowledge Area to shed some light on the realities of Canada’s ...

Doomsday scenarios are the currency of the day when it comes to artificial intelligence’s impact on the jobs market. But technologists aren’t always that great at economic forecasting. To help us sort through the hype, we’re joined this episode by Mike Burt, Vice-President at the Conference Board of Canada and Benjamin F. Jones, Professor of Strategy at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Illinois. Mike and Ben share their assessments of how artificial intell...

The year 2023 has already marked itself as Canada's worst forest fire season in history, and it's only July. A glance at today's fire map reveals almost every province battling blazes that have spiraled out of control. In this episode, our guests Pedro Antunes, Chief Economist of The Conference Board of Canada and Derek Nighbor, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Forest Products Association of Canada, discuss the impacts on people, the economy and communities of the forest fires we'...

The pandemic created upward pressure on housing and recent increases in interest rates are pushing affordability even further away for some. The OECD now ranks Canada as having the most expensive housing market among all other G7 countries. Our guests this episode explore how we got to this point and what if anything can be done to create a more affordable housing market. They share that not only are housing prices forecasted to continue to rise, but that the affordability crisis is exte...

In this episode, our guests Pedro Antunes, Chief Economist of The Conference Board of Canada, and Kevin Page, founding President and CEO of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy at the University of Ottawa, discuss the evolving definition of fiscal responsibility in 2023. They address key issues such as the lack of consensus around debts and deficits, the influence of macroeconomic drivers on federal spending, the potential need for revenue increases, and the consequences of borrowing...

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 ...

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 ...

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 gues...

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...

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 chal...

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 cont...

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, re...

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 Cana...

Canada is a trading nation. Throughout our history, trade has been one of the foundations of our economy. Equally important has been to establish rules for international trade. This episode we hear how trade agreement commitments are shaping Canada’s ability to regulate the digital economy. Matt Malone, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law at Thompson Rivers University, talks about how recent trade agreements are shaping the digital economy, often before domestic ...

Of course, analytics helps the internal operations and management of an organization but how is that, in turn, helping their customers? In this final episode of our five-part series on data analytics, Carolyn Loh talks with host Takara Small about how data analytics can help deepen relationships with customers, and how to better communicate to the public about how data analytics can actually benefit them. About our guest: Carolyn Loh is the VP Analytics & Insights Acuity Ads. Sh...

Organizations often struggle with fostering a data and analytics culture to the detriment of their analytics programs. In this fourth episode of our five-part series on data analytics, Tamara Augsten talks with host Takara Small about her work with data visualization and how organizations can build a culture that makes workers excited to engage in data analytics.About our guest: Tamara Augsten uses her background in data analysis and urban planning to visualize, mobilize and translate da...

Analytics has a major role in enabling innovation-induced growth among small and medium sized businesses, allowing them to scale-up rapidly. In this third episode of our five-part series on data analytics, Maxime Cohen talks with host Takara Small about the necessary steps for managers and owners to jump into the data analytics space, as well why small and medium sized organizations cannot afford to ignore data analytics. About our guest: Maxime Cohen is the Scale AI Chair Professor...

The last two years have changed the way we work and has made us reconsider ways of working, both from an employer and an employee point-of-view. While we know things have changed, data on how this is impacting workplaces is still quite sparse. This episode we hear how the Conference Board of Canada’s Human Capital team is working to fill in the gaps in HR trends and metrics. We explore: what’s really happening with Canada’s “great resignation”; how to approach employee engagement;...

Governments, businesses, non-profits, and academia have tremendous potential to use data to help move forward on their sustainable development goals to make the world a better place. In this second episode of our five-part series on data analytics, Vanitha Lucas talks with host Takara Small about how data can be used to promote social change and what problems data can help solve.About our guest: Vanitha Lucas considers herself to be a data and analytics philanthropist. Strongly believing...

With massive amounts of data generated every day in organizations, knowing what data is, how to analyze it, and how to communicate and share it is becoming an increasingly necessary skill for everyone. In this first episode of our five-part series on data analytics, Ashley Howard Neville talks with host Takara Small about why everyone should care about data literacy as well as what workers can do to help future-proof their careers. About our guest:Ashley Howard Neville is a Senior Evange...

Today, farming relies on digital tools as another key input. But is our digital infrastructure up to the needs of modern agriculture? Dr. Helen Hambly of the University of Guelph talks to Keara about the changing needs of agriculture—and how well Canada’s digital backbone is supporting farmers. About our guest: Dr. Helen Hambly is a Professor in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph.&nbsp...

Digital trade is booming worldwide, but countries are struggling to define, measure, and track its impact. Swapna Nair discusses the challenges and opportunities Canada has to become a leader in the international sphere (and international standards) of digital trade. The full story: Choosing the Right Ruler: Approaches to Measuring Digital Trade (Impact Paper, November 2021) Digital Trade Measurements in Canada Explained (Video)Measuring Digital Trade (Global Commerce Centre) &nbs...

Our climate is changing. How are organizations changing in return? Shelley Gilberg and Sarah Marsh from PwC explain how leading businesses’ net-zero carbon, ESG reporting, and sustainability strategies are evolving for a new world. Read the Canadian findings from PwC’s 24th annual CEO Survey at https://www.pwc.com/ca/ceosurvey. Starting November 15, visit PwC’s Net Zero Hub: www.pwc.com/ca/net-zero-hub About our guests: Shelley Gilberg is ESG Markets & Consulting...

Are organizations doing enough to protect their data—and their clients’ trust? PwC cyber risk experts Saj Nair and Jenn Johnson discuss CEO/CIO strategies, budgets, and why simplicity matters. This is the second episode of Beyond the Bounce, a three-part mini-series from The Conference Board of Canada and PwC. Read the Canadian findings from PwC’s 24th Annual Canadian CEO Survey at https://www.pwc.com/ca/ceosurvey. Privacy, safety, reliability, and fraud—Explore PwC’s Global Digital Tr...

What happens when healthcare goes virtual? COVID-19 has ushered in a new era of widespread telemedicine and digital healthcare, but will it last beyond the pandemic? Keara talks to RAND Senior Economist Marco Hafner to understand how Canada can get up to speed in telemedicine—and understand the benefits, barriers, and risks. Discover more about the digital divide and how TELUS is supporting meaningful change at telus.com/connectingcanada. About our guest: Marco Hafner is a seni...

Power, prices, and choice: Canada’s Competition Act hasn’t been updated in two decades. What does this mean for digital competition in Canada, and the ways we could bridge the digital divide? Keara talks to two leading researchers for a lively discussion on how Canada’s competition space has changed in the digital age—and what needs to be done to ensure an equitable playing field for all. Discover more about the digital divide and how TELUS is supporting meaningful change at telus.com/c...

COVID-19 has exacerbated the digital divide—the gap between Canadians who have reliable, fast broadband Internet access and those who don’t. What can we do to close it? In this first episode of our five-part series on the digital divide, Sam Andrey and Helaina Gaspard talk about the complications, challenges, and solutions in increasing digital access and adoption for all Canadians. Discover more about the digital divide and how TELUS is supporting meaningful change at telus.com/con...

PwC’s annual CEO survey is a big indicator of business confidence. The bottom line for 2021: Canadian CEOs are optimistic—and anticipate immense growth in the upcoming year—but they’ll need to be smart about their priorities to sustain it. In this first episode of our mini-series exploring CEOs’ plans for the future, National Managing Partner Matthew Wetmore shares insights from PwC’s 24th Annual Global CEO survey. This is the first episode of Beyond the Bounce, a three-part mini-series ...

How has the pandemic impacted Canada’s immigration admissions? Dr. Iain Reeve explains what’s changed in our intake numbers and the characteristics that set the COVID-19 immigrant cohort apart. Find out more about our immigration research at https://www.conferenceboard.ca/focus-areas/immigration Our annual Canadian Immigration Summit is happening virtually on May 25–27, 2021. Check out our speakers and agenda here: https://www.conferenceboard.ca/events/immigrationLearn more about ...

In its November 30th fiscal update, Canada’s federal government tallied up the costs of COVID-19. The deficit will swell to $385 billion in 2020–21. The provinces and territories have also tallied record deficits—$92 billion, on aggregate. What do figures like these mean for our recovery? Keara talks to Chief Economist Pedro Antunes for these answers and more. The full story:Challenges Ahead: Canada’s Post-Pandemic Fiscal Prospects (February 2021). View the report at https://www.conferen...

The role of technology in Canada's post-pandemic recovery is top of mind right now at IBM Canada. How are they responding to businesses' need for speed, flexibility and agility in 2021? We learn from President and General Manager Claude Guay about how IBM is helping companies accelerate their digital transformations. He talks about how technologies like hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence as well as investing in people and skills will play a critical role in Canada’s recovery.Learn ...

Canada’s track record on mortality rates due to cancer isn’t as good as you might think. Isabelle Gagnon-Arpin joins us to talk about provincial disparities, COVID-19's impact on cancer detection, and how we measure up internationally. The full story: Measure of Life: Is Canada Doing Enough to Reduce Deaths from Cancer? View this online experience at conferenceboard.ca/focus-areas/health/measure-of-life. Discover more Health projects and access all our research at conferenceboa...

Dr. Olateju returns to our podcast to talk plastics—and how the sustainable finance industry could give Canada’s plastics recycling market a much-needed boost. Read the full story, Balancing power with capital in Canada’s circular plastics economy (October 7, 2020, 4-minute read), at https://is.gd/uuU87C. Discover more Innovation & Technology projects and access all our research at conferenceboard.ca.

What happens when businesses go local on their supply chains—especially during COVID-19? Julie Ades from the Global Commerce Centre explains the motivations, trends, and possible impacts. The full story: Bringing Them Home: Reshoring Supply Chains Is Not a Panacea (Issue briefing, October 20, 2020) Discover more Canadian Economic projects and access all our research at conferenceboard.ca.

Richard Chartrand, 3M’s USAC R&D Operations and 3M Canada Sustainability Leader, explains how 3M is balancing sustainability and innovation—and how a company known for over 100 years of ingenuity is planning a better future for everyone. Learn more about 3M’s initiatives at sciencecentre.3mcanada.ca/sustainability. This is the fifth episode of Breakthroughs, our mini-series presented by the Council for Innovation and Commercialization. Discover more at conferenceboard.ca/networ...

Chris Dulny, PwC’s Chief Innovation Officer, explains how rapid technological change demands new skills to help people thrive and future-proof themselves in the new world. This affects every company.Learn about PwC’s journey and check out their New world. New skills. initiative here: pwc.com/ca/en/today-s-issues/upskilling.html. This is the fourth episode of Breakthroughs, our mini-series presented by the Council for Innovation and Commercialization. Discover more at conferenceboard.ca/...

Discover how two major Surrey, B.C. projects are repurposing and reinventing the region. We talk to Rowena Rizzotti, Vice President, Healthcare & Innovation of Lark Group in British Columbia, about the Health & Technology District and the Legion Veterans Village. This is the third episode of Breakthroughs, our mini-series presented by the Council for Innovation and Commercialization. Discover more at conferenceboard.ca/networks/cic/. Check out Lark Group’s projects at larkgr...

How did COVID-19 change the face of Alberta’s health innovation sector? We talk to Tim Murphy, VP of Health at Alberta Innovates, about health-system discoveries during a crisis.This is the second episode of Breakthroughs, our mini-series presented by the Council for Innovation and Commercialization. Discover more at conferenceboard.ca/networks/cic/. Check out Alberta Innovates projects at albertainnovates.ca. And access all our research at conferenceboard.ca.

Many Indigenous students in Canada experience science lessons as counterintuitive, if not outright alienating. It’s high time we incorporated First Nation, Inuit, and Métis perspectives on the natural world into mainstream K–12 science. Researcher Jane Cooper explains the educational landscape, current initiatives, the role of Elders and Knowledge Keepers, and what it will take to make it happen. The full story: Curriculum and Reconciliation: Introducing Indigenous Perspectives into K–12...

How can we go beyond traditional datasets when forecasting the future? Thomas Hindle explains. The full story: Job postings plummet in March, slide continues in April (commentary): https://www.conferenceboard.ca/insights/blogs/job-postings-plummet-in-march-slide-continues-in-april Discover more Economics team projects and access all our research at conferenceboard.ca.

Are interim solutions to climate change right under our noses? Dr. Babatunde Olateju explains how small modular nuclear reactors and hydrogen—energy technologies that have been around for years—could fill in the gaps between were we are and where we want to be. The full story: Hydrogen is back—but will it break through? (commentary): https://www.conferenceboard.ca/insights/featured/sustainability/hydrogen-is-back-but-will-it-break-through Nuclear Energy: A Crossroad in a Clima...

Dr. Andrew Bieler explains why technological change is transforming Canada’s skilled trades—and why teaching skills like virtual collaboration, digital troubleshooting, and intergenerational communication needs to be on the agenda. The full story: This fall, check out Dr. Bieler’s impact paper, Bridging Generational Divides, and find more Education & Skills team projects at https://www.conferenceboard.ca/focus-areas/education-skills. And as always, access all our research at conferen...

Discover how Bauer Hockey started manufacturing protective face shields during COVID-19. We talk to Dan Bourgeois, VP of Product Innovation, about Bauer's journey from idea to reality. This is the first episode of Breakthroughs, a Leadership Perspectives mini-series presented by the Conference Board’s Council for Innovation and Commercialization. Check out Bauer’s products at bauer.com/en-CA/medical-face-shield/. Find out more about the Council for Innovation and Commercializ...

Most Canadians aren’t saving enough. How can financial advice help? Researcher Sheila Rao explains the symbiotic relationship between individual savings and Canada’s economy, and why it pays to get advice. The full story: To find out how retaining financial advice pays off in the long run, check out our interactive page, Saving for the Future, at https://www.conferenceboard.ca/focus-areas/canadian-economics/2020/saving-for-the-future. Find all our Economics projects at https:...

What will this September look like for Canada’s students? Conference Board researchers Dr. Maria Giammarco and Nimi Pukulakatt look at campus social distancing and what’s at stake for Canada's universities, colleges, and polytechnics. The full story:Back to school? If post-secondary institutions open, will students go? (Commentary, June 11, 2020): https://www.conferenceboard.ca/insights/blogs/if-post-secondary-institutions-open-will-students-go. Find all our Education & Skills t...

COVID-19 is a costly global challenge. How can Canada safely boost its economy in the continued presence of a pandemic? Chief Economist Pedro Antunes explains issues around the CERB benefit, universal basic income, and consumer confidence. The full story: You can find Pedro Antunes’s June 15, 2020 article, Economic recovery in the time of COVID, at hilltimes.com. The Hill Times is offering free subscriptions during the pandemic. Find all our Canadian Economics projects ...

Should I stay or should I go? Many Canadians are putting travel plans on hold this summer due to social distancing orders, border closings, and air travel restrictions. Researcher Jennifer Hendry and economist Robyn Gibbard explain The Conference Board of Canada’s travel outlook. The full story: Check out the research at https://www.conferenceboard.ca/focus-areas/canadian-economics/impact-of-covid-19-on-canadians-travel-plans Find all our Canadian Economics team’s projects at:...

What makes workers vulnerable to automation, and which jobs are at risk? How has COVID-19 changed our views of “high-risk, low-mobility" roles? Innovation and Technology Research Associate Darren Gresch explains how technological innovations are changing Canada’s occupational landscape. The full story: Check out our Innovation & Technology team’s report, Bracing for Automation, at: https://www.conferenceboard.ca/focus-areas/innovation-technology/future-skills/bracing-for-automa...

How do you forecast the future when the future’s in flux? Our Economic Forecasting team’s associate directors reflect on the changing story of COVID-19—and how they pivoted to rewrite a nationwide outlook, one province at a time. The full story: For more insights and the latest reports, check out our Canadian Economics team's main page: https://www.conferenceboard.ca/focus-areas/canadian-economics And find all our COVID-19 coverage at https://www.conferenceboard.ca/insights/co...

Canada has the chance to become a leader in sustainable finance—But we’re not there yet. Sustainability Director Roger Francis explains how two factors—effective disclosure and trustworthy data—are the key to making Canada’s sustainable finance ecosystem a reality. The full story: A Chance to Lead: Overcoming Barriers to Sustainable Finance (Issue briefing, April 24, 2020)For more information our sustainability projects and to access the issue briefing, check out the Conference Boa...

Human Capital Director Allison Cowan takes us behind the scenes of our popular HR survey series, Working Through COVID-19, with a spotlight on returning to work.

Indigenous communities are navigating COVID-19 with traditional skills and ingenuity. But is local-level resilience enough? Indigenous and Northern Communities Director Stefan Fournier takes us through the unique challenges and risks these groups are facing, and what they’re doing from coast to coast to help their most vulnerable citizens.

It’s hard to teach soft skills. Education and Skills Director Matt McKean explains how social and emotional skills are key to surviving and thriving this pandemic together. We also look at how Canadian employers and educators can foster social and emotional skills development—both now and post-COVID-19.

Thanks to the security of our supply chains, Canadians can still access vital goods and technologies during COVID-19. But what happens when part of that chain breaks down from a cyber attack? Our Innovation & Technology Director Harry Sharma explains how the global pandemic is highlighting cyber vulnerabilities along our global supply chains.