Day 2 | Fuelling the Economic Recovery of Canada: the Role of Business to Lead

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01:53:02 Canadian Urban Institute: Hi everyone! Welcome back! A friendly zoom reminder, you can see and hear us but we can’t see or hear you Our summit is being offered in both French and English. Please click on the globe at the bottom of your screen and select your preferred language. We are recording today’s session and will share it online at www.canurb.org/citysummit  We hope this summit is as interactive as possible, so please feel free to share comments, references, links and questions in the chat. Canadian Urban Institute: We are going to jump right into our next session “Fuelling the Economic Recovery of Canada: the Role of Business to Lead.  Businesses are the catalysts for regional economic growth. What are the key actions that different sectors (businesses, commercial real estate and different levels of government), can take to support local economies to recover in a strong, resilient and equitable way? How can they compete internationally and rebuild as places that residents, tourists and workers want to be in? 01:53:44 Mark van Elsberg: Re: the question on how BIAs might evolve.  I am not an expert in the legalities, but BIAs range in size and complexity and…as a result have different levels of complexity and capacity.  For instance Downtown BIAs in Toronto are not focussed on longer streets but districts which include residential and parkland and are responsible for a much larger range of issues.  They add capacity to many city divisions and not just taking care of the streetscapes.    the larger BIAs are in discussions on how they can take on more responsibility.  What is needed is a centralized BIA resource group that shares knowledge and capacity.  this is a resource that needs more consideration 01:53:47 Canadian Urban Institute: Joining us today are: Deborah Yedlin, Calgary Chamber of Commerce Michel Leblanc, Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal  Patrick Sullivan, Halifax Chamber of Commerce Jan DeSilva, CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade 01:55:56 Kerry LeBlanc: mary slow down. maybe less coffee? lol 01:56:11 Canadian Urban Institute: Deborah Yedlin joined the Calgary Chamber of Commerce in July, 2021 with a background that includes experience on Wall Street and Bay Street, and more than two decades as a business columnist for various media outlets, commenting on the nexus of business and politics since 1996. Since moving to Calgary in 1992, Yedlin has been very active in the Calgary community – as a board member on a number of not for profit organizations and including serving as the co-chair of the 2016 United Way Campaign. Yedlin is currently serving as the 14th Chancellor of the University of Calgary and is one of three co-chairs of the $250 million Calgary Cancer Centre fundraising campaign. A first-generation Canadian, born and raised in Edmonton, Deborah is a graduate of the University of Alberta and Queen’s University. She also completed her ICD.D designation through the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary. 01:57:16 Tim Kocur: Mark Van E., Downtown 6 BIAs made a joint statement today in support of Toronto’s #SafeTO Implementation Plan. Hopefully we’ll all be working in a more coordinated manner post-pandemic, I agree. https://twitter.com/WaterfrontBIA/status/1486354458334404609 01:57:55 Kerry LeBlanc: love it! 02:00:02 Canadian Urban Institute: Michel Leblanc is President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, Quebec’s leading private economic development organization. In this position, he is the official spokesperson of the organization, and is responsible for planning, managing, coordinating and monitoring all its operations. With extensive experience in the public and private sectors, Michel Leblanc has an in-depth knowledge of metropolitan issues. A trained economist, he has a clear understanding of economic questions and the challenges facing the business community. Michel Leblanc received a Bachelor of science in economics in 1987 and a Master of science in economics in 1992 from Université de Montréal.  In October 2012, he was honoured by the Université de Montréal’s alumni association for his professional achievements. 02:01:09 Cherie Klassen: Another BIA specific organization in Canada that brings together Western BIAs is BIABC. Maybe if they host a conference this year, there could be some breakout sessions for some of these discussions related to collaboration. 02:02:16 Tim Kocur: In T.O. I’m more than happy to advocate for the expansion of our TABIA and OBIAA organizations, too. 02:02:55 paul mackinnon: Business and government collaboration has been key during Covid, particularly in the early days. Patrick Sullivan, during the first weeks of the pandemic, established a working group of business, labour, and government and we have had weekly (plus!) meetings ever since. 02:03:07 Mark van Elsberg: Covid has enabled us to conference from home.  Maybe we can start a Bi monthly BIA working group that starts some of these discussions 02:03:56 Peter Vaisbord: BIABC is in schedule planning now for a May conference in Vancouver (Coquitlam) 02:04:06 Canadian Urban Institute: Patrick Sullivan is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. He has been General Manager and President for both start-up and large organizations, including Indigo.ca, Workopolis.com and most recently Tourism Nova Scotia. Mr. Sullivan has also worked for Procter and Gamble, McCain Food Ltd., Moosehead Breweries Ltd., and Upper Canada Brewing Company, specializing in marketing and digital marketing. Mr. Sullivan enjoys running and has run half/marathons, marathons and in October of 2011 completed a 250km run across the Sahara Desert. This run helped raise over $100,000 for the National Advertising Benevolent Association or NABS.  He holds a Bachelor of Administration from Mount Saint Vincent University. 02:04:08 Peter Vaisbord: www.bia.bc.ca 02:04:38 Kay Matthews: OBIAA has twice weekly calls with BIAs across Ontario, Mark, and you are welcome to join us.  These calls are for BIAs to share, so the conversations are varied and engaging. 02:04:52 Kay Matthews: Now we have them once a week.  Tuesdays at 2pm. 02:05:01 Cherie Klassen: Thanks @Peter. Maybe BIABC and OBIAA could collaborate? 02:05:47 Peter Vaisbord: BIABC Mgr – Lori Baxter – info@bia.bc.ca 02:05:47 Kay Matthews: We collaborate through IDA Canada, however, we would have a different agenda if and when we do. 02:05:53 paul mackinnon: Mark, there is a BIA leadership group, IDA Canada, that meets monthly, led by Ken Kelly, which has representation from all regional BIA associations. We sometimes have larger group meetings, but this could be coordinated through Ken. Also looking at a Canadian BIA summit in May, and also in Sept (at the IDA conference in Vancouver). We don’t focus much on regulatory issues though – more on gov’t advocacy and sharing best practices. 02:06:50 paul mackinnon: ken@downtown.org 02:07:47 Cherie Klassen: Great idea @Paul. Here’s more info on IDA Canada: https://downtown.org/ida-canada/ 02:08:41 John Kiru: Toronto Welcomes you Patrick. 02:08:55 Canadian Urban Institute: Jan DeSilva is the President & CEO of Toronto Region Board of Trade. Jan has focused her efforts on realizing the Board’s 2020 vision of making Toronto one of the most competitive and sought after business regions in the world with a strategic emphasis on trade, transportation and talent. Prior to joining the Board, Jan established solid international business experience with a track record for excelling in on-the-ground leadership roles. Highly respected for her business advocacy and government engagement efforts, Jan has been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, a Woman of our Time by Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post and made the Canadian Board Diversity Council’s inaugural Diversity 50 list. 02:09:09 Patrick Sullivan: Toronto is first. Mid february! 02:09:19 Mark van Elsberg: I hope we can share many of these connections and organizations and ..conferences  at the end of this session.  I would really like to explore some of these ideas and make sure we don’t go back to the old normal in our downtowns 02:12:04 Cherie Klassen: How about creating a LinkedIn Group or Page we could all join? 02:16:58 Mark van Elsberg: Cherie this would be a great start.. some of us might wish to update our profiles… 02:20:15 Leslie Fink: Now that’s reimagining! 02:20:33 John Kiru: Interestingly enough, the Province and cities of Toronto and Ottawa were able to among the pandemic focus develop a Small Business Tax Class to benefit thousands of small businesses. 02:20:43 Gelare Danaie: Montreal should be the example for all Canadian cities, I love what Michel is sharing …a different downtown 02:22:59 Catherine Deegan: City of Mississauga has a college in their city center 02:23:44 Kay Matthews: However, Universities left a huge hole in the street economy when the lockdowns happened.  So creating diversity is still key – building the ecosystem. 02:24:41 paul mackinnon: Montreal is currently losing population (-0.58%). I wonder if there are stats about what % are leaving downtown vs rest of the city, and also what is driving this. 02:25:55 Cherie Klassen: @Mark would you be willing to set up the LI page? 02:27:35 Christopher Clacio: How about 4 day work weeks? 02:27:44 Canadian Urban Institute: Hi everyone! Just a reminder to change you chat settings to “everyone,” so all attendees can see your questions and comments. ☺️ 02:27:53 Leslie Fink: Workforce/ talent drives growth and investment, and there’s a war on talent in Toronto.   Is there a role for businesses in placemaking activities to help bring the talent back downtown? 02:29:15 paul mackinnon: Was just surprised at negative growth numbers for Montreal, because it’s a city that’s doing a lot of things right, particularly Centre-Ville area. I look forward to visiting soon! 02:29:27 Adriana Dossena: To what extent is momentum, confidence, agency building by way of employers responding to existing calls to action with employee engagement programs, labor unions up skilling & just transition strategies changing expectations (including pivots in their pension planning) aligned with or co-creating a healthier, sustainable recovery? 02:29:58 Gelare Danaie: Totally agreed with Leslie and I think the experience of downtown should be revisited. My team prefer to come to our office in west end with their bikes and not go to downtown 02:31:34 Christopher Clacio: Does the business leaders/community have a perspective of how Basic Income  would change the business sector and the Canadian economy? 02:32:08 Jamie Van Ymeren: There are some examples of employers in SF subsidizing employee lunch to get them back in the office 02:33:06 Jan Mowbray: basic income or at least pay  decent wage for work done 02:33:35 Kelly Bergeron: Mary: https://www.npr.org/2022/01/22/1073975824/architect-behind-googleplex-now-says-its-dangerous-to-work-at-such-a-posh-office 02:34:25 Cherie Klassen: I see co-working companies growing now. We’re moving our offices to a co-work. It allows for more flexibility, creates community and reduces overhead costs. 02:34:30 Diego Almaraz: It is also a matter of repurposing offices and transforming them into social activity hubs that are flexible, attractive and practical. I see many office spaces shifting to become more of a “third place” style. 02:35:56 Maria Bravo: Here is the report from the Institut de la Statistic of Quebec:
https://statistique.quebec.ca/fr/communique/migration-interregionale-quebec-2020-2021-gains-records-pour-plusieurs-regions-en-dehors-des-grands-centres 02:36:12 Jan Mowbray: what amazon wants to charge its customers shouldn’t be borne on the backs of workers, that’s a wrong-headed way of trying to improve the economy. 02:36:15 Gelare Danaie: Great points! Compare Canada goals in 2050 and compare Toronto downtown we need to rethink our built environment 02:37:16 Cherie Klassen: How about we consider all the cities “Downtowns”? Our mainstreet districts and core mature neighbourhoods are also downtowns. We need to look at densifying them too and making them 15 min districts. 02:37:27 Rino Bortolin: removing parking minimums is a must. In fact should be a national policy 02:37:36 Brendon Hemily: Follow up to Jan’s comments about airport area: may be time to resurrect the concept of Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) 02:37:59 Alysson Storey: Another great discussion! Thank you everyone! 02:38:11 Canadian Urban Institute: Thank you Jan, Michel, Patrick and Deborah. We are going to take a quick 15 minute break and return at 2:30pm ET for our next session “Everyone’s responsibility: Canada’s Challenge with Street Issues ” with Judge Christine Lowe, Victoria Integrated Court, Mark Garner, CEO, Downtown Yonge BIA, Craig Cooper, Director of Housing Stability Services, City of London, Derek Pace, Brunswick Street Mission, Halifax. Moderated by Ken Kelly, Project Manager at IDA Canada 02:38:23 Jonathan Ricci: Thank you for a great discussion! 02:39:05 Cameron Charlebois: GREAT session.  Thanks.  Proud to be a Montrealer. 02:39:10 Kelly Bergeron: Cherie – we are working on a solution/product to help build the 15 min city 02:39:17 Gelare Danaie: Thanks a lot. Amazing discussion 02:39:17 Kelly Bergeron: www.neighbourspace.ca 02:39:18 Maria Bravo: Thank you! 02:39:28 Cherie Klassen: Thanks @Kelly! 02:40:26 Kelly Bergeron: No problem! We are starting to pilot this spring in various communities in Eastern Ontario. No time to lose when it comes to reducing emissions.