Robert Reich and New Brunswick premier Shawn Graham at Toronto Forum for
Global Cities - November 10

    
             Toronto Forum for Global Cities - November 10, 2009
               Conference Highlights Include Robert Reich and
                   Shawn Graham, Premier of New Brunswick
    

TORONTO , Nov. 9 /CNW/ - Senior White House officials, OECD leaders and high profile business executives will be among the over 40 panellists participating in the Toronto Forum for Global Cities, taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre North Building (255 Front Street West) on November 9 and 10, 2009. The Forum will tackle a series of questions about the role of cities in the global economy, including issues pertaining to public transportation, green energy and more.

    
    Forum highlights will include:

    Tuesday, November 10

    SMARTER CITIES FORUM presented by IBM (8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)

    8:30am - OPENING SESSION
    Speaker highlights: Dan Fortin, President, IBM Canada Ltd.; Courtney
    Pratt, CEO, Toronto Region Research Alliance (TRRA); Warren Jestin,
    Senior VP & Chief Economist, Scotia Bank

    How can cities leverage their knowledge-based economies to reach full
    potential as engines of growth? How can public investments be directed to
    reflect the economic and demographic realities of our urbanized nations?
    How can metropolitan networks distinguish themselves in an era of intense
    global competition?

    10:30am: BREAKOUT SESSIONS (simultaneously)

    ROUNDTABLE 1
    Smarter Economic Development
    Speaker highlights: Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Economic Development
    and Trade, Government of Ontario; Shawn Graham, Premier, Province of New-
    Brunswick; Chris Gibbon, Vice President, Global Social Services & Social
    Security, IBM Global

    Today's governments have a unique opportunity to transform their
    operations and services, making them truly citizen-centric. How can
    governments seize this opportunity? Will the solutions be sustainable?

    ROUNDTABLE 2
    Smarter Public Safety and Emergency Services
    Speaker highlights: Paul McCullough, Business Unit Executive, Public
    Safety and Defense, IBM Canada; Ann Cavoukian, Information and Privacy
    Commissioner of Ontario

    A smarter city uses advanced technologies and community-based approaches
    to anticipate and prevent - not just respond to - crimes and emergencies.
    What are these technologies? How can we direct funding to the necessary
    infrastructure to support them?

    ROUNDTABLE 3
    Smarter Energy and Utilities
    Speaker highlights: Michael Valocchi, Global Industry Leader, Energy and
    Utilities, IBM Global; Anthony Haines, President and CEO, Toronto Hydro
    Corporation

    Every day, energy is wasted due to inefficient electrical distribution
    systems. How can intelligent systems help utilities and citizens make
    smarter, more responsible choices about how to buy, sell and use
    electricity?

    12:00pm: LUNCHEON
    Competing in an Innovation-Intensive Economy
    Speaker highlights: Robert Reich, member of President Obama's Economic
    Advisory Board and former U.S Secretary of Labor; Shawn Graham, Premier,
    Province of New Brunswick

    NOTE: Robert Reich will participate in a 15-minute media question-and-
    answer session following the Luncheon.

    Economic stability will largely depend on how the emergency support is
    withdrawn. Which "exit strategies" are less likely to hurt the private
    sector's innovative capacity? How can the West remain competitive next to
    the innovative, rapidly-growing and fast- learning countries of Asia?

    3:00pm: SESSION 3 - What is the Future for the Banking Sector?
    Speaker highlights: Gautier Dirckx, President and CEO, BNP Paribas
    Canada; Compton Bourne, President, Caribbean Development Bank

    What have we learned from the economic crisis? Is the recent performance
    of the investment banks a sign of recovery or a symptom of another
    bubble? What are the possible consequences of the new regulatory
    requirements for the banking sector?
    

For a complete listing of Forum speakers and a detailed agenda, visit www.forumforglobalcities.com.

Media interested in attending Forum sessions must present official credentials at the Forum's Media Desk.

For further information: Media accreditation and information: Kristin Gable, Office: [phone], Cell: [phone], E-Mail/BlackBerry: [email protected]