Annual Report 2012 – 2013 canada2020.ca

www.canada2020.ca Canada 2020 Annual Report 2012–13 1 This is what progressive looks like. Canada Table of Contents

MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDERS 1

PEOPLE WE’VE HEARD FROM 2

IDEAS WE’VE SHARED 8

CANADA 2020 BY THE NUMBERS 14

OUR SPONSORS 16

OUR TEAM 17 A Message from the Founders

This is Canada 2020’s second Annual Report, but our seventh year as an organization.

Since 2006, Canada 2020 has grown into the dy- As we have maintained from the very beginning, namic centre of Canada’s progressive movement; this does not necessarily mean big government. incubating new ideas and connecting innovative Rather, we take it to mean intelligent, innovative, people. And as we approach our namesake year analytical and strategic government, which could of 2020, our organization’s goals and aspirations conceivably result in smaller government, focused are taking shape in exciting ways. on a few big and important areas of public policy that really matter to Canada’s future. Canada 2020 is a leading, independent, non- partisan progressive think-tank – a mouthful, to In 2012-2013, Canada 2020 continued to explore be sure, but important to communicating our five of those areas that we believe will make unique vision for the kind of Canada we want at Canada a more socially and economically the end of the decade. prosperous nation: innovation and productivity, income inequality and polarization, engagement If you attended any one of our 60+ events over with Asia, carbon and energy, and public health. the past seven years, you will know that Canada As we completed the third phase of our marquee 2020’s core goal is to redefine the role of the fed- project, The Canada We Want in 2020, we arrived eral government for a modern Canada. We do this at a focused suite of policy priorities – a working by convening leading authorities from Canada set of ideas that progressive-minded individuals and abroad, generating original policy thinking, can coalesce around. and hosting free public events. Fittingly, it is along this axis that our report is pre- We do this because we believe the federal gov- sented: ideas and people – two essential ingredients ernment has a vitally important role to play in for building Canada’s progressive movement. Canadians’ lives. Whether through developing and implementing strategic policies, identifying And so it is with great pride that we present this the big challenges our country faces, or mobilizing Annual Report. If you have been a long-time consensus for action, Canada 2020 is a place Canada 2020 supporter, we hope you enjoy it as a for forward-looking thought leadership about summary of the work we have produced with your how the federal government can be a force for help. If you are new to Canada 2020, welcome: we significant and positive change. look forward to seeing you for our next season.

Sincerely,

Tim Barber Susan Smith Eugene Lang Thomas Pitfield Co-Founder Co-Founder Co-Founder Co-Founder

www.canada2020.ca Canada 2020 Annual Report 2012–13 1 PEOPLE WE’VE HEARD FROM

Canada 2020’s stage has hosted some of the world’s leading thinkers from government to business and everywhere in between. 2013 was no different: Canada 2020 brought to Ottawa some of the most respected names in national and global policy to discuss everything from the fiscal cliff to carbon pricing, state-owned enterprises, equality of opportunity, the crisis in public health and more. Here we have compiled some of our favorite photos of the people we have seen on our stage this year. For a full list of our events and speakers, and to access exclusive video, visit canada2020.ca/event.

Dr. Lawrence H. Summers

The incomparable Larry Summers spoke at Canada 2020 just two days after the 2012 U.S. Presidential election that saw Barack Obama reelected. Sponsored by TD Bank, Dr. Summers shared his timely thoughts and insight on the looming ‘fiscal cliff’ crisis, the latest U.S. political gridlock, and global economic trends amidst a fragile recovery.

Tweet @saxby8 Summers points to Canada as evidence that large banks can actually help with stability #can2020

2 Canada 2020 Annual Report 2012–13 www.canada2020.ca The Honourable Jean Charest, P.C. d

The former Quebec Premier and Mulroney-era En- vironment Minister, pictured here with Eric Newell from the Climate Change Emissions Management Corporation, reflected on Canada’s carbon future at our biggest event of the year, How to sell carbon pricing to Canadians. Joining the two men on stage was UBC’s Kathryn Harrison, the Energy & Enterprise Institute’s Bob Inglis, and Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands. Mr. Charest predicted Canada would implement a national carbon tax within the next fifteen years.

Dr. Lawrence H. Summers Bob Inglis Melanie Aitken

Canada 2020 was pleased to welcome Bob Inglis, a Canada’s former Competition Commissioner brought former U.S. Republican Congressman at How to sell her years of experience tackling Canada’s productivity carbon pricing to Canadians in April 2013. Mr. Inglis challenge to our first event of 2013, Competition was voted out of office for supporting climate change Matters. Joining her on stage were “the CCCE’s” the legislation like a carbon tax, and has since devoted his Honourable John Manley, SECOR’s Marcel Côté, and time to the Energy & Enterprise Institute, an organization Deloitte’s Glenn Ives. that seeks to convince Republicans that free market approaches to curbing carbon emissions are - in Bob’s Tweet words - “bedrock conservatism.” @cathmckenna Impressed by size & diversity of audience @Canada2020 discussion on productivity & competition. I’m not the only policy geek. #can2020

www.canada2020.ca Canada 2020 Annual Report 2012–13 3 Melody C. Barnes

Most recently serving as the White House Director of Domestic Policy for President Barack Obama, Melody Barnes joined our May 2013 panel, Confronting the crisis in public health, to talk about the importance of federal leadership on tackling obesity and related chronic diseases. Pictured here with PHAC’s Rodney Ghali, Melody recalled her work on Let’s Move! with First Lady Michelle Obama and sees public health as an “all hands on deck” issue.

Elizabeth May, Thomas M.P. D’Aquino

Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party and MP for Thomas D’Aquino of Intercounsel Limited joined our Saanich-Gulf Islands, joined our carbon pricing panel panel Buying Canada: Strategic industries, state-owned to urge national action on climate change and an end to enterprises and the national interest in October 2012 the political stalemate that has scuttled movement on alongside Laura Dawson of Dawson Strategic, the carbon pricing, taxation and other market-based instru- University of Alberta’s Wenran Jiang, and Brock ments to curbing Canada’s carbon emissions. University’s Charles Burton. In the wake of CNOOC’s takeover of Nexen Inc., panelists discussed whether or Tweet not there are strategic sectors in Canada that should @cleanenergycan be protected. Packed house here in Ottawa for @Canada2020 event “How To Sell Carbon Pricing to Canadians” #can2020

4 Canada 2020 Annual Report 2012–13 www.canada2020.ca The Honourable Kathleen Wynne, MPP

Ontario’s 25th Premier, The Honourable Kathleen Wynne, chose Canada 2020’s podium to call for a na- tional transit strategy. “The regions that are setting the economic agenda globally,” said Premier Wynne, “are the ones making smart investments in transportation and infrastructure.”

Tweet @Kathleen_Wynne Getting ready to speak at @Canada2020 about “the Ontario we want.” #onpoli #cdnpoli

www.canada2020.ca Canada 2020 Annual Report 2012–13 5 Geoff Cape

Geoff Cape, CEO of Evergreen, joined our third panel event of the year, Asia’s cities, Canada’s opportunity? The debate focused on the potential that exist for Canadian businesses and policy leaders in Asia’s massive city ex- pansion. Approached strategically, this urban build-out represents a huge opportunity for Canada, especially in infrastructure, construction and related services, agri- foods and green technologies. Cape said Canada has “exportable” cities that we should be proud of.

Zanny Minton Beddoes

Zanny Minton Beddoes, Economics Editor for The Economist magazine spoke on our Equality of opportunity – a Canadians dream? panel in February 2013. Ms. Minton Beddoes joined the University of Ottawa’s Miles Corak, the Brook- ings Institution’s Ron Haskins, Carolyn Acker of The Honourable Pathways to Education and Canada 2020’s Diana Diane Finley, Carney for a conversation on the most effective public policy levers for preserving social mobility P.C., M.P. and advancing equality of opportunity.

Tweet Canada 2020 brought together senior executives from @MilesCorak industry, government, First Nations, labour unions, Inequality matters because it has and educational institutions for a one-day, invite-only the potential to shape opportunity conference entitled Skilled Trades in the Energy Sector. http://wp.me/p1Ydsu-19y @Canada2020” The conference explored practical solutions to the growing skilled trades gap in a key Canadian industry. The Honourable Diane Finley, former Minister of Hu- man Resources and Skills Development, gave one of the day’s keynote address in advance of the government’s Canada Job Grant budget announcement.

6 Canada 2020 Annual Report 2012–13 www.canada2020.ca The Honourable Lisa Raitt, P.C., M.P.

Joining Minister Finley and other government rep- resentatives at our conference Skilled Trades in the Energy Sector was then-Labour Minister Lisa Raitt, who gave the day’s closing keynote address. Minister Raitt called for increased participation of women in all aspects of the trades - from the factory floor all the way up to the boardroom.

Dr. Eric Topol, MD

Presented by AMGEN, Dr. Eric Topol kicked off our fall 2012 event season with a sold-out talk about the future of digital health. Using his own smartphone to monitor vital signs, Dr. Topol cast a vision into the future where genomics and the Alex Munter latest advances in technology can better – and more affordably – treat chronic diseases.

President and CEO of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), and Co-Chair of the Ontario Healthy See all of the photos from Kids Panel, Alex Munter joined Melody Barnes, PHAC’s Rodney Ghali and Loblaw’s Alexis Williams at our last Canada 2020 events at panel event of the year, Confronting the crisis in public flickr.com/canada2020. health. Alex noted that focusing healthy-eating efforts on children should take precedence.

www.canada2020.ca Canada 2020 Annual Report 2012–13 7 IDEAS WE’VE SHARED

Canada 2020 is a hub for innovative ideas about Canada’s future, especially about the role of the federal government in ensuring this future is a prosperous one. Spurred on by the speakers we hosted, the researchers we worked with, and the participation of our audience and online community, Canada 2020 has nurtured progressive policy from idea to inception. This year, we took our five focus areas (innovation, inequality, Asia, carbon and health) and drilled down on each one, focusing on individual aspects where the federal govern- ment should prioritize its efforts. To improve our innovation performance, for example, we honed in on competition policy; to reduce our carbon emissions, we sparked a con- versation about a national carbon tax. Read on for a summary of the key takeaways from our public events, our online commentary and our research hub – all of which can be accessed online at canada2020.ca.

Increasing productivity through targeting competition

SPEAKERS Vigorous market competition is a critical At our panel, Competition Matters, we grap- driver of firm-level innovation, which is a pled with these issues within the context of The Honourable major contributor to enhancing productiv- Canada’s continuously poor productivity John Manley, PC Canadian Council of ity growth. Core sectors of the Canadian performance. While disagreements persist Chief Executives economy remain protected from the full as to why, our panelists and researchers forces of global – sometimes even inter- all agree that when it comes to the health, Marcel Côté KPMG-SECOR provincial – competition. This undermines vibrancy and success of Canada’s entre- their incentive to invest in new technolo- preneurs, complacency is not an option. Melanie Aitken gies, innovative management practices and Federal policymakers should start by us- Bennett Jones LLP other productivity-enhancing strategies ing competition policy as a lever through Glenn Ives and further undermining their competi- which to drive innovation and productivity. Deloitte Canada tiveness on the world stage. Further reading online: Competition matters by Grant Bishop

8 Canada 2020 Annual Report 2012–13 www.canada2020.ca Targeting Asia’s cities

SPEAKERS Over the next 12 years, China alone will Canada 2020’s work on Asia this year move 250 million people into its cities; a focused on determining the ways Ca- Rana Sarkar staggering crescendo to a massive urban- nadian firms can take advantage of this KPMG ization process across the Asia-Pacific accelerating urban dynamism. Economic Geoff Cape region that – between 1980 and 2010 – saw diplomacy – that is, the state-sponsorship Evergreen 1.1 billion people leave farmers’ fields and of home-grown industries to international Sharon Christians pastures for high rises and subways. markets – is seen as sorely lacking in key Bombardier Canadian industries, particularly those Transportation Group This unprecedented urban build-out is that could participate in facilitating the bringing both prosperity and problems. growth of a second wave of emerging Alessandro Pio Approached strategically though, it rep- Asian Development Asian megacities. Bank resents a huge opportunity for Canada, especially in infrastructure, construction Further reading online: and related services, agri-foods and green Asia’s cities, Canada’s opportunity? technologies. by Canada 2020

www.canada2020.ca Canada 2020 Annual Report 2012–13 9 Investing in the institutions that ensure equality of opportunity

SPEAKERS The idea that all citizens should have an examined Canada in an international con- equal chance to succeed in life, regard- text, looking at why and how our response Miles Corak less of where they start, is fundamental to inequality differs from that in the U.S. University of Ottawa to liberal societies and emblematic of the and other countries, and asking what we Zanny Minton American – and Canadian – dream. In our can learn from others. Beddoes second panel on income inequality, Equal- The Economist ity of opportunity – a Canadian dream? we We found that preserving the institutions that support economic and social mobil- Carolyn Acker, C.M. explored the idea of economic and social Pathways to mobility, looking at why it is important, ity is the single most important policy Education what its determinants are, and how it relates lever that governments have for reducing inequality. This means ensuring access to Ron Haskins to equality of opportunity and outcome. Brookings Institution quality public education, affordable health Our panelists and research efforts focused care and other components of an effective on the most effective public policy levers social security system. for preserving mobility and advancing equality of opportunity. In so doing, we Further reading online: Public policies for equality and social mobility in Canada Tweet by Miles Corak. @PeggyNashNDP Amazing panel on inequality @Canada2020 Inequality as a driver: Links to health, #Can2020. We must act to reduce inequality. productivity and the environment by Claude Dumulon-Lauzière

10 Canada 2020 Annual Report 2012–13 www.canada2020.ca Designing and implementing a national carbon tax

SPEAKERS The magnitude of the carbon problem is place – addressed a number of the hurdles such that every possible tool needs to be to carbon pricing. Chief among them is The Honourable available to policy makers as they craft designing a system that is saleable not only Jean Charest, PC McCarthy-Tétrault their response. Unfortunately, the issue to the Canadian public (who may already LLP of carbon pricing is intensely polarized in be primed for climate action), but also for Canada with many politicians fearing to the politicians who run on it. A ‘revenue Eric Newell Climate Change show leadership on this file. neutral carbon tax’ – that is, a one-for-one and Emissions cutting of income tax in response to raises Management Yet signs for optimism persist, particularly in a carbon (or ‘pollution’) tax – appears to Corporation this past year. As Alberta makes promising be a preferred option. steps towards curbing emissions at the pro- Elizabeth May MP, Saanich-Gulf vincial level, and the White House pivots to Of course action on any sort of carbon pric- Islands climate change as a top priority, a veritable ing mechanism is incumbent upon a more ‘carbon moment’ may exist for Canadian constructive dialogue about the issues at Kathryn Harrison University of British federal leadership. play. What has become abundantly clear Columbia through our work in this area is that a more Our panelists and researchers – in open dialogue around carbon, climate and Bob Inglis universal agreement that some form of Energy & Enterprise our energy future is required. Institute carbon pricing can and should be put in Further reading online: Why would Tweet Canadians buy carbon pricing? @banffforum by Diana Carney Kudos to @Canada2020 for pushing the debate on #carbon pricing. That’s what #leadership is What does a changing climate mean all about. #energy #cdnpoli #can2020 for Canadian agriculture? by Sophie Oliver

www.canada2020.ca Canada 2020 Annual Report 2012–13 11 Showing leadership on personal health

SPEAKERS While provinces work on the specifics of Yet amidst uncertainty and varying degrees health system reform, the federal govern- of leadership, one thing remains clear: the Melody C. Barnes ment has an opportunity to change the public health of Canadians – and particu- New York University whole ethos behind health and wellness larly Canadian children – is deteriorating Rodney Ghali in Canada. The focus of our 2013 health at an alarming rate. Over 70% of today’s Public Health Agency panel was the role of the federal govern- children will grow into their middle ages of Canada ment in catalyzing better public health obese or overweight. To respond, our pan- Alexis Williams outcomes, such as curbing obesity and elists and researchers agreed an “all hands Loblaw Companies related chronic conditions. on deck” approach was necessary, with all Limited levels of government creating the space A key objective was to determine which Alex Munter for leaders to emerge, change offerings, Children’s Hospital of policies yield real results and whether and encourage active lifestyles. While ex- Eastern Ontario broad-brush or targeted approaches are periments in Europe show community-first the most effective. Many policy initiatives initiatives have the largest impact, room for in this area appear full of promise, yet yield inspiring federal leadership like Michelle little in terms of behavioral change. What’s Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign in the U.S. more is that it is unclear whether targeting presents an interesting model for Canadian efforts around curbing obesity and chronic policymakers to follow. illness actually bend the health cost curve downward. Further reading online: Confronting the crisis in public health Tweet by Aqsa Malik @AlexMunterCHEO Is health system becoming the safety net’s safety Valuing health in Canada: net? New @Canada2020 report addresses Who, how and how much? income inequality #cdnhealth by Aneil Jaswal

The Circle model: an innovative alternative for health care in Canada by Arianne Charlebois

12 Canada 2020 Annual Report 2012–13 www.canada2020.ca Closing the skills gap

SPEAKERS As Canada is faced with a growing gap Canada 2020’s conference, taking place between energy production and the skilled in February 2013 just before the most For a full list of conference speakers, labour required to facilitate further growth, recent federal budget, brought together visit canada2020.ca/ the federal government and its partners all relevant stakeholders: industry, labour, skilled-trades are uniquely poised to address this issue. governments, colleges and First Nations. If current estimates hold, Canada’s energy Of the three goals for our conference, chief sector alone will see a shortfall of 150,000 among them was to increase the general skilled workers over the next decade – a awareness and discussion on the scale and shortfall that will most certainly threaten importance of the skilled trades shortage in the timeline of energy projects. the energy sector.

Tweet From there, we sought to reach consensus @HRSDCanada on the need for a more coordinated and Minister Finley was pleased to have participated multifaceted federal-provincial-territorial at #Can2020 ‘Skilled Trades in the Energy Sector’. policy response. Our goal was to suggest what a coordinated policy agenda could look like – a suggestion taken up in the 2013 federal budget.

Further reading online: Skilled trades in the energy sector - Conference Report by Canada 2020

www.canada2020.ca Canada 2020 Annual Report 2012–13 13 CANADA 2020 BY THE NUMBERS This year, Canada 2020 hosted over 4000 people at our various events, conferences and talks. Here is who Canada 2020’s audience was in 2012 and 2013:

15% 41% Other Media, associations, etc. Government Primarily federal policy makers 14% Academic Professors, administrators, students

13% Not-for-profit NGOs, charities 18% Business Community Business leaders, consultants

We asked our audience to pick one word to describe Canada 2020’s work. Here’s what we heard:

Credible Forward-Thinking Interesting Fresh Inclusive Intriguing Impressive Spirited EmpoweringRelevant Fun Bold Innovative Cutting Edge Engaging Influential Timely Intelligent Important Informative Exciting Illuminating Professional Stimulating Ground-Breaking Essential Comprehensive Balanced Effective Dynamic Creative Diverse Thought-Excellent ProvokingInspirational Insightful Energizing Enlightening Captivating Optimistic

14 Canada 2020 Annual Report 2012–13 www.canada2020.ca Canada 2020 is nurturing a growing online community. Through our website, canada2020.ca and our various social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, Flickr), we share content, promote ideas and engage with our followers on the progressive policy issues that are important to them. In 2012-2013, we saw:

5,100 34% 170%

average web hits increase in increase in per month mailing list size social media following

Canada 2020’s events: »» September 26 2012 »» January 30 2013 »» April 17 2013 Special event: Dr. Eric Topol The Canada We Want in 2020 The Canada We Want in 2020 Speaker Series: Competition Speaker Series: How to sell »» October 17 2012 Matters carbon pricing to Canadians Buying Canada: Strategic industries, state-owned »» February 26 2013 »» May 28 2013 enterprises and the national The Canada We Want in 2020 The Canada We Want in 2020 interest Speaker Series: Equality of Speaker Series: Confronting opportunity – a Canadian the crisis in public health »» November 8 2012 dream? Special event: Dr. Larry »» June 26 2013 Summers ‘The Global »» February 28 2013 Special event: Premier Economy, the U.S. Election Conference: Skilled Trades in Kathleen Wynne and the Fiscal Cliff: Where the Energy Sector are we now?’ »» March 27 2013 The Canada We Want in 2020 Speaker Series: Asia’s cities, Canada’s opportunity?

www.canada2020.ca Canada 2020 Annual Report 2012–13 15 OUR SPONSORS

Canada 2020’s work would not be possible without the generous support of our sus- taining partners. We greatly appreciate their generosity, which enables us to involve Canadians in identifying key policy challenges and developing progressive solutions. To learn more about the benefits of supporting Canada 2020, and to find out how to become sustaining partner, contact Tim Barber at [email protected].

And individual members of the Canada 2020 Founders’ circle

16 Canada 2020 Annual Report 2012–13 www.canada2020.ca OUR TEAM

Canada 2020 is:

»» Tim Barber »» Thomas Pitfield »» Alex Paterson Co-Founder Co-Founder Communications & [email protected] [email protected] Program Coordinator [email protected] »» Susan Smith »» Don Newman Co-Founder Chairman »» Claude Dumulon-Lauzière [email protected] Research Officer »» Diana Carney [email protected] »» Eugene Lang Associate Co-Founder [email protected] »» Laura Young [email protected] Event Coordinator [email protected]

We would also like to acknowledge the hard work and support of the following people and organizations that have made Canada 2020’s events, research and community possible:

»» Photography: Jake Wright, Matthew Usherwood, Stuart McCarthy

»» Online and multimedia: Olivier Dumetz and Communique Direct Studios

»» Event production: MediaCo and Bluesky Strategy Group

»» Canada 2020’s volunteers, interns and researchers: Aneil Jaswaal, Aqsa Malik, Arianne Charlebois, Brian Owens, Gemen Jn Charles, Graeme McLaughlin, Grant Bishop, Jennifer McKee, Jordan Ray, Julie Pickering, Margarita Matias Valencia, Rebecca Blackman, Sarah-Megan O’Connor, Sophie Oliver

www.canada2020.ca Canada 2020 Annual Report 2012–13 17

Canada 2020 210 Dalhousie Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7C8 Canada T: 613-789-0000

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