Presented by: www.RomulusBusinessServices.com www.TheCBQ.ca Should Alberta ditch Canada? Alberta Fights Back Executive Director Peter Downing on the crippling equalization payments creating a growing secessionist movement PLUS VentriPoint Diagnostics (TSX-V:VPT) The Joseph Richard Group Blume Avricore Health Inc (TSX:AVCR) Oakwyn Realty Destination USA There’s a reason senior executives, THOUSANDS OF CEOS retail & institutional investors and government use The Canadian CAN’T BE WRONG. Business Quarterly (The CBQ). Providing in-depth views on business and economic development from emerging and established companies, government, and industry groups, The CBQ discusses the issues and opportunities on the national agenda. THOUSANDS Distributed to more than 24,000 subscribers with channels including OF CEOS our publication, website, and podcast series, The CBQ is the platform to THOUSANDS OF CEOS share company news, announcements, CAN’T BE and products. CAN’T BE WRONG. If your company is looking to increase WRONG. its visibility and gain traction of message, contact Jessy Camus at [email protected] for more information. www.TheCBQ.ca CONTENTS REGULARS 50 Destination USA We recently visited the U.S. to get a better idea of the 4 Publisher’s Note variety America offers. We look at four cities you should 6 News in Review consider when travelling for business or pleasure FEATURES Dallas Everything’s bigger in Texas 9 Ventripoint Diagnostics (TSXV:VPT) Toronto’s New Orleans Experience Southern hospitality Ventripoint Diagnostics is paving a new path in Chicago Winter in the Windy City cardiology care with its AI-powered technology San Francisco Golden Gate city 17 Avricore Health (TSXv:AVCR | OTCQB:AVCRF) COLUMNS Avricore Health plans to transform modern healthcare with its HealthTab technology 64 [Sport] Sorel-Tracy Éperviers of Quebec’s LNAH Where to from here? 21 COVER - Alberta Fights Back Executive Director Peter Downing on reasserting 68 [Personalities] Theoren Fleury Phoenix Rising full constitutional authority over Alberta From NHL legend to inspiring leader 28 Blume 72 [Engineering] Engineering industry roles, responsibilities CEO and co-founder Taran Ghatrora on and obligations in developing sustainable infrastructure crowd-creating a safe and transparent systems supporting economic growth in the Arctic self-care product line Reg Andres, President, Engineering Institute of Canada 38 Oakwyn Realty 78 [Management] Is management a profession? CEO Michael Uy on delivering $2.7 billion in Dr. Matthew Jelavic, CEO, Canadian Institute of Management sales during 2018 81 [Retail] Reinstating Canada’s Visitor Rebate Program 43 The Joseph Richard Group Cory Anderson, Senior Manager for Government Relations CEO Ryan Moreno on the exciting new venture and Regulatory Affairs, Retail Council of Canada promising to disrupt the restaurant industry The Canadian Business Quarterly - www.TheCBQ.ca 3 PUBLISHER’S NOTE As this edition gets published there’s lots of national Jesse Landry speaks regularly discussion around the Trudeau government. It’s no secret with business and industry that as a business title we lean right in favour of lower leaders from across the globe. taxes and less government intervention. His career experience includes the North America, UK, and In the face of a number of recent scandals facing his Australian markets and he has government, the passion for conservatism looks to be on served on both boards and the rise. committees. From the perspective of the West this appears to be In addition to The Canadian true, including our interviews with Alberta Fights Back Business Quarterly he produces and Theo Fleury explaining in great detail the economic The Australian Business shackling of Alberta. Executive, and Executive America. He also hosts his own podcast, Landry.Audio speaking with recognizable Further Western coverage in this edition includes personalities from business, politics, entertainment, Vancouver based companies The Joseph Richard Group, literature and sport. Avricore Health, Oakwyn Realty, and Blume. He is a dual citizen of Canada and Australia. We also share some corporate travel opportunities from our neighbours in the south. Find out more by visiting www.RomulusRising.com. Hope you enjoy. Jesse Landry MD & Publisher 4 The Canadian Business Quarterly - www.TheCBQ.ca PUBLISHER’S NOTE The Canadian Business Quarterly Published quarterly, The Canadian Business Quarterly provides A division of Romulus Rising Pty Ltd an in depth view of business and economic development issues (Australia) taking place across the country. Featuring interviews with top executives, government policy makers and prominent industry W: www.TheCBQ.ca bodies The CBQ examines the news beyond the headlines to uncover the drivers of local, state, and national affairs. E: [email protected] All copy appearing in The Canadian Business Quarterly is copyrighted. Publisher Reproduction in whole or part is not permitted without written Jesse Landry permission. Any financial advice published in The Canadian Business Quarterly or on www.TheCBQ.ca has been prepared without taking in Writers to account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any reader. Nicholas Paul Griffin Neither The Canadian Business Quarterly nor the publisher nor any Josh Wells of its employees hold any responsibility for any losses and or injury Raul Betancourt incurred (if any) by acting on information provided in this magazine. All opinions expressed are held solely by the contributors and are not Editorial Contributors endorsed by The Canadian Business Quarterly or www.TheCBQ.ca. Jessy Camus Raymond Dicipolo All reasonable care is taken to ensure truth and accuracy, but neither Rosemae Aquino the editor nor the publisher can be held responsible for errors or omissions in articles, advertising, photographs or illustrations. Design & Layout Unsolicited manuscripts are welcome but cannot be returned Bien Swinton Jr. without a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The publisher is not Rebecca Hamerton responsible for material submitted for consideration. Web & Digital The CBQ is published by Romulus Rising Pty Ltd, ABN: 77 601 723 111. Mark Holanda The Canadian Business Quarterly - www.TheCBQ.ca 5 News In Review Air Canada enters into exclusive BMO announces New agreement with Transat A.T. Inc. Technology & Innovation to pursue a combination of the Banking Group to accelerate two companies technology practice ir Canada announced that it has entered into an anada’s technology sector is growing quickly. To exclusive agreement with Transat A.T. Inc. (Transat) help companies compete and grow in this Aregarding the proposed purchase by Air Canada C burgeoning sector, BMO has introduced its of all issued and outstanding shares of Transat and its Technology & Innovation Banking Group. combination with Air Canada. The proposed transaction, valued at approximately $520 million or $13.00 per share This specialized group provides advice and funding of Transat (on a fully-diluted basis), will create a Montreal-based to companies at every stage of their lifecycle – from start-up global travel services company in leisure, tourism and to post exit or IPO – and is uniquely positioned to help travel distribution operating across Canada and internationally. technology and innovation companies, by tapping into Air Canada has all the necessary funding required to BMO’s strong North American presence and by helping complete the transaction which is accordingly not subject them build seamless cross-border operations. to financing conditions. “The technology sector is transforming our country “A combination with Transat represents a great and ensuring the continued success of these companies opportunity for stakeholders of both companies. This will be important to helping Canada reach its full economic includes the shareholders of both Transat and Air Canada, potential,” said Cameron Fowler, President, North American employees of both companies, who will benefit from increased job security and growth prospects, and Personal & Business Banking, BMO Financial Group. Canadian travellers, who will benefit from the merged “BMO has a strong North American banking business, and company’s enhanced ability to participate as a leader in customer relationships are at the heart of this strength. the highly competitive leisure travel market globally. We’re here to help entrepreneurs bring new ideas to The acquisition presents a unique opportunity to compete market, drive innovation and enable established with the very best in the world when it comes to leisure enterprises to reach their full potential and scale.” travel. 6 The Canadian Business Quarterly - www.TheCBQ.ca News In Review CN investing approximately Scotiabank confirms US$45 million to expand and creation of Global strengthen Mississippi’s rail Wealth Management infrastructure in 2019 business line N (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) said it plans to invest he new business line, Global Wealth Management, approximately US$45 million in Mississippi in 2019 to reflects commitment to accelerating their wealth CTstrengthen the company’s rail network across the state. management strategy, following the recent acquisitions of MD Financial Management and Jarislowsky Fraser, and “Following a record capital program in 2018, CN has the Bank’s focus on achieving scale across Canada and been able to take on more traffic from different commodity our key international markets. Canadian Banking will remain sectors based on contracts with our customers,” said Derek