Bruce Graham introduced Gary Mar, President and CEO of the Calgary West Foundation.

 

The Canada West Foundation is a public policy think tank that has been around for 50 years. Started by Arthur Child, Fred Mannix, James Richardson, and Max Bell, it develops and promotes policies that shape the West, and by extension, Canada. This work is as important or perhaps more important now than it was in 1971 when the Canada West Foundation started. Tremendous changes have happened over the last half-century, many of them good. The four western provinces have created significant economic wealth that benefits all of Canada.

 

While public policy is essential, the federal government and provincial governments have neglected it as they have enacted austerity measures. In tougher times, government cuts reduce the capacity for making public policy. It is, therefore, important that think tanks step in to continue this vital work. Most Canadian think tanks work from the Laurentian triangle encompassing the Toronto, Montreal, and National Capital regions. At the same time, the Canada West Foundation is the only one focussed on the four Western provinces. The future prosperity of our region requires that we have somebody thinking about our policy requirements relative to those deployed in other parts of the country.

 

The Canada West Foundation works through its Natural Resources, Trade and Investment, and Human Capital centres. The Natural Resources Centre did a lot of work last year to ensure bills C-48 and C-69 received thorough evaluations. The Canada West Foundation went to Ottawa to present submissions to elected officials and senators, to create an outcome where the federal government could meet its objectives without the punitive impacts on the development of Canada’s energy infrastructure.

 

As the world population continues to grow, urbanize, and become middle class, there is an increasing need for Canada’s resources to build the world’s infrastructures. Canada’s energy resources will power the world’s economic transformation.

 

The Human Capital Centre deals with questions of preparing students for jobs that do not exist yet and preparing the workforce to exit positions that will cease to exist in five years. It also deals with attracting the kinds of businesses we want to bring into Western Canada. We have had to face two “black swan” events: the oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Arguably, the actions of various NGOs to frustrate the development of Canada’s energy infrastructure is another black swan. As well, there is increasing pressure for Canadian resources to be produced in environmentally and socially sound ways. These events have accelerated history and will force massive changes to our workforce. The Human Capital Centre ensures essential skills and competencies are being used to increase productivity in Western Canada.

 

The Trade and Investment Centre highlights western interests in Ottawa and the foreign markets most critical for the West. Trade has become more complex and riskier, and the centre works to develop opportunities to help Western Canadian exporters and governments respond to immediate trade challenges while preparing for longer-term threats and opportunities.

 

Following an in-depth question and answer period, Paul Gagnon thanked our speaker for his most informative presentation.