Events

2023 OEA/CABE SPRING POLICY CONFERENCE

TACKLING ECONOMIC ISSUES AMID GLOBAL UNCERTAINTY

Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Ottawa

April 13, 2023

Please click here to register a table of 8.

Agenda

8:15-9:00  Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00-9:15  Opening Remarks

Speakers:

• Stephen Tapp, CABE Director
• Bolanle Alake-Apata, OEA President

9:15-10:30 Housing Market Outlook in Canada: Storm or Sunshine on the Horizon

The housing market is undoubtedly one of the pillars of the Canadian economy. When it gets cold, it is the whole economic activity that gets cold. So, analyzing its recent history, understanding its present and predicting its future are so important to take stock of the health of our economy. The housing downturn, which is slowly taking root across Canada, will headwind economic growth in 2023. Moreover, for an economy that increasingly relies on housing, this downturn will likely weigh on economic growth in the short and medium term – not only through direct channels, such as reduced real estate commissions but in indirect ways, such as weaker spending from households that gorged on mortgages and now face higher debt-servicing costs.

Given the above, the housing market outlook raises several questions. What will be the impact of this aggressive quantitative tightening on the Canadian housing market Outlook? What does this mean for the rental market in Canada?

Speakers:

• Bob Dugan, Chief Economist, Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation
• Randall Barlett, Senior Director of Canadian Economics, Desjardins
• Shaun Hildebrand, President, Urbanation Inc.
• Julie Di Lorenzo, President, Diamante Urban Corp.
• Rebekah Young, Vice President, Head of Inclusion and Resilience Economics, Scotiabank (moderator)

10:30-10:45 Health Break

10:45-11:45 Canada in a New Era of Global Trade

Global trade took some big hits over the last couple years. As economies continue their recovery from Covid-19, a series of supply-side shocks, waning consumer, and investor confidence arose. Extended lockdowns in China, a global energy crisis caused by Russia’s war on Ukraine, and increasing international political tensions are among the key drivers. The world needs more resilient trade networks and we are seeing a shift towards emerging markets as an engine of prosperity and jobs.

In November 2022, Canada unveiled its new $2.3-billion Indo-Pacific Strategy, and the immediate focus centred on the decoupling of Canada and China. The Strategy brings with it the possibility of transformational investments across trade, investment, agriculture, defence, and security in the Pacific regions. With major forecasts by the IMF and WTO signalling subdued trade growth in 2023, rising transatlantic tensions, and climate technologies disrupting value chains, what does this mean for Canada’s future? How can policymakers adapt to the new economic and geopolitical realities?

Speakers:

• Trevor Kennedy, Vice President, Trade and International Policy, Business Council of Canada
• Jonathan Fried, Senior Advisor, Bennett Jones
• Marie France Paquet, Chief Economist, Global Affairs

11:45-1:30 Luncheon and Keynote Address: Kevin Milligan, Professor, UBC

Speaker:

• Kevin Milligan, Professor of Economics, Vancouver School of Economics at the University of British Columbia

1:30-2:30 Labour Shortages in Canada: Evidence and Policy Solutions

The persistent presence of labour market and skill shortages is dampening Canada’s economic growth and competitiveness. Once restricted to certain sectors and regions, shortages have now become widespread, affecting, among others, access to health care. The panel will discuss the prevailing evidence of labour shortages in Canada, the primary factors underpinning the current situation and examine potential solutions going forward.

Speakers:

• Armine Yalnizyan, Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers, Atkinson Institute
• Brendon Bernard, Senior Economist, Indeed
• Steven Tobin, CEO and Founder, Labour X (moderator)

2:30-2:45 Health Break

2:45-4:00 Balancing Climate Goals with Global Energy Security and the Just Transition

Canada committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Carbon pricing is a cornerstone of Canada’s climate plan but needs to be complemented by other mitigation measures to decarbonize industrial sectors, including those that are hard to abate. The oil and gas sector is the largest source of Canada’s GHG emissions with over a quarter of national emissions. However, it is also an important contributor to Canada’s economy and can help in addressing the global energy crisis that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Is the policy mix of mitigation measures announced in Canada’s climate plan sufficient? Or should the government consider other instruments to support the transition to a net-zero economy? This panel will discuss how to balance Canada’s climate commitments with energy security, while ensuring that workers are not left behind in the transition to a net-zero economy.

Speakers:

• Chris Ragan, Economist and Director, Max Bell School of Public Policy, McGill University
• Heather Scoffield, Senior Vice President, Business Council of Canada
• Rachel Samson, Vice-President, Research, Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP)
• Glen Hodgson, Fellow, CD Howe Institute (moderator)

4:00-4:15 Closing Remarks

4:15-5:30 Award of Distinction Ceremony

The Ottawa Economics Association  Award of Distinction recognizes individuals who have made outstanding and lasting contributions to Canadian business economics or the community of economists and economic policy experts in Canada.

2022/23 Recipient:

• Stephen Poloz

 Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres and raise a glass to honour the recipient!

Registration

Early Bird Registration Rates:
OEA/CABE Members: $445 + HST
Non-members: $675 + HST
Only Available Until March 5, 2023

Registration rates after March 5, 2023:
OEA/CABE Members: $675 + HST
Non-members: $775 + HST

Registration closes Monday, April 3, 2023.

Memberships may be purchased online in advance of the event. For questions, please contact us at oea@cabe.ca.

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This event will be closed to the media and will employ Chatham House Rule.