The National Forum (Empire Club of Canada and the Canadian Club of Toronto) is pleased to present “A fireside chat with Michael Wilson, Frank McKenna and John Ibbitson.” John Ibbitson will lead a discussion with the two former Canadian Ambassadors to the US on the impact the election of President Obama on Canada a year after he was elected to office. The profiles of the Hon. Michael Wilson, Hon. Frank McKenna and John Ibbiston are as follows:
Michael Wilson, Former Canadian Ambassador to the US 2006-2009
Michael Wilson, a finance minister and trade minister in the Brian Mulroney government, came back into the public eye in 2006 with his nomination by Prime Minister Stephen Harper as Canadian Ambassador to the United States.
A stockbroker and investment banker by profession, Wilson was responsible for the controversial introduction of GST in 1990 and also helped negotiate the North-American Free Trade Agreement.
In 1979, he was elected to the House of Commons. In September 1984, he was appointed Minister of Finance and remained in that position until May 1991. He went on to become Minister of Industry, Science and Technology and Minister for International Trade.
During his tenure as a member of the Cabinet, he represented Canada at the IMF, IBRD, OECD, GATT and the G-7 Ministers meetings.
Wilson is active in a number of professional and community organizations including the NeuroScience Canada Partnership and The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
Michael Wilson is an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Frank McKenna, Former Canadian Ambassador to the US 2005-2006
The Hon. Frank McKenna was Counsel to Atlantic Canada law firm McInnes Cooper from 1998 to 2005 when he left to serve as the Canadian Ambassador to the United States from March 2005 to 2006.
He was first elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in 1982, Leader of the Liberal Party of New Brunswick and Premier of New Brunswick from 1987 to 1997.
McKenna is a prominent lawyer, politician and businessman. He is credited with achieving a remarkable turnaround in New Brunswick as the province experienced unprecedented growth.
In addition to various volunteer activities, he also continues to promote economic development of the Atlantic Region. He is an active volunteer, contributing his time to organizations like the Business Hall of Fame, Canadian Millennium Scholarship Foundation, National Adult Literacy Database and many others.
John Ibbitson, Ottawa Bureau Chief, Globe and Mail. Former US Correspondent, Globe and Mail.
John Ibbitson is a veteran political writer for the Globe and Mail and the author of ‘The Polite Revolution.’
Current based in Canada serving as Ottawa Bureau Chief for the Globe and Mail, he is one of Canada’s most respected political journalists. His commentary and style has played a major role in shaping the way Canadians think about our country and our politics at all levels of government.
From 2002-2007, he was the political affairs columnist for The Globe and Mail, before becoming their first columnist based in Washington, where until September 2009 he wrote on developments in American politics and society and what they meant for Canada and the world.
His book has been called a blueprint for the next Canada–a controversial, provocative and ultimately hopeful book in which he dismantles the old ways of thinking about Canada’s immigration, free trade, social and defence policies.
To order tickets please visit www.empireclub.org or call (416) 364-2878.
