 Session 1: Opening Session—The Economics of a World of PlentyLowell B. Catlett, Ph.D. [view bio]
Sunday, September 11, 2011
7:30-9:00 p.m. EST | 6:30-8:00 p.m. CST
5:30-7:00 p.m. MST | 4:30-6:00 p.m. PST
Free access to members! ($125 value) Session Description As the world emerged from the last recession, both Canada and the United States continue to grow and emerging economies have grown even faster. Get ready for phenomenal growth in health care, energy and lifestyle markets as technology, demographics and new consumer expectations drive new business starts and the reformulation of current businesses. Canada is uniquely positioned to capitalize on all of these areas and either grow faster or gain more market share because of the underlying strength of its economy, entrepreneurial attitude and highly educated labour force. Canada will be a dominant player in the new world of plenty. |
 Session 2: Keynote Session—The Forecast for Tomorrow: More Future BabbleDan Gardner [view bio]
Monday, September 12, 2011
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. EST | 10:00-11:00 a.m. CST
9:00-10:00 a.m. MST | 8:00-9:00 a.m. PST
Free access to members! ($125 value) Session Description The prediction business is huge—it always has been. Wise men have forever claimed special insight into the future, which they were happy to share for a fee, and people have always been willing to pay. They still are. Is that because wise men deliver results? Hardly. Their forecasts routinely failed in the era of goats’ guts and tea leaves and they keep on failing today, in the era of pundits with Ph.D.s. So why do we keep taking these would-be prophets seriously? The media are partly to blame for not holding experts accountable when their predictions fail. But more fundamentally, the answer lies in psychology and the brain’s profound aversion to uncertainty: We believe because we want to believe. But we don’t have to be suckers for soothsayers. If we understand the psychology that compels us to believe, we can learn to distinguish between reasonable forecasts and the tales of confident experts, and make good decisions that leave us better prepared for the future . . . no matter what happens. |
 Session 3: Featured Session—Legal and Legislative Developments Across CanadaMurray Campbell [view bio],
Hugh Wright [view bio],
Mark Zigler [view bio]
Monday, September 12, 2011
12:30-1:30 p.m. EST | 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CST
10:30-11:30 a.m. MST | 9:30-10:30 a.m. PST
Free access to members!
($125 for nonmembers) Session Description Panel presentation of proposed and recently passed legislation and regulations affecting pension and health and welfare benefit plans. |
 Session 4: Featured Session—Secure Pensions—But at What Price?Malcolm P. Hamilton [view bio]
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
12:30-1:30 p.m. EST | 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CST
10:30-11:30 a.m. MST | 9:30-10:30 a.m. PST
Free access to members! ($125 for nonmembers) Session Description Canadians want secure pensions just like they want large pensions, indexed pensions and pensions commencing at an early age. But how much do secure pensions really cost? Are they worth it? And who should pay for them? Defined benefit pension plans are fading in the private sector in part because the cost of secure pensions exceeds the value employees place on them. Can public sector pension plans avoid the same fate? |