The Future of Montreal: A Public Dialogue

Everyone must ask what they can do, in their field and as a citizen, in order to give Qubec the momentum it needs to tackle the challenges of the future.î

12 prominent voices from Qubecís political, business, media and academic domains published a manifesto, ìPour un Qubec Lucide/For a Clear-eyed Vision of Qubecî. Signed by, among others, former Qubec Premier Lucien Bouchard, La Presse editor Andr Pratte, respected economists Robert Lacroix and Pierre Fortin and Oscar-winning film producer Denise Robert, the treatise delivered a call to sweeping economic, social and attitudinal change based on a pointed warning: ìOur society and our standard of living are under imminent threat. We must act now or face a long, slow decline.

One year later, on October 19, 2006, The Human Capital Institute, in partnership with McGill University and the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, will host a summit called: Our Future: a Public Dialogue, a day-long assessment of the critical human capital-related issues raised in the manifesto.

Our Future: A Public Dialogue will feature prominent keynote speakers and panelists along with 250 participants addressing four key themes: Demographics, Globalization, Education and Innovation.

Allan Schweyer, President and Executive Director of the Human Capital Institute, said, ìIn the 21st Century, economic success will be determined by the choices of talented workers and entrepreneurs, who will locate based on a societyís creative outlets, tolerance, diversity, and the degree to which an economy is globally integrated. We look forward to discussing these issues as they impact Montreal and Qubec.î

ìAs a Qubec University, McGill is particularly pleased to play a leadership role in assembling a range of experts and leading thinkers from Qubec and elsewhere to exchange ideas and approaches at this event, including Lucien Bouchard said McGill Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Heather Munroe-Blum.

Political Science Professor and McGill Dean of Arts Christopher Manfredi, who will moderate the conference, said, We are confident that this dialogue will stimulate further debate throughout Qubec society on the urgent questions of our common destiny and the role each Qubecer can play in advancing the prospects we face together.î

To register for the Montreal talent summit, please contact Kathryn Waslen, dialogue.public@mcgill.ca, or call 514-831-4812. Interested parties may register online at www.mcgill.ca/dialogue.

The Human Capital Institute will host a series of ìtalentî summits in city regions worldwide this year and next, beginning with Montreal in October 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa in November 2006 and Dallas, Texas in spring, 2007.