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Competitiveness and seizing opportunities at FCM conference

June 1, 2018 - How Canada’s business community and municipalities can work more closely together to support vibrant and strong communities will be front and centre at this year’s Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Annual Conference and Trade Show in Halifax, N.S.

Derek Nighbor, chief executive officer of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) says the issue of industry competitiveness and driving economic growth for Canadians is key to securing a strong municipal tax base, a clean environment, and much-needed community infrastructure and social programs across the country.

“Different business sectors will each have their own unique perspectives on challenges and opportunities related to how to improve bottom lines and support job growth. The natural resources sector as an example, absolutely must remain globally competitive to ensure communities across this country — especially those in rural and northern Canada — can be economically strong and vibrant,” says Nighbor.

Ideas of how industry and municipal leaders can work together to advance environmental, social, and economic opportunities will be the focus of discussion for a plenary session entitled Canada’s Competitiveness: Challenges and Opportunities for Canada’s Municipalities.

Nighbor will be joined by Diane J. Brisebois, president and chief executive officer of the Retail Council of Canada and panel moderator Maryann Chichak, Mayor of Whitecourt, Alta.

“The theme of this year’s FCM Conference is Tools to Better Serve Members, and in that spirit I expect the panel will be challenged to explore how business, government, and communities can work together to address some of our challenges and seize opportunities,” says Nighbor.

The panel discussion will take place Saturday, June 2 at 11 am at the FCM Conference, an annual event that is expected to welcome over 2,000 delegates to the Halifax Convention Centre who represent municipalities of all sizes from right across Canada.

FPAC is proud to enter its second year as a corporate sponsor of FCM, Canada’s leading voice for municipalities and their leaders.

June 1, 2018  By Forest Products Association of Canada