Ontario and Quebec have established a committee of private sector leaders, convened today, that will ensure recommendations contained in the joint provincial Cooperation and Trade Agreement promote the long-term economic growth of both provinces.

The Ontario-Quebec Cooperation and Trade Agreement is aimed at creating a prosperous regional partnership that will improve economic and trade activity, environmental protection, energy supply and transportation links.  The ten members of the Private Sector Advisory Committee bring a wealth of knowledge and experience and represent a highly-talented, diverse group of individuals from the private sector, industry associations and academia.

Ontario’s members include:

• Mr. Ian Howcroft, Vice President, Ontario Division, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters;
• Mr. Iain Klugman, President and CEO, Communitech;
• Mr. Mark Lievonen, President, Sanofi Pasteur Limited;
• Professor Bonnie M. Patterson, President and Vice-Chancellor, Council of Ontario Universities; and
• Dr. Roseann O’Reilly Runte, President and Vice-Chancellor, Carleton University

Quebec’s members include:

• Mr. Bernard Bélanger, President and CEO, Premier and CEO, Premier Tech Ltd;
• Ms. Sophie Brochu, President and CEO, Gaz Metro Inc;
• Dr. Heather Munroe-Blum, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, McGill University and President of the Conference of Rectors and Principals of Quebec Universities;
• Mr. Paul Lévesque, President, Pfizer Canada Inc., and Chairman of the Board, Montreal  Invivo; and
• Mr. Claude Robert, President and CEO, Groupe Robert Inc.