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Emerson to Chair Provincial Economic Advisory Council

Dec. 10, 2008

VANCOUVER - Premier Gordon Campbell has announced that David Emerson will chair a new nine-person Economic Advisory Council that will provide expert advice and recommendations to government on maintaining and enhancing the province’s economic strengths.

“British Columbia is well positioned to get through these difficult times but we have to take action now to be stronger when the economy turns around,” said Premier Campbell, who announced the creation of the council on October 22. “I am very pleased that individuals of this calibre would contribute their time and expertise to an undertaking with this much importance. The council represents a broad range of expertise, knowledge and good judgement and will be a valuable resource for cabinet.”

The Economic Advisory Council will report directly to cabinet with recommendations for cabinet consideration.

The members of the council include.
  • David Emerson, CEO and chair of BC Transmission Corporation (chair of Economic Advisory Council).
  • Sarah Boatman, chief financial and operating officer of BigPark.
  • Barry Marsden, chairman of Cascade Aerospace Inc. and Conair Group Inc.
  • George Melville, co-chairman and co-owner of T&M Management Services.
  • Peter Misek, managing director, Global Technology Strategist, Head of Research, CanaccordAdams (Canada).
  • Sean Morrison, co-founder of the Maxam Opportunities Fund LP.
  • Christopher Philps, executive vice president of Polygon Homes Ltd.
  • Yuen Pau Woo, president and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.
  • Paola Yawney, vice-president LP relations of Tricor Pacific Capital.
The Economic Advisory Council will begin work immediately to help the government chart the economic course through this global economic turmoil to the next generation of success. It will focus on a broad range of economic issues including energy, the environment, the Asia Pacific, natural resources and forestry, human resources and streamlining federal/provincial government processes. It will be staffed by existing government personnel and be funded within existing budgets.

Premier Campbell also announced the dates of two economic summits to be hosted in B.C. – Opportunities North: The Northern Economic Summit will be held in Prince George January 22-23 to focus on the unique opportunities and challenges in Northern B.C. The British Columbia Economic Summit will be held February 3-4 in Vancouver and will look at ways of capitalizing on economic opportunities for B.C. For information on these economic summits, go to: www.thebceconomicsummit.ca/

“Across the province we have opportunities to build and diversify our economy in sectors like bioenergy, trade and transportation, green power and tourism,” said Premier Campbell. “These summits will look at those opportunities and at how we can ensure B.C. takes full advantage of being Canada’s Pacific Gateway to Asia and hosting the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.”

For more information on the B.C. Government’s economic plan, go to www.gov.bc.ca/economic_plan.
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