Who We Are
The Coalition for a Better Future is committed to a more inclusive, sustainable and prosperous Canada. We are a diverse group of Canadian leaders and organizations working together to develop a bold new economic and social vision for the country. Our focus is on practical solutions that can be implemented today to ensure a high quality of life for future generations.
Read More“Healthy and sustainable economic growth is critical to securing the future well being of our families, our communities and our planet. That won’t happen without a shared plan for action.”
It is time to rethink and reimagine what we are capable of achieving as a country. It is time to raise our sights – to embrace an ambitious and transformative vision for inclusive, sustainable economic growth and opportunity for all.
The Coalition for a Better Future represents a diverse and growing community of business leaders, community and civic organizations, social policy advocates, youth, Indigenous groups, environmental NGOs and concerned citizens. Each of us brings to the table a unique perspective, but we are united in our belief that economic growth is a necessary precondition for job creation, rising incomes, a cleaner environment, and a better quality of life.
We are keenly aware that Canada’s economy faces many headwinds, including an aging population, weak business investment and poor productivity. We recognize, too, that Canada’s average annual rate of economic growth has been slowing for decades. The COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges, disproportionately impacting lower-income Canadians and driving up levels of public debt.
Nevertheless, we refuse to accept that slow growth and stagnation are inevitable. Canadians have choices. By choosing as a country to make economic growth a policy priority, we can strengthen the foundations of Canadian society and create the wealth necessary to fund and enhance the social programs and public services on which Canadians depend.
The decisions that policymakers, businesses and individuals make now will determine our country’s path for years to come. The first step toward building a more prosperous, inclusive and sustainable future for all Canadians is to embrace a much higher level of economic ambition for our country. We must ask ourselves where we want Canada to be a decade or more from now in terms of standard of living, equality of opportunity, poverty reduction, environmental performance, and other measures of a healthy society. We must then work together to transform that vision into reality.
Advisory Council
Hon. Lisa Raitt
Vice Chair of Global Investment Banking, CIBC and former federal Conservative Cabinet minister
Hon. A. Anne McLellan
Canadian and International Strategic Planning Advisor, Bennett Jones LLP and former federal Liberal Cabinet minister
Hon. Perrin Beatty
President & Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Dax Dasilva
Founder and Executive Chair, POS Lightspeed Inc.
Paul Desmarais III
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sagard
Alicia Dubois
Chief Executive Officer, Royal BC Museum
Anna Gainey
Executive Chair, Canada 2020
Edward Greenspon
President and Chief Executive Officer, Public Policy Forum
Goldy Hyder
President and CEO of the Business Council of Canada
Monique Leroux
Chair of the Industry Strategy Council and former CEO of Desjardins Group
Mark Little
President and Chief Executive Officer, Suncor Energy Inc.
Hon. Stephen McNeil
Strategic Business Advisor, Cox & Palmer, and former Premier of Nova Scotia
Sean Speer
PPF Scotiabank Fellow in Strategic Competitiveness, Public Policy Forum
Carolyn Wilkins
Member of the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee, former Senior Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada
Rosemary Thompson
Executive Director, Coalition for a Better Future