Released on October 24, 1996
Crown Investments Corporation Minister Berny Wiens today outlined the
details of a conference on public enterprise, to be held at the
University of Regina Dec. 6.
The conference, organized by the University of Regina and Talking About
Saskatchewan Crowns (TASC), a subcommittee of the Provincial Action
Committee on the Economy (PACE), is being held in conjunction with the
government's public review of Crown corporations. The final report of
that review is slated to be released later this fall.
"We have assembled a first-rate selection of speakers with provincial,
national and international reputations, who will bring to the
conference a wide range of backgrounds, expertise and opinions
regarding public enterprise," Wiens said.
"The conference will explore the public mood regarding Crown
corporations, the market forces that impact on public enterprise, the
social and economic significance of Crown corporations and the
experiences of other jurisdictions on this issue."
Among the speakers will be well-known Canadian commentators such as
Michael Adams of Environics, Michael Walker of the Fraser Institute,
and Maude Barlow of the Council of Canadians. Also attending will be
top academics in the field, such as Robert Howse from the University of
Toronto and Harold Chorney from Concordia University.
Others scheduled to speak include former Premier Allan Blakeney and
Brett Fairbairn, director of Co-operative Studies at the University of
Saskatchewan.
The luncheon speaker will be Dr. David Heald of the University of
Aberdeen, Scotland, a well-known authority on public enterprise in
Europe.
Each of the sessions at the conference is designed to include audience
participation and feedback. The one-day conference will be held at the
University of Regina, Education Auditorium, with lunch to be held at
the Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts. Conference registration fee will
be $50 a person, $25 for seniors and students.
"One of the guiding principles underlying the Crown review process has
been accessibility," Wiens said. "Through previous TASC meetings and
the December conference, we will ensure that all Saskatchewan residents
have an opportunity to provide their input and receive current
information on our Crowns. I hope all Saskatchewan residents will
consider participating in this conference and providing us with their
views on the future of public enterprise in this province."
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For more information, contact:
John Millar
Crown Investments Corporation
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-9039
Conference on Public Enterprise in an Era of Change
December 6, 1996
Speaker Profiles
Michael Adams
Michael Adams is president and co-founder of Environics, one of Canada's largest and
most sophisticated research houses with offices throughout North America. It has
recently expanded to include Environics Communications. Adamsþ expertise is in the
impact of social trends on public policy and corporate strategy. He is a well known writer
and public commentator on social and political trends.
Adams holds an Honours B.A. in Political Science from Queen's University and a M.A. in
Sociology from the University of Toronto.
Maude Barlow
Maude Barlow is the national volunteer chairperson of the Council of Canadians, a non-
profit, non-partisan organization which acts as a watchdog of governments and
corporations, and is a catalyst for grassroots organizing. Barlow is an author and
outspoken policy critic who works for Canadian sovereignty and citizen's rights. Her most
recent books include Class Warfare: The Assault of Canadaþs Schools co-authored with
educator Heather-Jane Robertson, and Straight Through the Heart co-authored with
economist Bruce Campbell.
The Honourable Allan E. Blakeney, P.C., O.C., Q.C.
The Honourable Allan E. Blakeney joined the Saskatchewan public service in 1950 as
secretary of Crown corporations and later as chairman of the Saskatchewan Securities
Commission. Blakeney was first elected to the Saskatchewan legislature in 1960 and
served as Minister of Education, Provincial Treasurer, and Public Health before being
elected premier from 1971 to 1982.
Blakeney has taught and lectured extensively in Law and is currently the visiting scholar at
the College of Law, University of Saskatchewan.
Blakeney received his B.A. and M.A. in Law from Oxford University under a Rhodes
Scholarship. He has also been awarded honourary degrees from the Universities of Mount
Allison, Dalhousie, York, Western Ontario, Regina and Saskatchewan. He was appointed
to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada in 1982 and was inducted as an Officer of the
Order of Canada in 1992.
Barbara Byers
Barbara Byers was first elected president of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour in
1988. She is also a vice-president on the Executive Council of the Canadian Labour
Congress. The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour works on behalf of 75,000 union
members in over 600 locals belonging to 36 national and international unions.
Byers has a long history in the labour movement as a vice-president and later president of
the Saskatchewan Government Employees Union. Byers served as a social worker with
Saskatchewan Social Services from 1971 to 1988, a position from which she is currently
on leave.
Dr. Harold Chorney
Dr. Chorney received his Ph.D in political economy and public policy from the University of
Toronto. He is associate professor, political science, humanities and program in public
policy and public administration for the Department of Political Science at Concordia
University. Chorney is also a frequent lecturer and commentator on economic and public
policy issues. He has published numerous articles and reviews. He is also author of City
of Dreams and Toward a Humanist Political Economy with Phil Hansen. His third book,
Rediscovering Full Employment, is forthcoming soon.
Brett Fairbairn
Saskatoon born, Brett Fairbairn is professor of history at the Centre for the Study of Co-
operatives, University of Saskatchewan. His interests and publications concern the history
of democracy and social movements, co-operative organizations and community
development. Brett has also done workshops and consulting for a variety of
Saskatchewan and Canadian agencies.
Brien Gray
Brien Gray joined the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) in 1978 and
became its senior vice-president of policy and research in 1992. In this position he is
responsible for developing, planning and directing CFIB's national affairs agenda, its
positions on public policy and its research activities.
Gray has an M.B.A. from the University of Western Ontario, and a B.A. in political science
from Bishop's University, with further studies at the Universite Aix-Marsilles in Aix-en-
Provence, France.
Professor David Heald, University of Aberdeen
Keynote Speaker - Friday, December 6, 1996
Public Enterprise in an Era of Change
Saskatchewan Centre - Noon Luncheon
Topic: Public Enterprise Developments
An International Perspective
Professor Heald is a renowned academic, author/editor and researcher in the areas of
public expenditure, public sector accounting, local government finance, economic and
financial control of public enterprise and regulation of public utilities. He has also
consulted for organizations such as the World Bank, the United Nations, the Australian
Council of Trade Unions, the European Commission and the Asian Development Bank.
Heald has been professor of accountancy at the University of Aberdeen since April 1990.
In August of 1996, he began a sabbatical to pursue research fellowships with the
Leverhulm Trust and Nuffield Foundation. During his sabbatical, Heald will also be the
honourary visiting associate at the International Social Sciences Institute, University of
Edinburgh.
Robert Howse
Robert Howse is an associate professor of law at the University of Toronto. He received
his LL.M at Harvard Law School. Howse is the author and co-author of a number of books
and articles on international trade law and adjustment policy, Canadian Federalism,
regulatory reform, legal and political philosophy.
Howse has also served with the federal government and as a private consultant to the
public sector in Canada and throughout the world.
Dr. Howard Leeson
Dr. Leeson is professor of political science at the University of Regina and a past deputy
minister and deputy provincial secretary for the Saskatchewan government. During his
tenure with government, Leeson was the province's chief constitutional advisor (1982).
Leeson is a specialist in canadian federalism. He has co-authored a number of books,
including his most recent, Grant Notley: The Social Conscience of Alberta, and Canada
Notwithstanding co-authored with Premier Romanow and Whyte.
Michael C. McCracken
Michael McCracken is founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Informetrica, an
Ottawa-based economic research and information company. Informetrica provides
forecasts on the Canadian economy, specific industries and the provinces as well as
economic impact studies, benefit-cost studies and other quantitative economic research.
As a senior economic advisor to government, corporations and associations, McCracken is
also actively involved in numerous national economic and business policy organizations.
Dr. James Pitsula
Dr. Pitsula is a professor of history at the University of Regina. He received his Ph.D at
York University and taught at the University of Winnipeg, before joining the University of
Regina in 1978. Pitsula is the author of numerous books and articles on social policy
history including the well known, Privatizing a Province: The New Right in Saskatchewan
with Ken Rasmussen.
Dr. W. T. Stanbury
Dr. Stanbury is currently the T. D. MacDonald Chair in Industrial Economics, Competition
Bureau of Industry Canada. He is on leave from the University of British Columbia where
he is the UPS foundation professor of regulation and competition policy. Stanbury is the
author or editor of over 40 books and 250 articles and book chapters including several on
privatization in Canada and competition policy.
Stanbury received his Ph.D in economics from the University of California at Berkeley.
Dr. Allan Tupper
Dr. Tupper received his M.A. in Public Administration at Carleton University and his Ph.D
in Political Studies at Queen's University. He is currently the associate vice-president
(government relations) and professor of political science at the University of Alberta in
Edmonton. He teaches in the areas of Alberta and Canadian government.
Tupper is a well known political analyst and media commentator on national, western
Canadian and Alberta politics. He is also actively involved in continuing education
programs, and is co-chair of the Premier of Alberta's Advisory Committee on National
Issues. Tupper has authored or edited five books of which his most recent is Corruption,
Character and Conduct: Essay on Canadian Government Ethics.
Dr. Michael Walker
Dr. Walker has his Ph.D in economics from the University of Western Ontario. He is an
economist, author, broadcaster, journalist, consultant and lecturer, Walker has authored or
edited 40 books on economic topics. He has provided commentary and written articles for
television, radio and print media including the Globe and Mail, Wall Street Journal,
Vancouver Sun and Chicago Tribune. As a consultant he has worked with organizations
and governments throughout the world. He has lectured to some 920 audiences in
universities on five continents.
Walker is currently the executive director of the Fraser Institute, a think tank providing
advice and commentary on economic issues in Canada.
