National Forum on Economic Growth of the Big Cities in Canada Montréal, June , 2004

In the context of globalization, a nation’s wealth is mainly created in its big cities. To reach their full economic potential, cities must invest massively in their competitiveness and attractiveness and enjoy a fair return on their investments. To reinvest in the future, cities must obtain their fair share of the new growth Context

We Need to Close the Gap of our GDP per capita Source: Montreal Metropolitan Community 26 Major North American Metropolitan Areas RankMetro GDP. per capita ($US) 1Boston $ 2San Francisco $ 3 Seattle $ 4New York $ 5Dallas $ … … … 21St. Louis $ 22Tampa-St-Petersburg $ 23Toronto $ 24Miami $ 25Vancouver $ 26Montreal $

Cities are a major players in closing the gap of our living standard « It is becoming overwhelmingly apparent that the long term performance of the Canadian economy and Canadian living standards will hinge on the fortunes of our cities. » TD Economics, April 2002

The Business Approach : Sharing New Wealth Let’s stop asking and let’s start proposing a new partnership with both levels of government. Revenue sharing agreements would encourage cities to keep improving the attractiveness of their living environments and thus contribute to stimulating even more growth and wealth.

The Forum

How can cities become more competitive? (how to create new wealth) How can we implement competitive tax policies in cities? (how to share this new wealth) Two questions

Establish a new partnership between big cities and higher levels of governments, to : accelerate growth and increase citizens’ prosperity allow municipalities to better plan their development, by decentralizing and diversifying sources of revenue Objectives

22 profiles of the competitiveness of cities in Canada Assessment (strengths & opportunities and weaknesses & threats) Main economic development strategies (clusters, international promotion, foreign direct investment) Investment needs (social housing, facilities and infrastructure, public transit, environment, urban planning, etc.) Growth objectives of the big city (scenarios of metropolitan GDP, jobs and other performance indicators) The MMC will provide the BC22 with a template. Proposed Methodology

22 city profiles National Summary on the competitiveness of cities Short term and Long term action plan BC22 declaration A first draft of the deliverables will be discuss at a working session of the BCMC in Edmonton Deliverables to improve our competitiveness

Wednesday Launch of the Forum Thursday A.M.: Working session to reach a consensus on competitiveness challenges for Canadian big cities (summary) P.M.: Working session to reach a consensus on the action plan Friday BC22 declaration Press conference * To develop a new partnership civil society and government representatives will be invited to the meetings Proposed Formula *

Organization Chart Organizing Committee Gérald Tremblay, Mayor of Montréal, Chair of the MMC Yves Ducharme, Mayor of Gatineau, Chair of the FCM Pat Fiacco, Mayor of Regina, Chair of the FCM-BCMC LCP Committee Logistics, Line Rioux, MMC Communications, Protocol Head: Cities + FCM National Co-ordinating Committee David Cohen, FCM Sylvie Cossette, MMC 22 technical representatives of the BCMC Content Committee Competitiveness Head: Yves Charette, MMC Action Plan Committee Head: Stéphane Pineault, MMC Deliverables: - Analysis grid - Profile of the competitiveness of Canada’s city-regions - Summary Deliverables - Action plan to enhance the competitiveness of Canadian city-regions - BC22 Declaration Coordinator Massimo Iezzoni, Director General, MMC James Knight CEO, FCM Civil Society Advisory Committee Head: Benoit Labonté, Chair, BTMM Big City Mayors Caucus Pat Fiacco, Mayor of Regina, Chair of the FCM-BCMC

FCM-BCMC 12.Vancouver, His Worship Mayor Larry Campbell 13.Surrey, His Worship Mayor Doug W. McCallum 14.Calgary, His Worship Mayor David Bronconnier 15.Edmonton, His Worship Mayor Bill Smith 16.Regina, His Worship Mayor Pat Fiacco 17.Saskatoon, His Worship Mayor Don Atchison 18.Winnipeg, His Worship Mayor Glen Murray 19.Brampton, Her Worship Mayor Susan Fennell 20.Hamilton, His Worship Mayor Larry Di Ianni 21.Kitchener, His Worship Mayor Carl Zehr 22.London, Her Worship Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco 1.Mississauga, Her Worship Mayor Hazel McCallion 2.Ottawa, His Worship Mayor Bob Chiarelli 3.Windsor, His Worship Mayor Eddie Francis 4.Toronto, His Worship Mayor David Miller 5.Gatineau, Mayor Yves Ducharme 6.Montréal, Mayor Gérald Tremblay 7.Laval, Mayor Gilles Vaillancourt 8.Québec, Mayor Jean-Paul L’Allier 9.Longueuil, Mayor Jacques Olivier 10.Halifax, His Worship Mayor Peter J. Kelly 11.St. John's, His Worship Mayor Andy Wells

BC22