# Conference Board of Canada

The Conference Board of Canada is an independent, non-profit applied-research organization based in Canada. It aims to help Canada's leaders make informed, evidence-based decisions using non-partisan and non-ideological analysis.
The organization conducts research and hosts Executive Councils across eight Knowledge Areas: Canadian economics, human capital, innovation and technology, education and skills, health, sustainability, Indigenous and Northern Communities, and immigration. The organization produces more than 400 research outputs annually.
In the economics forecasting space, The Conference Board of Canada produces medium- and long-term outlooks on the national, provincial/territorial, metropolitan and industrial economies, as well as proprietary economic indicators and custom economic analyses.
The organization has 17 executive councils, which are composed of some of Canada's largest companies, non-profits and government bodies. These councils provide peer-to-peer learning opportunities and networking communities and support leaders by providing research and insights to help inform decision-making.
The Conference Board of Canada was established in 1954 as a division of the American National Industrial Conference Board, now simply known as The Conference Board. The Conference Board of Canada acquired a separate legal identity in 1981, The organization is headquartered in Ottawa, but moved to being fully remote during the pandemic, and has employees located across the country. Susan Black is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Conference Board of Canada

## Past Presidents

* Daniel Muzyka 2012–2018
* Anne Golden 2001–2012
* James R. Nininger 1978–2001
* Robert de Cotret 1976–1978
* Arthur J.R. Smith 1971–1976
* Monteath Douglas 1954–1971

## Honorary Associate Award (discontinued)

The Honorary Associate Award was The Conference Board of Canada's highest Award and was conferred upon individuals who served both their organization and their country with distinction during their working career. This office, the term of which is life, is the only honour conferred by The Conference Board of Canada. The Award was given on the occasion of the Conference Board's Annual Meeting.

### Recipients

* 2015 L. Jacques Ménard
* 2014 Michael H. McCain
* 2013 The Hon. David L. Emerson
* 2012 Anne Golden
* 2011 Serge Godin
* 2010 Paul M. Tellier
* 2009 Michael Wilson
* 2008 Stephen G. Snyder
* 2007 John E. Cleghorn
* 2006 Jacques Lamarre
* 2005 Isadore Sharp
* 2004 Eric P. Newell
* 2003 Purdy Crawford
* 2002 Laurent Beaudoin
* 2001 James R. Nininger
* 2000 J.E. (Ted) Newall
* 1999 Allan R. Taylor
* 1998 Guy Saint-Pierre
* 1997 Alfred Powis
* 1996 The Hon. Peter Lougheed
* 1995 Sonja Bata and Thomas J. Bata
* 1994 Paul Paré
* 1993 David M. Culver
* 1992 Sylvia Ostry
* 1991 Camille A. Dagenais
* 1990 Walter F. Light
* 1989 A. Jean de Grandpré
* 1988 Robert B. Bryce
* 1987 Frederick C. Mannix
* 1986 The Hon. Senator H. de M. Molson
* 1985 Louis Rasminsky
* 1984 The Hon. Ernest Manning
* 1983 Herbert Lank
* 1982 Allen T. Lambert
* 1981 Earle McLaughlin
* 1980 William O. Twaits

## Select research publications

** ChatGPT: Organizational and Labour Implications (2023)
** Cracking the Productivity Code: Charting a New Path to Prosperity (2024)
** Skills and Productivity: Which Skills Shortages Are Impacting Canadian Productivity? (2024)
** Transformation Towards Value-Based Healthcare in Canada: Focal Points for System-Wide Implementation (2024)
** C-Suite Challenge 2024: Toward Stability and Renewal (2024)
** Small Business, Big Impacts: Immigrant Hiring and Integration in Five Canadian Cities (2024)
** Opportunity for All: Improving Workplace Experiences and Career Outcomes for Canadians With Disabilities (2023)
** The Next Frontier in Canada’s Agri-Food Sector: Technology-Driven Labour and Skills Transitions (2024)
** Toward a Disaster Recovery Framework for Canada: Insights from the United States, Australia and New Zealand (2024)

## Sample of recurring research

* Compensation Planning Outlook
* Benefits Outlook
* HR Trends and Metrics
* Industrial Relations Outlook
* Canadian Economic Outlook
* Provincial Economic Outlook
* Metropolitan Economic Outlook
* U.S. Outlook
* World Outlook
* Index of Consumer Confidence
* Index of Business Confidence

## Plagiarism controversy

In May 2009, The Conference Board of Canada was criticised over its claim to be objective and non-partisan. It released a report related to copyright regulations in Canada, which plagiarised papers published by the International Intellectual Property Alliance (the primary movie, music, and software lobby in the US). The Conference Board responded, standing by its report, which drew further criticism, claiming they ignored a commissioned report, for partisan reasons. The Conference Board recalled the reports after conducting an internal review, which determined that there was undue reliance on feedback from a funder of the report. The Conference Board hosted a roundtable discussion on intellectual property in September 2009 and published a new report, Intellectual Property in the 21st Century, in February 2010.

## Stereotyping controversy

In November 2016, a recording surfaced of Michael Bloom, the Vice-President of The Conference Board, which contained a number of generalizing statements about indigenous peoples, people of Caribbean, Asian, and middle-eastern descent. The statements were made in the presence of an employee that is of indigenous heritage. Upon learning of the recording, The Conference Board of Canada placed the Vice-President on immediate leave of absence and initiated an internal investigation.
Shortly after the recording was made public, it was further revealed that a former employee commenced legal action against The Conference Board of Canada. This employee had worked under Michael Bloom and alleged a "toxic work environment". The former employee was also of indigenous heritage. A lawsuit was filed in Ontario and sought $175,000 in damages.