November 21, 2024 | Category: News Releases

Calgary, AB—WESTAC members gathered in Calgary for the annual Fall Member Forum with the theme Pathways to Prosperity. Hosted at the CPKC Headquarters, the forum brought together leaders from across the transportation sector to address critical challenges and opportunities facing Canada’s transportation and trade industries. The forum began with member updates, highlighting progress and shared priorities across the transportation network.

Participants engaged in dynamic discussions on topics such as:

• Trade Landscape: Peter Hall, CEO of econosphere inc. and former Chief Economist at Export Development Canada, delivered a keynote that examined the shifting dynamics of global trade. His remarks focused on how Canada can navigate economic uncertainties and seize emerging opportunities in international markets, emphasizing the need for strategic planning and innovation to stay competitive.
• Boosting Canada’s Productivity: Dr. Trevor Tombe, Professor of Economics at the University of Calgary; Laura Jones, President & CEO of the Business Council of BC; and Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, explored Canada’s productivity challenges. They addressed labour market dynamics, importance of training, regulatory reform, the adoption of new technologies, and regional disparities. The panelist offered actionable insights to improving efficiency and unlocking economic growth across the transportation and trade sectors. 
• North American Integration and Trade Infrastructure: James Clements, Executive Vice-President of Strategic Planning & Corporate Services shared lessons from CPKC’s historic merger. He outlined strategies to enhance resilience, strengthen operational connectivity, and drive competitiveness across Canada, the United States, and Mexico, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and innovation in the supply chain. 
• Navigating Global Trade Shifts and Economic Challenges: Hon. John Baird, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Charlie Cook, Founder of The Cook Political Report, discussed the implications of the recent U.S. elections for Canada’s transportation and trade industries. Their discussion offered insights into shifting trade policies, the evolving North American political landscape, and strategies for Canadian businesses to adapt and thrive in this new environment. 

“It was a pleasure to host the WESTAC Fall Member Forum at CPKC’s headquarters in Calgary. The forum provided a unique opportunity to share insights from our journey to become North America’s first truly continental railroad and to engage with stakeholders across different sectors. Collaboration is vital to enhancing supply chain resilience, driving innovation, and building a sustainable and competitive future for North America’s transportation network,” said James Clements, EVP of Strategic Planning & Corporate Services, CPKC

“The Fall Member Forum highlighted the bold ideas and strategic insights needed to tackle the transportation sector’s most pressing challenges. It’s this kind of forward-thinking collaboration that drives meaningful change and positions Canada for success in a rapidly evolving global landscape.,” noted Lindsay Kislock, President and CEO of WESTAC.

The forum underscored WESTAC’s role as a leading platform for collaboration across sectors, fostering forward-thinking solutions to advance Canada’s economic goals. Thank you to all participants and speakers for contributing to another successful WESTAC forum.

—30—

About WESTAC:
The Western Transportation Advisory Council (WESTAC) is a council of organizations in the transportation sector represented by senior decision-makers. WESTAC’s members span all aspects of freight transportation in Canada. They include carriers and logistics providers, ports and terminals, shippers, labour unions, and the three levels of government. Members represent a significant share of the Western Canadian economy. We focus on critical issues that affect Western Canada’s freight transportation network to ensure that it is safe, sustainable, reliable, and competitive.

For more information, please contact:
Marzia Rizvi
Manager, Program Development & Communications
mrizvi@westac.com