About TFSA — Activities

2009

November

  • TFSA President Janet Ecker meets with local CEOs, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, federal Finance Minister James Flaherty, provincial Finance Minister Dwight Duncan and Toronto Mayor David Miller to discuss "Partnership and Action" report and plan of action to make Toronto a top financial centre.

October

September

  • TFSA and partners to host CAN-AM EXCHANGE Boston 2009. (PDF)
  • TFSA Islamic Finance Working Group sessions: Education, Retail Banking, Capital Markets, Insurance and Tax

March

  • The annual Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), International Convention & Trade Show & Investors Exchange was held the first week of March. The Toronto-based event broke yet another attendance record of over 20,000 registrants from around the world.
    Once again the TFSA were pleased to be involved with this tremendously successful ongoing event.
  • TFSA hosted a roundtable discussion with Ontario colleges and employers in financial services. The facilitated discussion was designed to share experiences in hiring immigrants as well as look at ways to prepare and support newcomers in making a successful transition to employment and to help employers benefit from newcomers' skills and knowledge.
  • TFSA and the British Consulate General co-hosted an Islamic Finance event. The information sharing breakfast was followed by seminar/Q&A session.

January

  • TFSA Hosts French business delegates in Toronto.
  • TFSA moderats a panel discussion on securities and regulation at the Toronto Board of Trade.

2008

December

  • Connect2Canada: A Sound Partner for Financial Services December 10, 2008, Mid-America Club, Chicago, Illinois
    Members of TFSA along with Ellen Costello, Chief Executive Officer, Harris Bankcorp, Inc., senior business executives from Toronto, as well as civic leaders and academic experts from across Ontario, arrived in Chicago to share their experiences in making Ontario one of the fastest growing global economic centers.
    An informative afternoon of seminars with some of Ontario’s leading financial services and technology experts discussed how to take advantage of all that Ontario has to offer. Networking took place during the afternoon with business leaders from Ontario and the Midwest.

November

  • TFSA Education Committee hosts an information and Communications Technical Form with with assistance provided by ITAC (Information Technology Assocation of Canada).

October

  • TFSA participates in an information session with delegates from Vietnam sponsored by Friends of Vietnam Canada.

September

  • The First Annual Hedge Fund Awards, TFSA President Janet Ecker Speech (PDF)
  • TFSA participates in Beijing -Toronto financial services co-operation symposion put on by Canada-China Business Council
  • "View from the Top: From Crisis to Opportunity in the North American Economy" - The TFSA was pleased to be involved with this conference which was presented by The Financial Times and Canada 2020.
  • The Financial Times and Canada 2020 presented "View from the Top: From Crisis to Opportunity in the North American Economy". This conference brought together speakers to analyze the current US economic crisis, identify threats and opportunities in Canada and beyond. The TFSA was also a partner in this conference.

July

  • The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., one of the world's leading investment banking, asset management and securities firms has chosen Toronto to grow and diversify its hedge fund administration business. Goldman Sachs has opened its newest Goldman Sachs Administration Services (GSAS) office in Toronto with Fund Accounting and Investor Servicing areas of its hedge fund administration operations.

June

  • TFSA, in co-operation with the Ontario and Federal Governments June 11th, was pleased to present a seminar on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, developed specifically for the Financial Services Sector. See attachments. (PDF DOC)

May

  • Toronto visit May 23rd by Don Lam who is at the head of Vina Capital. He is a respected advisor to Vietnam's PM and Finance Minister. Some of the topics Don covered included: developments in banking and capital markets in VN and across the region, opportunities for VCs, and infrastructure development. See attachments for further information. (PDF-1 PDF-2)

March

  • CN Newswire: Toronto COE in financial services (PDF)
  • Toronto-New York Financial Services Day March 4th, 2008. The TFSA and event partners the Canadian Consulate in New York City, the City of Toronto, the GTMA and the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade held a special event in New York City to raise awareness of Toronto as a premiere financial services centre in North America.
  • March 26, 2008, the Centre for Excellence in Financial Services announced . The goal of the COE is to help attract and develop the best and brightest financial sector talent, promote innovation and technology, and facilitate the export of Ontario's financial educational services. (PDF-1 PDF-2 PDF-3 PDF-4 PDF-5)

February

  • Merrill Lynch "Meet the Educators Breakfast"
  • TFSA - BANKSETA Luncheon Toronto-South Africa Exchange 2008
  • TFSA-MEDT (Ministry of Economic Development and Trade) Joint Media Tour February 25th and 26th (PDF)

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2007

November

  • The Path to the Prosperity Agenda: Task Force on Competitiveness, Productivity and Economic Progress. November 19, 2007 (PDF)
  • The Consulate General of Canada in Minneapolis hosted a luncheon on Opportunities for Midwestern Financial Services Companies in Ontario, cosponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT) and the Toronto Financial Services Alliance on Thursday, November 8, 2007 at the Minneapolis Club in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  • TFSA and the Toronto Board of Trade presented Roger L. Martin, Dean of the Rotman School of Management and James Milway, Executive Director of the Institute of Competitiveness and Prosperity who discussed their June 2007 report: Assessing Toronto's Financial Services Cluster.
  • A roundtable discussion November 6th, 2007 with Michael Mainelli ( Z/Yen) co-author of The Global Financial Centres Index, sponsored by the TFSA and The Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT)
  • The Canada-India Business Council and the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce and His Excellency David M. Malone, Canada's High Commissioner to India, and the TFSA hosted an informal chat as to what's new in India and in the Canada-India business corridor, November 29, 2007.

October

  • TFSA and The Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT) Outsourcing Familiarization Tour October 17th to 19th. (PDF)

July

  • The TFSA addressed 28 Chinese graduates of the Canadian Securities Course after a two-month training program. The executives and professionals from Gunagfa Securities participated in the joint venture between the Canadian Securities Institute and the Securities Association of China.
    This is the first time in the history of the Chinese securities industry that such a large group of professionals from a single firm were trained abroad for such a long period. This is also Gunagfa Securities first overseas training program to Canada. (PDF)

June

  • BANKSETA Reception and Press Conference. (PDF)

April

  • TFSA PREsident and Toronto Mayor David Miller participate in Insitute of Canadian Bankers Toronto conference. Mayor Miller spoke on the need for collaboration to ensure we develop and deploy cutting edge talent pool , while JAnet Ecker spoke about the recent TFSA human resources study: Talent Matters - A Study of the Toronto Financial Service Industry Talent Market. (PDF-1 PDF-2)

March

  • TFSA Launches HR Study - Talent Matters. A Study of the Toronto Financial Service Industry Talent Market. (PDF)
  • The Annual Convention, Trade Show and Investors Exchange of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), held in Toronto during the first week in March, broke all previous attendance records. The convention attracted some 17,600 participants from across the world and from every continent other than Antarctica. (PDF)

January

  • TFSA Accompanies Premier's Trade Mission to India.
    TFSA and a dozen financial services companies sent delegates on a trade mission to India, led by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, in January 2007. Premier McGuinty was accompanied by the Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Sandra Pupatello, and Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Harinder Takhar.
    The TFSA generated a great deal of interest in the potential of the Indian market with its members, especially with Toronto-based educational partners, who hope to tap into India's growing appetite for professional training in the financial services sector. Working with its sister organization, Bombay First, TFSA arranged meetings with Indian companies interested in providing advanced international development opportunities for their employees, as well as with Indian educational institutions that were interested in pursuing joint ventures with the Canadian schools. TFSA also made several presentations to Indian business people promoting the opportunities in Toronto's financial services sector.
    During the trade mission, Janet Ecker, TFSA President and Narinder Nayer from Bombay First signed a tripartite agreement with International Financial Services London (IFSL). The agreement pledges the organizations to work together on information sharing and other strategies to promote and strengthen each city's respective financial services sectors.

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2006

December

  • Dr. Samuel Fankhauser presentation "Transition Report on the Financial Sector of the EBRD COUNTRIES OF OPERATIONS"

November

  • TFSA Presentation to Fourth year students at Brock University on Marketing financial services

October

  • TFSA members attend the ribbon cutting ceremonies to launch the new ING property & casualty head quarters in downtown Toronto
  • TFSA members attend House of Commons pre-budget consultations.
  • TFSA meets with new U.S. Consul General posted to Toronto, John Nay is continuing the tradition Canada-U.S. co-operation
  • TFSA co-hosted with the TSX and Ministry of Northern Mines & Development a round table discussion to promote, and position Toronto as a global mining finance centre. Approximately 25 CEOs from the mining industry and government officials participated in the TFSA led discussions.
  • TFSA Project Director Susan Viegas, participated and attended the 3rd Annual BankSeta International Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa on October 11th and 12th, 2006. Her business trip objectives and accomplishments follow. (PDF)

September

  • Presentation to Senior Banking Managers at Standard Bank in Toronto.

July

  • Financial Sector Briefing with mayoral delegation from San Antonio Texas U.S.A.

June

  • BANKSETA Launch & Program.
  • TFSA Sector Briefing with Consul General Canadian Consulate from Buffalo New York, USA.
  • Financial Services Sector Round Table with the Honourable Joe Cordiano, Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT).

April

  • TFSA-Deloitte commence landmark human resources survey to probe HR needs of Toronto?s financial sector.
  • TFSA Pre-Budget Submission to The Honourable James M. Flaherty.

March

  • TFSA signs tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with IFSL and Bombay First in Mumbai

February

  • Duncan McKenzie, Director of Research for International Financial Services London (IFSL) visited TFSA members to brief them on the latest research being conducted by the UK group.

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2005

December

  • TFSA conducted annual consultations with financial services industry associations.
  • TFSA participated in business mission to India and meets with local financial and ICT companies.

November

  • TFSA hosted reception to officially close financial services leadership training program conducted over six weeks in Toronto. Special co-hosts included South African BANKSETA and Immersion Lab. The event was well attended and included the South African High Commissioner to Canada, the SA Consulate and participating academic and industry senior executives.
  • TFSA Executive Director Janet Ecker and Toronto Councillor Brian Ashton appeared before the Federal House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, pre-budget consultations.

October

  • TFSA made a deputation and submission to the City of Toronto Policy and Finance Committee on its Property Tax Consultations.
  • TFSA made a deputation to City of Toronto Economic Development and Parks Committee to present an annual update and to present the first sector profile of financial services in the Toronto Region.
  • TFSA partnered with International Financial Services London (IFSL) to co-host Public Private Partnerships Seminar in Toronto.
  • TFSA and the British Consulate General co-hosted reception for visiting Lord Mayor of London, the Right Hon. Michael Savoury and Toronto Mayor David Miller.
  • TFSA Executive Director participated in Mayor David Miller?s event, ?Declaration of hiring youth?, highlighting youth hiring initiatives.

September

  • TFSA and Toronto Economic Development hosted reception to officially launch the International Financial Leadership training program for South African banking senior representatives. The program is a joint venture between the South African BANKSETA and a consortium of Toronto based education and training providers.
  • TFSA held a series of Financial Services Sector Roundtables with US Consulate.

July

  • TFSA hosted a reception to introduce Mr. Ben Thornley, Manager, Business Development, Axiss Australia- an agency of the Commonwealth Treasury, with the primary objective of positioning Australia as a global financial services centre in the Asian time zone. Axiss is a division of Australia's national inward investment agency - Invest Australia.

June

  • TFSA posts submission to Department of Finance?s 2006 Federal Financial Institutions Legislative Review.
  • TFSA Executive Director speaks ?Off the Record? to senior executives of Toronto?s financial community at National Club.
  • TFSA Executive Director participates in Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) event, launching web site and announcing new initiatives.

March

  • TFSA holds breakfast reception to meet representatives of the South African Banking Sector Training Authority (SETA) to discuss a joint training opportunity.
  • TFSA Executive Director attends launch ceremonies to celebrate the opening of a third branch of ICICI Bank.
  • TFSA submits letter to Ontario Minister of Consumer and Business Services supporting initiatives on Uniform Securities Transfer Act.

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2004

September

  • Roundtable breakfast TFSA and London First Centre Executive Director David Riches at the Royal York Hotel. Topics under discussion were more co-operation, and establishing local teams to help plan to expand business contacts and promote Canada-UK co-operation and trade.

July

  • TFSA Luncheon Series: Speaker David Winfield, Executive Director of the Toronto International Leadership Centre for Financial Sector Supervision on " Promoting Canadian financial expertise at home and abroad".

June

  • Mayoral mission to NYC. Meeting with senior executive at Bank One headquarters. Luncheon invitation to Rotman alumni.
  • Briefing presentation on financial sector to Trade Commissioner of the Canadian Consulate in Korea, Mr. Marcel Laneville.
  • TFSA Post Budget Response to Provincial Budget.

May

  • Roundtable and meeting with MS Ping Kitnikone, Consul General of the Canadian Consulate in Mumbai

April

  • Seminar and reception at TSX hosted by TFSA and UK Consulate. Panel discussion featuring Lord Mayor of London Robert Finch, TSX CEO Barbara Stymiest, and Toronto Mayor David Miller. Moderated by Brian Ashton, Councilor and Chair of Economic Development Culture & Tourism.

February

  • Canadian Urban Institute Breakfast hosted by TFSA. Presentation by Scotia Bank Economist Mary Webb on the 2003 Toronto Competitiveness Survey: Positioning for the Future

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2003

November-December

  • Survey Briefing sessions with Federal and Municipal politicians
  • Capital taxes submission ? Federal
  • TFSA 2004 organization/governance/ workplan
  • SARS recovery task force; submissions to Council re Banks, Insurance. $1MM donation

October

  • Leaders Forum: Survey findings and action plan
  • TFSA website launch
  • Survey Media Briefing and press release
  • Briefing sessions - Deputy Ministers Council

August

  • Survey strategy and action plan development
  • Final report writing
  • TFSA website/sector brochure development
  • Education/HR needs Assessment study proposal to HRDC

July

  • Financial services statistics update and template development
  • Additional survey work; interviews
  • Established Securities regulation project team

June

  • Survey report development: individual interviews and industry workshops
  • Securities regulation team terms of reference

May

  • Survey initial report to Exec Committee

April

  • Competitiveness Survey of approximately 150 key financial services executives
  • Development of City of Toronto- Financial services marketing brochure
  • Membership drive: 80% to date

January

  • Participated in Ontario Ministry of Finance Roundtable
  • Capital tax submission to Ontario Ministry of Finance and copy to Federal government
  • Participation in Intergovernmental Committee on Education (ICE) Roundtable

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2002

December

  • TFSA formal governance and funding model
  • Capital taxes submission developed

September

  • Initial report and recommendations Toronto: A Leading Financial Services Centre
  • Leaders Forum: 30 CEOs. Reviewed and endorsed report and 10 point plan

June

  • WSIB Submission

January - May

  • 3 Focus group sessions on Competitiveness
  • 3 Focus group sessions and individual interviews in HR/Education segment
  • 15 industry trade association deputations on common policy issues

2001

September - December

  • TFSA creation