TFSA hosts All Candidates Debate on Financial Services

Pre-election event draws 150 from Toronto’s financial services community

On August 31, 2011, the Toronto Financial Services Alliance, in partnership with other key industry associations, organized an “All Candidates” Meeting, with a focus on financial services, to find out what steps the parties that propose to form the next government of Ontario propose to take to maintain and grow this important sector of the economy.

The 90-minute debate, moderated by TFSA president Janet Ecker, featured representatives of all three political parties represented in the Ontario Legislature. The Ontario Liberal Party was represented by Hon. Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, and MPP for Windsor West. The Ontario PC Party was represented by Rocco Rossi, the candidate for Eglinton – Lawrence. The Ontario New Democratic Party was represented by Michael Prue, MPP for Beaches – East York.

Click the videos below to watch the debate in its entirety.

Part 1: Opening Statements (13:53)

Part 2. Responses to questions from Doug Turnbull, Chair, TFSA, regarding how to continue the current momentum on marketing and promotion of the financial sector, and from Chris Brown, President, ACPM, about how to expand retirement income options and how to be more harmonized across the country.

Part 3: Responses to questions from George Mohacsi, Chair, CLHIA Board of Directors, about support for mandatory participation by employers in PRPP, and from Robin Walsh, Vice President, Communications, CBA, about support for financial literacy in schools. (12:16)

Part 4: Responses to questions from Ted Wigdor, Vice President, Government, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, CGA, about how to attract skilled immigrant talent, and from Ralph Palumbo, Vice President, Ontario, IBC, about how to support municipal infrastructure with alternative forms of financing. (12:01)

Part 5: Responses to questions from Joanne DeLaurentiis, President and CEO, IFIC, about the parties’ support of a federal review of the GST/HST as the tax applies to financial services, and from James Baltrop, Chair, IIAC Investment Banking Committee, about supporting growth and competiveness through better, not more regulation. (12:58)

Part 6: Responses to questions from the floor about the national securities regulator and improving trade relations with India.

Part 7: Responses to questions from the floor about public-private partnerships, trailer fees, and more economic opportunities from mining for Aboriginal

Part 8: Responses to question from the floor about health promotion, and Closing Statements (12:45).