Agenda

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The opening session will feature presentations by leaders from various sectors of Canada’s international transportation and trade industry and will serve to set up much of what will follow during the remaining day and a half of the conference. Included will be an economic review and forecast for Canada and her trading partners and presentations from the 3PL and other sectors. Following the last presentation, Chris Brooks, Executive Editor, JOC, will lead a round table discussion and Q&A with our speakers.

Moderator:
Chris Brooks, Executive Editor, Journal of Commerce (JOC)

Speakers:
Dawn Desjardins, Economist, Royal Bank of Canada
Ruth Snowden, Executive Director, Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA)
Andy Ellis, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain and Logistics, Wal-Mart Canada
Wendy Zatylny, Executive Director, Association of Canadian Port Authorities

While relative peace reigns on Canada’s East and West Coast waterfronts, the rail service labor disruption earlier this year reminds us that peace is neither a given nor assured. Canada’s transport industry will surely be affected if labour disruptions break out south of the border. Kevin Doherty, CEO of Montreal Gateway Terminals will moderate a panel of industry leaders to discuss the up-to-date status of the labour environment.

Moderator:
Kevin Doherty, CEO, Montreal Gateway Terminals Partnership

Speakers:
Ron Tepper, Chairman and CEO, Consolidated Fastfrate
Jean Bedard, President, Maritime Employers Association
Doug Fisher, Senior Director, Labor Relations and Strategy, CN

Increasingly rail intermodal is being viewed less as a distinct mode of transport than as a segment of an end-to-end supply chain that incorporates ocean shipping, marine terminals, and distribution centers. Linking these segments, for example, results in an efficient and cost-effective handoff of goods from intermodal to the distribution center, especially if the DC is strategically located in close proximity to the inland rail terminal. Increasingly, major retailers incorporate logistics and real estate input into DC site selection decisions, with the result that transportation costs are reduced, environmental impact minimized, and goods are positioned for onward distribution to population centers and retail stores. With speakers representing an ocean carrier, terminal, railroad and retailer, this session will bring out current thinking and best practices in viewing the supply chain from this holistic perspective.

Moderator:
Peter Tirschwell, Senior Vice President, Strategy, Journal of Commerce

Speakers:
Don Krusel, President & CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority
Dave Bedwell, Executive Vice President, COSCO
Jean-Jacques Ruest, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, CN
Mark Schepp, Vice President and General Manager, Maher Terminals LLC
James McKay, Director, Transportation, Walmart Canada Corp.

Like the legendary story of the blind men describing an elephant, each sector of our industry has a different point of view on virtually every issue. Representatives from across the spectrum – Beneficial Cargo Owners, 3PLs, Railroads; and Ports will join us to discuss the state of the industry and a look forward to the coming year and beyond.

Moderator:
Peter Leach, Senior Editor, Journal of Commerce

Speakers:
Andrew Dixon, Senior Vice President, Planning and Development, Port Saint John
Michael Bourque, President, Railway Association of Canada
Eric Allard, Head of Global Logistics, Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
Steve Maguire, National Manager, Road and Rail Logisitcs, Kuehne + Nagel Ltd. (Canadian Operation)

Leaving aside the set of complex issues surrounding the why, there is no doubt about the what: the Arctic ice cap is shrinking. This year the extent of sea ice in the Arctic reached a record low since satellite measurements began, and some predict Arctic summers could be ice free by 2013. The impact is wide-spread and significant. The opening of both the Northwest Passage through Canadian Arctic waters and the Northern Sea Route (or Northeast Passage) across northern Russia offer the potential of historic and game changing possibilities for global shipping and other industries. For the global shipping industry, the potential savings of millions of dollars per voyage through large reductions in transit time and the accompanying reductions in fuel usage and costs, inventory carrying costs and other related cost items would be game-changing. All of this, to say nothing of the spin-off result of the opening of the Arctic to mineral and oil exploration and production are likely to be headline stories over the next couple of decades. A panel of experts, led by moderator John Higginbotham will present and discuss the latest information on the opening of these legendary sea routes and their potential impact on our industry and the global economy. Moderator: John Higginbotham , Senior Distinguished Fellow, Transportation Policy, Carleton University

Moderator:
John Higginbotham , Senior Distinguished Fellow, Transportation Policy, Carleton University & Director, Arctic program, Center for International Governance Innovation

Speakers:
Andrea Charron, Assistant Professor, Political Studies, University of Manitoba
Tanya Faure, Director of Program Strategies, Canadian Coast Guard
Lt. Commander Ray Snook, Directorate of Maritime Strategy, National Defense Canada