Cheryl Nelms, A/Director, P3 Development and Advisory Services Sector, Real Property Branch, Public Works and Government Services Canada
John Arseneau, Vice President, Business Development, PPP Canada
Greg Lewis, Partner, Bull, Housser & Tupper LLP
Steven Leeming, Independent P3 Consultant
Ursula Ruppert

Canada has become a leader in the delivery of public private partnership (PPP) projects and alternative delivery options for procurement of real estate assets and services. A panel of private and public sector representatives, with experience on the most recent federal PPP projects will discuss the challenges and opportunities with the application of these new project and service delivery methods. Anticipated federal PPP project deal flow and the legal, financial and process differences relative to traditional approaches will also be discussed.

Daniel Leclair, Director General, Client Consultancy and Real Property Solutions, Public Works and Government Services Canada

In 2010-2011 Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) launched a new Client Service Strategy, consisting of six elements: 1) Departmental Service Agreements that identify joint PWGSC-client priorities and outline the PWGSC services provided to the client department; 2) Service Standards to improve discipline in measuring performance; 3) a description of PWGSC's newest, innovative service offerings; 4) a renewed approach to Client Engagement to ensure early identification and common understanding of the needs and priorities of clients; 5) more effective client satisfaction measurement and follow-up, including a departmental Client Barometer; and 6) a Service Culture component to reinforce a client-oriented service approach for all staff.

The Client Service Strategy builds on the successes of the current Economic Action Plan where PWGSC built stronger ties with client departments involved in this initiative by signing agreements at the DM level, incorporating better front-end planning, and including close monitoring and better reporting.

Nancy Shaver, Senior Real Property Advisor, Real Property Management Directorate, Department of National Defence
Paul Fredenburg, Area Engineer, Land Forces Central Area, Department of National Defence
Raymond Kessler, Real Estate Services, City of Toronto

Times of fiscal constraint combined with the goals of effective and efficient infrastructure delivery have required the Department of National Defence (DND) to look at new business models in order to deliver its infrastructure program given that the status quo is not sustainable. This session will look at the challenges DND faces in the delivery of its infrastructure and provide insight into the ways these challenges were overcome. It will also consider DND’s past projects where innovative solutions were found to meet infrastructure requirements as well as a discussion on current and future infrastructure projects in which partnerships with municipal governments will be key to meeting its infrastructure needs.

Marie-Lison Fougère, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy and Programs Division, Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, Government of Ontario

Labour shortages have been a very well researched topic, with concerns raised due to demographic shifts. The “knowledge economy” is changing the shape of the economy and the demand for skills in the labour market. In Ontario, demographic forces are expected to slow labour market growth. At the same time, the knowledge economy is emerging – with a growing reliance on workers with post-secondary credentials. These changes will impact the public sector as employers. In this context, Ontario is focused on making the Ontario Public Service an employer of choice and is committed to attracting and retaining top-notch talent to provide quality services to Ontario citizens. Given the challenges, it is important that policy makers focus on the development of the right skills, at the right times, in the right places to meet future labour market demand.

Robert Potts, Principal Negotiator and Senior Legal Counsel, Algonquins of Ontario
Lee Grigas, Chief Negotiator, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Robert A. Howald, Senior Vice President, Real Estate, Canada Lands Company, CLC Limited
Nancy Shaver, Senior Real Property Advisor, Real Property Management Directorate, Department of National Defence

Robert (Bob) Potts is a senior partner in the Toronto law firm of Blaney McMurtry LLP and is called to the Bars of Ontario and Alberta. In addition to maintaining a busy commercial and insurance litigation practice, Bob heads the firm’s Aboriginal Law Group and currently acts as lead counsel on a number of First Nation land claims.

Bob has participated in conferences and delivered papers on Aboriginal Law issues for many years. In September 2007 he was a guest speaker on the topic “Aboriginal Claims in Canada” at the Commonwealth Law Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya. Bob has also chaired seminars and lectured on commercial and litigation practice issues, including class action proceedings, at programs presented by the Ontario Bar Association, the Law Society of Upper Canada and The Canadian Institute. Bob is a past director of the Advocates’ Society and has been published in the Advocates Quarterly, the National Real Property Law Review, and the Canadian Independent Adjuster.