From lagging productivity growth and investment gaps, to regulatory hurdles, labour shortages, and changing global trade dynamics, Canada’s lagging competitiveness is coming under increasing scrutiny.  

How can we position ourselves for stronger, more sustainable growth?

In this episode, we’re focusing on a critical issue: Canada’s competitiveness in a rapidly shifting global economy.

We know that Canada is facing major economic challenges.  The big question is how we respond to them.  To answer that question, we're joined by Pedro Antunes, Chief Economist at Signal49 Research and Marc Desormeaux, VP, Policy and Chief Economist at the Business Council of Canada.

Our guests:

Pedro Antunes, Chief Economist at Signal49 Research

Pedro Antunes is the Chief Economist and primary spokesperson for Signal49 Research. Hi provides insights and general direction for Signal49's economic products, including reports and economic indicators that relate to Canada and its regions and sectors. Pedro provides media interviews in English and French as well as expert testimony before parliamentary and senate committees. He is widely sought for speaking engagements and presentations to industry leaders and decision-makers on a broad range of issues and topics that impact Canadians.

Marc Desormeaux, VP Policy and Chief Economist at the Business Council of Canada.

Marc leads the Council’s work on labour markets, demographics, and artificial intelligence. As the Council’s in-house economist, he also covers broader macroeconomic and fiscal policy issues. 

Marc has spent more than a decade helping leaders navigate Canada’s most complex business and public policy challenges. He began his career as an economist at Signal49 (then The Conference Board of Canada). He then held senior roles in economics departments at two of Canada’s largest financial institutions, advising clients around the world on macroeconomic and financial market developments and serving as a media spokesperson in both official languages. Before joining the Council, he served as chief economic advisor to Ontario’s Minister of Finance, where he was part of the leadership team that crafted the province’s $30-billion plan to counter U.S. tariffs. 

Marc graduated from McMaster University in 2013 and holds a Master’s of Economics from the University of Toronto, where he was a fellow at Massey College.