The final keynote presentation was from the managing director, and senior economist for the BMO Financial Group, Earl Sweet. During his remarks, Mr. Sweet indicated that the North American economy is tentatively emerging from the recent recessions and that the experience in Canada is very different from that of the US, despite the interdependence of the two nations. BMO market research shows that the economic recovery has surely taken ahold in Canada, with the signposts being a strengthening residential market in Canada; job creation starting up again this fall; consumer confidence on the rise and credit markets normalizing. The economic scenario is however, still quite bleak in the United States as recovery is in its very early and fragile stages.

For this and other presentations from Forum 2009, please visit the Forum website at http://www.cppcforumccmp.ca/ .