OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(EMWNews – July 24, 2008) – The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and the Honourable Murray Coell, British Columbia’s Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development, Co-chairs of the Forum of Labour Market Ministers (FLMM), today announced that Don Drummond, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of the TD Bank Financial Group, and former Associate Deputy Minister of Finance Canada, will chair an Advisory Panel on Labour Market Information.

“Providing timely and relevant labour market information to all Canadians is critical to our government’s goal of creating the best-educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world,” said Minister Solberg. “Mr. Drummond’s demonstrated leadership in the private and public sector and his knowledge of the competitive challenges facing Canada make him ideally positioned to lead this important work.”

The five-member panel will advise federal, provincial and territorial ministers on how labour market information can contribute to Canada’s economic growth and efficiency over the next decade and better respond to the growing information and planning needs of employers, workers and learners. The panel will report back to the FLMM by the spring of 2009.

“All provinces are keenly interested in addressing the twin challenges posed by global competition and an aging workforce,” noted Minister Coell, FLMM provincial Co-chair. “Under Mr. Drummond’s leadership, the advisory panel will examine labour market information and determine the best options to support the growth of the skilled labour pool needed by all employers.”

“Good labour market information is critical to the success of today’s businesses, workers, learners and governments,” said Mr. Drummond. “I am very pleased to be chairing this panel and look forward to working with my colleagues on this important undertaking.”

The FLMM is comprised of the labour market ministers from the provinces, the territories and the federal government. It was established in 1983 to promote inter-jurisdictional discussion and cooperation on labour market issues.

Labour market information includes any data, information or analyses that can assist Canadians in making informed decisions or plans related to:

– learning, training and skills development;

– employment, job searches and career planning;

– staff recruitment, retention and related business decisions;

– public policy development and programming; and

– workforce investment strategies.

This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

BACKGROUNDER

Labour Market Information Advisory Panel

Biography

Don Drummond, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, TD Bank Financial Group

– Mr. Drummond has been Senior Vice President and Chief Economist for TD Financial Group since 2000. Mr. Drummond leads TD Economics’ work in analyzing and forecasting economic performance in Canada and abroad.

– He worked 23 years at the Department of Finance, where he held a series of increasingly senior positions in the areas of economic analysis and forecasting, fiscal policy and tax policy. His last three positions were respectively, Assistant Deputy Minister of Fiscal Policy and Economic Analysis, Assistant Deputy Minister of Tax Policy and Legislation and most recently, Associate Deputy Minister. In this latter position, Mr. Drummond was responsible for economic analysis, fiscal policy, tax policy, social policy and federal-provincial relations.