ST. PATRICK’S DAY – ON MARCH 17, ALL OF QUEBEC IS IRISH

ST. PATRICK’S DAY – ON MARCH 17, ALL OF QUEBEC IS IRISH


On this most green of days, the Ireland-Canada Chamber of Commerce President in Montreal Paul Dunne, writing in La Presse, says on March 17 everyone in Quebec is Irish.

Alors que nous nous dirigeons vers ce que nous espérons être bientôt la fin de l’hiver, une fête préférée est de nouveau là pour nous remonter le moral, quel que soit le temps : la Saint-Patrick. C’est la période de l’année où boire de la bière noire en pleine journée et marcher au milieu de la rue Sainte-Catherine ne sont pas seulement autorisés, mais activement encouragés. De nombreuses questions brûlantes peuvent nous diviser, mais nous pouvons au moins nous entendre sur une chose : le 17 mars, tout le monde au Québec est irlandais.

En réalité, beaucoup d’entre nous sont également irlandais le reste de l’année. Lors du recensement de 2016, 446 215 personnes dans cette province se sont identifiées comme étant irlandaises et, selon certaines estimations, 40 % des Québécois peuvent se vanter d’avoir un grand-parent ou un arrière-grand-parent irlandais. En fait, même si le lien avec la France est bien sûr très fort, on pourrait dire que nous sommes presque aussi gaéliques que gaulois.

Tout au long de l’année, des groupes se consacrent au renforcement de ce lien entre l’Irlande et le Québec, dont les retombées se font sentir des deux côtés de l’Atlantique.

Fondée en 1991, la Chambre de commerce Irlande-Canada (CCIC) de Montréal a pour mission de favoriser des relations commerciales étroites entre cette ville et l’île d’Irlande en offrant aux entreprises irlandaises un soutien et des possibilités de réseautage par l’entremise de séminaires, de déjeuners d’affaires, d’évènements sociaux et de conférences d’experts. Nous collaborons avec des groupes tels qu’Enterprise Ireland et Invest Northern Ireland afin de tirer le meilleur parti des occasions commerciales existantes.

En fait, il n’y a jamais eu de meilleur moment pour que les entreprises irlandaises et québécoises travaillent ensemble.

La sortie du Royaume-Uni de l’Union européenne est désastreuse pour la Grande-Bretagne, mais elle représente une grande occasion pour l’Irlande Nord et Sud – en relation avec le Québec et le reste du Canada. En d’autres termes, l’Irlande reste l’endroit idéal pour que les entreprises y installent leur siège européen.

Cela inclut l’Irlande du Nord, car le « cadre de Windsor » nouvellement proposé signifie que, malgré le Brexit, l’Irlande du Nord continuera à bénéficier du marché unique de l’Union européenne tout en restant à l’intérieur du Royaume-Uni. Même le premier ministre britannique Rishi Sunak l’a admis, en déclarant : « L’Irlande du Nord se trouve dans une position incroyablement spéciale, la position unique dans le monde entier d’avoir un accès privilégié non seulement au marché intérieur du Royaume-Uni… mais aussi au marché unique de l’Union européenne. Personne d’autre n’a cela… Et c’est là le prix. »

Pour les Québécois et les Irlandais, les avantages d’une collaboration commerciale sont évidents. Les deux nations ont de nombreuses similitudes. Elles sont toutes deux connues pour leur accueil chaleureux et leur fort esprit d’entreprise. La société industrielle québécoise, riche et à la fine pointe de la technologie, a une attitude très semblable à celle de l’Irlande. Nous sommes également tous deux forts dans un certain nombre d’industries clés, notamment les technologies numériques, les services financiers et la fintech, l’aviation, la construction et l’ingénierie, l’éducation, les sciences de la vie et la santé numérique – la liste est longue.

Les dirigeants canadiens ont travaillé dur pour faire du pays un environnement favorable, ce qui a donné lieu à l’élaboration de l’Accord économique et commercial global entre le Canada et l’Europe. Il s’agit de l’un des ensembles de réductions tarifaires les plus complets jamais réalisés dans le cadre d’un accord de libre-échange de l’Union européenne ; depuis son application provisoire en 2017, les entreprises irlandaises travaillant avec le marché canadien ont bénéficié de l’élimination de 98,6 % de toutes les barrières tarifaires canadiennes, ainsi que de l’ouverture du marché canadien des services aux entreprises irlandaises.

Tout le monde y gagne.

Ces dernières années, des dizaines d’entreprises irlandaises ont réussi à s’implanter dans le marché québécois, créant ainsi de nombreux emplois. Parmi les entreprises irlandaises qui font affaire avec succès dans le marché québécois, citons Multihog (déneigement polyvalent et balayage des rues), SportLoMo (solutions technologiques pour le sport), Keenan, Samco & Prodig (agrotechnologie et machinerie), Combilift (chariots élévateurs), Aerogen (soins de santé) et Vybe (démarrage d’une entreprise d’ameublement en ligne). Keywords Studios (jeux) et Aer Rianta International (vente au détail dans les aéroports) sont les plus gros employeurs irlandais à Montréal. Et il y a de la place pour beaucoup, beaucoup plus.

De même, les entreprises québécoises ont trouvé en Irlande une terre d’accueil naturelle. Toutes les entreprises canadiennes bénéficient d’une série d’aides et de services gratuits pour les aider à établir des bureaux en Irlande, au nord comme au sud. CGI, le géant montréalais des technologies de l’information, a récemment annoncé l’établissement d’une base à Belfast, avec la création de 50 emplois.

Des groupes tels que la Chambre de commerce Irlande-Canada reconnaissent les occasions significatives à Montréal pour les entreprises irlandaises et s’engagent à les aider à prospérer – renforçant ainsi les liens entre nos pays. En travaillant ensemble, nous nous réjouissons de continuer à renforcer les partenariats commerciaux entre l’Irlande et le Canada à l’avenir, le 17 mars et tous les autres jours de l’année.

Cet article a d’abord été publié dans La Presse et est reproduit ici avec son aimable autorisation.


The Montreal-based global IT firm, CGI, is creating 50 jobs at a new consulting centre in Northern Ireland, after a virtual visit of Belfast during the pandemic.

One of the largest IT and business consulting services firms in the world, CGI delivers strategic IT and business consulting along with systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions. Its services help its clients achieve business agility, applied innovation and financial benefits. Welcoming the company’s first investment in Northern Ireland Mel Chittock, Interim CEO, Invest Northern Ireland said:

“This new consulting centre will have a hub in Belfast as well as the option for employees to blend office and home working. The consulting team will work alongside CGI’s global delivery network to ensure clients have access to best-fit digital capabilities and resources to meet their end-to-end needs. These are high value consulting roles and will play an important role in the CGI network.”

With a hub in Belfast the company plans to create 50 new jobs (16 are already in place) by 2026. The roles range from graduate to senior consultant and will appeal to a diverse range of individuals. It is hoped that the high value positions will could also attract back, and attract in, fresh talent from markets including ROI and GB.

“CGI took the decision to locate this new consulting centre in Northern Ireland following a virtual visit in 2020 during the height of COVID”, added Mel. “The company was impressed by the quality of our third-level education facilities, the pool of graduates from the universities and colleges and the experience of other businesses that have located here. It is a great win for Northern Ireland and the attraction of this global brand is a further endorsement of Northern Ireland’s world-class professional services capabilities. Added to that, this project will deliver £2m in additional annual salaries to our economy.”

Lindsay McGranaghan, CGI Vice-President, Business Unit Leader for Northern Ireland and Scotland said:

“We are excited to be here in Northern Ireland, to bring on great talent, and to collaborate with the local universities to discuss how we can help them develop new services. Our business model is different to most. Our team are the heart of our business, which is why most are shareholders, and they have the freedom to drive their careers, make decisions in the best interests of clients, take part in the continuous improvement of our company, and benefit from a job well done.”

“Importantly, we live and work near our clients to provide a high level of responsiveness, partnership, and innovation. We work hard to understand their needs and collaborate to meet their goals and advance their business goals.”


  • Chamber stands ready to help make this a reality
  • Guest of honor at ICCC Christmas Party, Dr. McKee highlights the massive influence of the Irish
  • ‘Without the Irish there would be no Canada as it is today,’ he says
Ireland’s Ambassador to Canada, Dr. Eamonn McKee, thinks the time is right for a full-time Irish Consulate in Montreal.

Ireland’s ambassador to Canada, Dr. Eamonn McKee, says that there is a strong case for a Consulate General to be established in Montreal given the sizable and very active Irish community in the city.

Speaking as the guest of honor at the glittering Christmas Party for members and friends of the Ireland-Canada Chamber of Commerce on Friday 9 December at the McGill Faculty Club, he stressed the trade opportunities that exist between Ireland and the city and noted, for example, that Enterprise Ireland had now a dedicated economic promotion officer in the city.

Dr. McKee told the Chamber: “This city has a rich and diverse past with the Irish very much at the heart of that, in all walks of life. And that influence continues to this day. The Government is committed to supporting the Irish diaspora but also to promoting further trade and economic cooperation between Ireland and this city. There is so much potential for further growth and I personally think the time is right for a full-time Consulate to be set up, dedicated to Montreal, to help realize that potential and make the most of organizations like the Ireland-Canada Chamber of Commerce.”

President of the ICCC Paul Dunne has pledged the Chamber’s support to make it happen.

Chamber President Paul Dunne welcomed the Ambassador’s comments. He pledged to make a strong case to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs for an increased presence in Montreal. Mr. Dunne said: “The need for a Consulate General in Montreal is obvious given the towering cultural and economic importance of Quebec in the Canadian context. It is a massive opportunity for the Government of Ireland to capitalize on the vibrancy of the Irish community here as well as the esteem in which the nation is held generally. The Ireland-Canada Chamber of Commerce is energized by the Ambassador’s comments and stands ready to take a leading role in the effort to make this a reality.”

As well as the Embassy in Ottawa, the Irish Government has established Consulates General in the Canadian cities of Vancouver and Toronto. Enterprise Ireland, the Governmental organization responsible for the development and growth of Irish businesses in world markets, also has a presence in Toronto as well as the new office it set up in Montreal last year. In addition, Honorary Consuls represent official Ireland in Toronto, Calgary, St. John’s and Halifax. Montreal, too, has an Honorary Consul with Dr. Michael Kenneally from the School of Canadian Irish Studies at Concordia University continuing to fulfill that volunteer role until his retirement at the end of 2022. The Chamber appreciates the stellar work Dr. Kenneally has done on behalf of the Irish in Montreal over many years and, in particular, the loyal and staunch support he shown for the activities of the Chamber itself.

Dr. McKee was the guest of honor at the ICCC Christmas Party and is shown here with members of the Board.

Dr. McKee also took the opportunity to highlight some of the ways Irish people – or those of Irish descent – have helped shape modern Canada into the vibrant, diverse and democratic confederacy it is today. From the Dublin-born Duke of Wellington to Thomas Ahearn to Thomas D’Arcy-McGee, and the first three Governors General of Canada (Lord Monck, Lord Lisgar and Lord Dufferin), as well as countless merchants, religious, captains of industry and other influencers over the years, it is clear that Canada would be a very different place were it not for the Irish and Anglo-Irish, who created and shaped the nation over the past 200 years and more.

He said: “We need to put this up in lights. Everyone has forgotten the contribution made by the Irish in Quebec and across Canada in general. That is why we are launching ‘Fifty Irish Lives’ in Canada next March, Irish Heritage Month. We are planning an Irish Heritage Trail for the following year. This trail can act like a Christmas tree to hang on these stories about the Irish, like decorations, that help to give an overall impression of just how influential Irish people have been throughout Canada’s history and right up to the modern day. It is safe to say that without the Irish there would be no Canada as it is today.”

With an academic background in history and economics, the Ambassador has written extensively about the Irish in Canada. More details and examples of his research can be found at his fascinating blog site.

A highlight of Dr. McKee’s diplomatic career so far was his involvement in the Northern Ireland Peace Process that led to the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement being signed in 1998. During a Q and A session following his speech, the Ambassador was asked for his views on a United Ireland, what that might look like, the types of compromises that might have to be made and the timeframe for a border poll on the matter.

He responded: “If Ireland wants to find a place where divergent loyalties co-exist in a place of peace and stability, then look no further than Canada for the model. Look at the contribution made by the Irish in Canada as part of the (British) Empire. It is certainly a complicated story because while we were colonized in Ireland, we were colonizers here… but let’s keep it complicated because in its complication is the richness of the story. But if we want to create a united Ireland, with all its complication and diverging loyalties, then we need to recall the fact that the Irish, the Catholic Irish, were very much part of the Empire, outside of Ireland, and not just in Canada.

“I think if North and South Ireland is to become one, then the South will have to change, too. Professor Brendan O’Leary has just published a book looking at the modalities. In one model, he describes how the North would be allowed to remain, to keep their various institutions more or less as they are, and it would be the rest of the country that adapts. This may well end in more devolution to the four provinces (Ulster, Leinster, Connacht and Munster), with a federal government based in Dublin.

“Again, the similarities with Canada are striking… As for a border poll and when that might happen, to be honest, I don’t think it will be soon. Before any poll could take place, there would have to be a very clear explanation of what the united Ireland would look like so that people would know exactly what they are voting for. I think as things stand right now, about one third of people in the North will vote yes, one third will vote to maintain the Union with the UK. There is a third, roughly speaking, who are willing to be convinced either way so it will be important that they have all the facts.”

Dr. McKee also gave an economic update from Ireland: “In terms of business, the news from Ireland remains good. In 100 years since independence, we have created an economy that is incredibly robust. We have full employment, we have eradicated involuntary emigration. We have done that through talent because we have no other natural resources. Our economy is so robust it has survived well, both through the global financial crisis and COVID.

“There are huge opportunities for Ireland and Canada to cooperate, with Ireland remaining in the European Union. Meanwhile, Britain has made, in my view, a massive strategic economic error in leaving. A key partner for Ireland to develop that economic opportunity is through the network of Ireland-Canada Chambers of Commerce. The Chamber here in Montreal is a really important part of that. We have a pan-Canadian Chamber but that won’t be relevant unless the individual chapters are active and strong. So, I would encourage you all to join. And not just join but also to get involved and be active and support the Chamber because the work its does is very important and is recognized as such by the Irish Government.”

The party was an opportunity for members and guests to mingle, network and share some festive cheer.

The Chamber Christmas Party was very well attended with a convivial night being had by all as members mingled with invited guests, including those from other Irish societies in the city. It was an opportunity for Irish Quebeckers to chat, network and share some festive cheer. The winners of the door prizes, which were kindly donated by Epices & Tout, an Irish-owned specialty food store located in Old Longueuil, were: Scott Phelan, Kevin Tracey, Vivian Doyle-Kelly, Len Madigan, Michael Papelian, Alison Shore, Tom Whelan and Amanda Smith.


JEAN-PHILIPPE DÉCARIE
LA PRESSE

L’anniversaire est nettement passé sous le radar, mais je me permets de vous rappeler que l’Accord économique et commercial global (AECG) entre le Canada et l’Union européenne a fêté ses cinq ans d’existence le 21 septembre dernier. Même s’il n’y a pas de quoi écrire à sa mère, direz-vous peut-être, l’évènement mérite que l’on s’y arrête un peu, question de faire un bilan d’étape de cette entente commerciale dont on est encore bien loin d’avoir exploité le plein potentiel.

Rappelez-vous, on nous disait que ce nouvel accord économique et commercial allait ouvrir les portes aux entreprises québécoises d’un marché de plus de 500 millions de consommateurs dans 28 pays européens. Cette réalité d’il y a cinq ans a toutefois changé depuis la victoire du Brexit et le retrait, il y a deux ans, du Royaume-Uni de l’Union européenne.

On parle donc aujourd’hui d’une entente commerciale qui nous donne accès à 446 millions de consommateurs dans 27 pays d’Europe, ce qui est tout de même loin d’être négligeable.

Cinq ans après la signature de l’entente Canada-Union européenne, on constate toutefois que le retrait de l’Angleterre de l’AECG combiné au fort ralentissement des échanges commerciaux entre le Québec et l’Europe, survenu au plus fort de la pandémie en 2020, ont eu un impact négatif sur les gains qu’aurait dû produire cette libéralisation des entraves au commerce.

Malgré tout, les exportations du Québec vers les pays de l’Union européenne ont progressé de 12 % en cinq ans pour s’établir à 9,5 milliards de dollars, en 2021, contre 8,5 milliards en 2016.

Le partenariat commercial avec l’Europe profite aussi davantage au Québec qu’au reste du Canada puisque les ventes de produits à l’UE représentent 9,5 % de la totalité des exportations québécoises, contre 4,8 % seulement pour le Canada.

Les pays de l’UE ont par ailleurs nettement mieux tiré profit des ouvertures créées par la signature de l’AECG puisque leurs exportations vers le Québec ont bondi de 23 % en cinq ans pour atteindre 21,5 milliards l’an dernier, contre 17,5 milliards en 2016.

« Les entreprises du Québec doivent mieux profiter de ce marché de 445 millions d’Européens, d’autant que la guerre en Ukraine force les pays européens à se trouver de nouveaux alliés », observe Geneviève Brisson, déléguée générale du Québec à Bruxelles.

Mme Brisson constate que l’Union européenne est responsable à elle seule de 25 % de tous les investissements étrangers au Québec, derrière bien sûr les États-Unis, et qu’elle accapare près de 21 % de toutes les importations québécoises.

« Notre défi est de mieux faire connaître l’AECG pour que les entreprises québécoises du secteur agroalimentaire, de l’aéronautique, des biotechnologies, des technologies vertes et créatives et même des produits forestiers y développent davantage des filières », souligne la déléguée générale.

UN POTENTIEL SOUS-UTILISÉ

C’est aussi le constat que fait Pierre Marc Johnson, qui a été le négociateur en chef pour le Québec de l’AECG entre le Canada et l’Union européenne.

« L’objectif principal de cet accord était de nous donner la capacité de mieux attaquer un nouveau marché de 445 millions de consommateurs et d’avoir accès à tous les secteurs d’activité du marché industriel sans entraves tarifaires. »

« Cinq ans après, seulement 60 % des entreprises québécoises qui font affaire en Europe utilisent les avancées que nous a données l’AECG, les autres paient encore des droits parce qu’elles ne prennent pas la peine de faire les démarches administratives. »

– Pierre Marc Johnson, qui a été négociateur en chef pour le Québec de l’AECG

« Nos échanges ont progressé, mais l’élan a été ralenti par la disruption des chaînes d’approvisionnement à cause de la pandémie. L’année 2020 a été désastreuse », constate Pierre Marc Johnson.

Selon le négociateur en chef du Québec, les cinq prochaines années nous permettront de mieux évaluer les effets de l’accord, à la condition que l’on poursuive les efforts et que l’on s’attaque notamment aux marchés de niche, tels que les TI, l’intelligence artificielle et même les produits agricoles et industriels.

En cinq ans, les ventes de canneberges dans l’Union européenne ont progressé de 288 %, le sirop d’érable de 70 %, les ouvrages en aluminium de 204 %, l’aluminium brut de 44 % et le titane de 86 %, nous précise Geneviève Brisson, déléguée générale du Québec à Bruxelles, mais les statistiques nous informent aussi que les Européens ont vendu davantage de biens divers au Québec, notamment dans le secteur agroalimentaire.

Les producteurs agricoles québécois étaient opposés à l’AECG parce qu’on voulait ouvrir le marché canadien à une hausse des exportations de fromages européens, soit 17 000 tonnes additionnelles par année.

« C’était une mauvaise entente à l’époque et, cinq ans plus tard, c’est toujours une mauvaise entente pour les producteurs québécois qui produisent 50 % du fromage canadien et 60 % des fromages fins. »

– Charles-Félix Ross, directeur général de l’Union des producteurs agricoles

« On devait obtenir un meilleur accès en Europe pour notre bœuf et nos porcs et on n’a obtenu que 3 % de nos contingentements tarifiés alors que les producteurs de fromages européens atteignent 94 % de leurs contingentements », déplore Charles-Félix Ross, directeur général de l’Union des producteurs agricoles.

Chose certaine, l’entrée en vigueur de l’AECG n’a pas eu l’effet coup de fouet que l’Accord de libre-échange Canada–États-Unis avait eu lorsqu’il était entré en vigueur en 1989, alors que les échanges bilatéraux entre le Canada et les États-Unis ont explosé de 167 % en dix ans.

Les marchés de proximité sont toujours ceux que l’on cherche prioritairement à conquérir, mais une fois que cela est fait, il faut aussi voir plus loin et profiter des occasions qui s’y prêtent. L’abolition des barrières en est une bonne et il faut s’y atteler.


This article first appeared in La Presse on 15 October and has been reproduced by kind permission.


Following last week’s controversial British mini-budget, questions are being asked about what this uncertainty means for businesses in Ireland, the rest of the EU and Canada. ICCC Director James Fitzgerald takes a look at what the experts are saying as to how the Truss-effect may spread beyond her shores.

Join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Ineffectual British Prime Ministers are a bit like the 46A Dublin omnibus from the Phoenix Park to Dún Laoghaire – you wait for what seems like 65 years for one and then four come along in a row. I was speaking to a pal of mine recently, an Anglo-Irish chap who, much to his continued chagrin, embarrassment and trauma, attended Eton College with Boris Johnson. As a youth, he never thought he would be treated to a British PM so erratic as to take the title of “worst ever” away from the hapless Anthony Eden.

Yet, in the past 12 years, Downing Street has been occupied by David Cameron, who thought it would be a good idea to put the UK’s continued membership of the European Union to the people in order to, essentially, win a bet; Theresa May, who was unable to get Brexit – or anything else – done; Johnson, complete with his lies and law-breaking; and now, Liz Truss, who has managed to plunge her country and its currency into crisis by employing a trickle-down tactic that was discredited by economists as far back as the 1980s, even though she has been in residence at No. 10 hardly long enough to learn which night to put the bins out in that part of London SW1A.

I don’t know whether Eton College is to blame – it educated Cameron, Johnson and 18 other PMs, including Eden – but according to my pal, the British people deserve better from their “first among equals”. Market turmoil since the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Kwasi Kwarteng (another Etonian, by the way), announced the debt-funded giveaway ‘mini-budget’ a couple of weeks ago had seen the UK’s borrowing costs soar and a shorting of the pound. It also prompted the International Monetary Fund and leading debt ratings agency, Moody’s, to criticize the plan.

Share prices in Bank of Ireland, Greencore and other Irish-listed companies most exposed to the UK economy, have nosedived since the plan was announced to cut £45 billion of taxes over five years and spend around £60 billion over the next six months alone subsidizing energy bills for households and businesses. Ms. Truss has promised to freeze household gas and electricity bills for two years, using money the UK Government does not have to pay for it.

According to The Irish Times, “financial markets are predicting the Bank of England will need to hike its main interest rate from 2.25 per cent to 6 per cent to shore up the pound and counteract the inflationary effects of the mini-budget — at a time when UK inflation is already running at about 10 per cent”, leading some commentators to predict a full-blown recession and a sharp fall in property prices.

Even the partial U-turn taken by Ms. Truss and Mr. Kwarteng on elements of the budget have done little to placate the spooked markets. “The U-turn represents a concerted effort to soften the narrative regarding the government’s economic agenda but little to change the direction,” said Neil Mehta, a portfolio manager at BlueBay Asset Management, as quoted by the Financial Post. “This dynamic should support the pound in the short-term, but we think this will be short-lived, as confidence in the government is shot and policies come home to roost over a difficult winter for the UK economy.”

So, what does all this mean for Canada, for Ireland, for the EU and for the trade outlook within the highly connected and interdependent global commerce ecosystem?

Clearly, and as many observers warned the UK Government in advance, a fall in the pound’s value was inevitable and this will create some short-term opportunities for Irish and Canadian businesses (not to mention tourists) to take advantage of a drop in price of imports from the UK. With exchange rates being what they are, now would be a good time to visit that long-lost cousin in Wales or import a palette-load of haggis from Scotland. However, there is concern within EU Governments that this volatility in what is traditionally one of the most stable economies and currencies in the world, could spread to other markets.

“Fear is contagious,” said Ben Kumar, senior investment strategist at Seven Investment Management LLP, speaking to Bloomberg TV. “Higher bond volatility in the UK caused by fund liquidations prompts pound selloffs due to instability, which prompts UK equity outflows, which prompts parallel selloffs worldwide.”

Jacqueline Best, a professor at the University of Ottawa who studies the politics of finance, told CBC: “Part of the problem is that while extreme currency moves are caused by genuine worries, they also act like blood in the water to attract the sharks of the foreign exchange world: currency speculators. Obviously, we have massively increased volatility right now in currency markets, which is worrying. Normally, the system of floating exchange rates between national currencies works well and allows gradual changes in currency values as the relative strengths of economies vary. But their downside is they can become very volatile and that volatility can be self-reinforcing as speculators and traders start trying to make bets on where currencies are going.”

The underlying message, therefore, from economists, financial experts – even the International Monetary Fund – is you can take your chances with what will certainly be continued fluctuations around the world but given elevated inflation pressures in many countries, including the UK, EU and Canada, it is not recommend to engage in large and untargeted fiscal packages at this juncture. That advice is as applicable for small to medium sized businesses at this time, as it is for the governments of major national economies.

We have been warned.

James Fitzgerald – ICCC Montreal Director of Communications


NEW ICCC BOARD MEMBERS

James Fitzgerald, Chanelle Desrosiers-Stewart, Padraig McLean and Michelle Sullivan join the Board

James Fitzgerald
James is Senior Manager Media and Communications for the World Anti-Doping Agency. Born and bred in Dublin, James attended Trinity College where he spent more time on the playing fields of College Park and in the Pavilion Bar than in any of that fine institution’s libraries or lecture theatres. He subsequently became a journalist and ended up as a news reporter and Cricket Correspondent for The Irish Times before taking a job as Communications Manager for the International Cricket Council in Dubai in 2006. In 2012, he returned to Ireland to work in a similar role for World Rugby and, in 2018, moved to Montreal to take his position as head of media relations and lead spokesperson for the global regulator of clean sport. He is married to a Kingstonian and they have two young children.
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Chanelle Desrosiers-Stewart
Chanelle is a corporate lawyer at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP with a practice that focuses primarily on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions as well as general corporate and commercial law matters. She plays a role in various aspects of the process, from due diligence to transaction closing, and assists in the drafting and reviewing of purchase agreements and related transaction documents. Chanelle is the daughter of a Belfast emigrant, and the granddaughter of the author of “Town Book of Belturbet”, a book presented to the Royal Historical Society of Ireland.
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Padraig McLean
Padraig is the Finance Officer at the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University. He has worked both in practice and in industry as a Chartered Accountant, commencing with Price Waterhouse Coopers and working for most of his career with a large multinational telecommunications company in Ireland, the UK and Canada. A native Irishman from North County Dublin, Padraig is married with two children, and lives in Montreal.
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Michelle Sullivan
Michelle is an entrepreneur working at the intersection of history and technology. The driving force behind HeSaidSheSaidStories.com / VosHistoires.com, the first of a series of personal and business history products and services to be launched in 2020, she helps founders, community and business leaders, patriarchs and matriarchs pass on their knowledge and inspire others. Michelle is a social media pioneer and public relations strategist who has taught digital communications at McGill University and media relations at l’Université de Montréal. A dual Irish-Canadian citizen whose father emigrated from Baldoyle, Michelle shares her time between homes in the Laurentians and North County Dublin.
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