Waterloo, Canada – November 24, 2009 – The Board of Directors of The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) today announced the appointment of Thomas A. Bernes to the position of vice-president of programs. In this newly established role, Mr. Bernes will oversee the development of CIGI’s work program strategy, implementing and coordinating research activities and assisting in the development of networks and partnerships related to the work program.

Many Canadians could feel a sense of pride when the G20 leaders meeting in Pittsburgh late last month declared that this forum of leaders and finance ministers would replace the G7 as the key body to oversee the global economy and chart its future direction.

This past weekend I was fortunate to participate in the CIGI 09 conference, Toward a New Deal, Examining the Systemic Impacts of the Global Economic Crisis. Some of the world’s leading economists, academics and political powers, including former prime minister Paul Martin and Nobel Prize recipient Paul Krugman, offered their viewpoints at the Centre for International Governance Innovation. Their conclusions were intriguing and daunting.

Former prime minister Paul Martin got a lot of things right when he spoke at the annual conference of the Centre for International Governance Innovation in Waterloo on the weekend. In fact, both Martin’s political friends and foes might agree that he touched on some very important truisms in his speech.