TORONTO, Nov. 9 /CNW/ - Senior White House officials, OECD leaders and high profile business executives will be among the over 40 panellists participating in the Toronto Forum for Global Cities, taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre North Building (255 Front Street West) on November 9 and 10, 2009. The Forum will tackle a series of questions about the role of cities in the global economy, including issues pertaining to public transportation, green energy and more.

Monday, November 9 Highlights

8:30am: WORDS OF WELCOME with keynote speaker David Miller, Mayor of Toronto

9:00am: OPENING SESSION - Restoring Growth

Speaker highlights: Adolfo Carrin, Jr., Director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs and Deputy Assistant to the President, and Angel Gurria, Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development (OECD)

Rapid urbanization is increasing the importance of large cities in the world economy. How can cities contribute to restoring the economy in the aftermath of the economic crisis?

10:30am: Financing Transportation Infrastructure

Speaker highlight: Joel Szabat, Deputy Assistant Secretary, US Department of Transportation

Transportation infrastructure is a key component of economic development, as demonstrated by Obama's $64.1 billion investment in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. What are the key opportunities to renew infrastructure, and what are the sources of funding?

10:30am: OECD EVENT

Towards a sustainable competitiveness agenda for Toronto: Presentation of the OECD Territorial Review, which recommends a new sustainable competitiveness agenda for the Toronto region. What are Toronto's unique assets, how well-prepared is the city for global competition, and how can it meet its potential?

Speakers: Mario Pezzini, Deputy Director in the OECD Public Governance and Territorial Development Directorate and Olaf Merk, Economist in the OECD Regional Competitiveness and Governance Division

12:00pm - LUNCHEON - Engineering our Future: Delivering Infrastructure Projects Within a Green Energy Economy

Speaker highlights: The Hon. Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board; Angel Gurria, Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development (OECD); Jean Lemierre, Advisor to the Chairman, BNP Paribas; The Hon. Perrin Beatty, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

How can industries and governments meet infrastructure demands as fast as they arise? What are the latest trends and most notable successes in infrastructure project development? How can green- energy supplies and fuel be systematically integrated in large- scale projects?

3:00pm - SESSION 3 - Investing in Green Energy

Speaker highlights: Dan Hoornweg, Lead Urban Specialist on Cities and Climate, World Bank Group

What are the most important sources of renewable energy, and how can they support the needs of the population and create employment opportunities?

4:15pm - SESSION 4 - Public Transportation and the Economic Recovery

Speaker highlights: Hazel McCallion, Mayor of Mississauga, and Ron Lemieux, Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation, Government of Manitoba

What are the latest trends in financing, building and operating public transportation?

For a complete listing of Forum speakers and a detailed agenda, visit www.forumforglobalcities.com.

Media interested in attending Forum sessions must present official credentials at the Forum's Media Desk.

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