Leadership Montréal = Leadership Montréal, 1 mai 2000, Anglais

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: How is business faring after Y2K?See page 3 Published by the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal Mav 2000 Volume 3 number 4 EDITORIAL Aéroports de Montréal: For the immediate rollout of Dorval's expansion plan editorial AGENDA A whole series of activities.Worth looking into! It : Index dossier - continuation editorial partners.5, 8, 18 activities.10, 15, 17, 18 THE ACADEMIE HAS ELECTED FOUR GREAT MONTREALERS FOR 2000.Gome pay homage to them on June 8 For reservations and information, call (514) 871-4000, ext.4001 Special ACADEMY OF GREAT MONTREALERS 22“ GALA By Madeleine Murdock very year since 1978, this annual gala has been honouring four new Great Montrealers who have set themselves apart by their contribution to Montreal’s reputation in the economic, cultural, social, and scientific sectors.Comprised of Great Montrealers elected each year, the Academy was created in 1988 and until last year has added three new members every year.This year, because the social and scientific sectors have been separated, the circle will welcome four new members.A nomination committee proposes candidates to the Academy’s board of directors, whose mem- Economic sector Cultural sector Continued on page 6 © Social sector Jean C.Monty President and chief executive officer BCE Inc.Andrée Lachapelle Actress L’Académie des Grands Montréalais Maurice Richard Ambassador of the Montreal Canadians Jacques Genest Founder Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal Scientific sector Dossier BUSINESS TOURISM IN MONTREAL By Normand Cazelais, special collaboration usiness tourism is profitable.It brings more revenue, comparatively, than other forms of tourism.The most profitable market segment is the convention business: "That's where the real money is," says Charles Lapointe, the CEO of Tourism Montreal.In Quebec's metropolis, it is easy to see how true that is.The Montreal tourism region covers the entire Montreal Island.It is by far the most visited region in Quebec.In 1999, close to 6 million visitors came to Montreal, while the number 2 region, that of Quebec City, recorded slightly over 4 million visitors last year.Our picture would be incom- The expansion of the Palais des congrès will establish Montreal’s standing on the international convention market.all trips to the metropolis in 1998, but resulted in a net inflow of #582 million, or 36% of total tourism revenue in the Montreal region.As long ago as 1984, a study by the Ministère du Tourisme entitled "Le tourisme au Québec - Bilan et Perspectives", found that "conventions, business seminars, conferences, symposiums, trade shows and other professional events represent one of the most profitable segments in the tourism industry, as business visitors spend more than vacationing tourists." plete if we did not mention that 34% of tourism spending takes place in Montreal, versus 20% in Quebec City.While they are less numerous than actual tourists, busi- ness visitors are for the local industry a golden opportunity to rake in good money.According to Tourism Montreal, business tourism inclusive of conventions made up 18% of Continued on page 2 @ ¦ >6 ¦' - ' - Jj ^Québec O MERCK FROSST Dfscovenng toooy for a better tomorrow.-.£> ROYAL BANK FINANCIAL GROUP' -J* ‘ 1/ .Leadership Montréal May 2000 L dossier Continued from page 1 BUSINESS TOURISM, Conventions, trade shows and exhibitions In 1999, Montreal hosted no less than 329 conventions that were attended by a total of 228,350 delegates.This produced a net cash inflow of 8126 million.Conventioneers stayed an average of 2.8 nights in the city and they each spent 8197.26 every day, or 45% for accommodation, 24% in restaurants, 16% for urban transportation, 5% for entertaining, and 11% for other purposes.Other figures are available: In 1998 — the most recent official data — 32% of conventions held in the Montreal region originated from elsewhere in Quebec, 31% from Canada, 24% from the U.S.(mostly from the New York area and the Northeast), and 13% from other parts of the world.Over 80% of convention delegates are males, mostly aged between 45 and 54.Spring and fall are the preferred seasons for conventions in Montreal: last year, the months of May, June and October were the busiest with respectively 16.2%, 16.1% and 13.1% of last year's volume.December attracted only 0.5% of the total and was the year's low point, with November as second to last at 3.9%.Still in 1998, 74% of conventions were held by various types of associations and ¦ 26% by professional associations.Medical and pharmaceutical conventions ranked first with 19.6% of the total.Then the broad area of administration, finance and law accounted for 13.1%, engineering and sciences for 9.2%, education 8.3%, communications and transportation 7.9% and industry 7.9% as well.Other sectors were sales (6.5%), government operations (5.2%), agrifood (2.2%) and others, 20.1% altogether.Trade shows and exhibitions are another significant area of activity.Montreal has three major exhibition facilities: Place Bonaventure, the Olympic Stadium and the Palais des Congrès.Exhibitions, trade fairs and other shows are usually held during spring, from March to May (42% of the total) or in late fall, in November and December (24%).An interesting fact is that these are mostly repetitive events.Fully 83% are held every year, and 9%, twice a year.According to consultants PriceWaterhouse, the average direct economic impact of each event is close to 81 million.This means the 90 shows, exhibitions and fairs held in Montreal last year caused 880 million to float into the city as it welcomed over three million visitors.Competition is extremely fierce.In 1995, the Major Exhibit Hall Directory discussed the fact that conventions are increasingly held in parallel with trade shows or fairs and pointed out that in order to accommodate these twin events there was a need for larger and multi-use facilities.The guide listed 140 such convention and exhibition facilities in the U.S., each with over 100,000 sq.ft., including 66 giant locations with over 200,000 sq.ft.According to the International Association of Exhibit Managers (IAEM), many associations draw an ever increasing portion of their annual revenue from holding trade shows that are linked to their conventions or their annual general meetings.Extensive and rapid change occurs at the dawn of the new millennium, in the form of ever-present technology, financial and administrative consolidation, the lightening up or, perhaps, the total removal of border and tariff barriers, lower airfares, emerging new business sectors that are hold the promise of strong growth.This explains why trade fairs and exhibitions are growing so rapidly, at a rate of 7% annually, which is faster than the overall growth rate of the economy.Every year, some 5,000 fairs and exhibitions are held in the U.S.and Canada and the economic activity they Continued on page 4 : ' V ill : i! 8 :.V ¦ : ' ¦ ¦ ¦ : mm M-M: \ * Launch from our 100% fibre-optic network With a powerful 100% fibre-optic • Internet Get wired to the largest network that stretches for more than • Local telephone service 100% fibre-optic network in Que- 7,500 km and lightning-fast transmission speeds, Vidéotron Business Network offers • Long distance bec.Contact us today.you IHE highest level of performance • Equipment 1-877-380-WEB2 in telecommunications.• Data transmission Vidéotron Business Network www.business.videotron.com Business at the speed Vidéotron Business Network is a business name of Vidéotron Télécom (1998) Ltd.of light Leadership Montréal 2 May 2000 Published by: Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain Board of Trade ctf Metropolian Montreal 5 Place Ville Marie Plaza level, suite 12500 Montreal, Quebec H3B 4Y2 Tel: (514) 871-4000 Fax: (514) 871-1255 Web site: www.btmm.qe.ca E-mail: info@ccmm.qc.ca President Pierre Laferrière INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: AFTER Y2K, THE INDUSTRY FOCUSES ON THE INTERNET AND E-BUSINESS Editor-in-chief Françoy Roberge Managing editor Madeleine Murdock Editorial assistant Luce Des Marais Production and advertising assistant Sylvie Paquette Advertising Annie Bergeron Johanne Gagné Design and production Communication SRVA international inc.Printer Imprimeries TYanscontinental inc J Division Transmag Subscription fee £25 (10 issues) + taxes ISSN 1480-4638 Legal deposit National Library of Québec National Library of Canada By Luge Des Marais and Ming Mar hile Y2K compliance generated huge revenues in the information technologies industry, e-business and, before long, the convergence of Internet and wireless communications, promise untold riches.(Watch for our next issue featuring a Dossier on telecommunications which will look at this topic.) Both the consulting and the development segments are best positioned.A study by Statistics Canada (Oct.1999) dealing with the information technologies and communications (ITC) industry underscores the amazing growth of Canadian exports of ITC services.The study shows that in 1998 Canada's exports of ITC services amounted to almost $4 billion, versus imports of services valued at $3 billion.In comparison, 1990 imports and exports of ser- T7 ^* mÊm PROGESTIC - G R O U P - CONSULTANTS IN MANAGEMENT & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INC.Progestic Group: Oracle and Microsoft partner ¦ Development of turnkey systems ¦ E-Commerce Sherbrooke Toronto www.progestlc-group.c Montreal (514) 842-7995 "While everyone is talking about e-commerce, too few actually do it in Quebec," says Pierre Langelier, president and general manager of the Electronic Commerce Institute.-— ippWljmm- .— i .\t \ \ " ¦ vices were on an almost equal footing at less than $2 billion each way."There is tremendous demand for our services," confirm Tom Samek, a partner in Groupe Conseil Sygertech, a Montreal firm that has been specializing in the management of high tech companies over the past ten years."We even developed our clientele all the way to the New York City area.The dot.com start-ups are in full swing out there and while many are subsidiaries of big, established businesses, just as many are launched from somebody's basement." While the demand for developers and consultants is extremely high, all industry participants polled are unanimously exulting.Even the more traditional application integrators (database, etc.) are in full swing.In fact, the entire Montreal IT industry is benefiting.One reason is that the Internet is much more than a new communication channel.It is in fact a new model that forces all organizations to re-evaluate There is however one thing wrong with this oh so bright picture: the shortage of skilled human resources.One year ago, Montreal TechnoVision already pointed out there was a glaring need for human resources specializing in IT and that the gap between demand and offer was widening quickly.In fact, Cegeps and universities turn out only one-third of the actual number of graduates industry needs (note that the situation is quite similar in the U.S.).Employment growth in the IT industry has been over 22% in Quebec over the past two years, as compared to a growth rate of merely 6% in other sectors (source: Statistics Canada).Furthermore, the unemployment rate in the Montreal area is the lowest since 1976.Continued on page 11 PRESTIGIOUS SPACE Montreal, Laval, Trois-Rivières, Quebec City, Chicoutimi: Office space for rent from 300 ft2 to 36,000 ft2 1 800 463-5261 INDUSTRIAL ALLIANCE LIFE INSUIANCE COMPANY Leadership Montréal 3 May 2000 editorial AEROPORTS DE MONTRÉAL: FOR THE IMMEDIATE ROLLOUT OF DORVAL'S EXPANSION PLAN O J3 P* Metropolitan Montreal is the only major urban centre in Canada to have two major airports, a duplication that has cost it dearly since 1975.Indeed, it sabotaged any aerial growth until Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) decided in 1996 to allow airlines to choose the airport from which they preferred to operate their regular commercial lines.Since the recent announcement of the $500 million investment project in Dor-val, defenders of Mirabel Airport are once again resorting to an array of tactics and at times questionable arguments in favour of transferring regular flights to Mirabel.It bears reminding that from the outset, Mirabel Airport was probably one of the greatest planning errors of the century in Canada.At the time, experts thought it wise to build an airport far away from the downtown core, believing that by the year 2000 aircraft fleets would consist primarily of very noisy supersonic jets that required very long runways.In their view, Canada’s population would double, and Greater Montreal’s would grow almost as much.By 2005 some 60 million passengers would pass through our airports.The fact is that today we number slightly more than 9 million (against 28 million in Toronto).In fact, except for a few night flights, the Montreal area never needed a second airport, and all of Mirabel's activities could easily be absorbed by Dorval.Furthermore, for the past 25 years of Mirabel's existence, almost everyone has continued to choose Dorval, guided by pragmatic decisions and at times substantial investments, rather than some theoretical planning exercise.When it inaugurated Mirabel in 1975, the federal government did not close Dorval.The governments of Quebec and Canada never completed the highway links that would have allowed Mirabel to be better served.They also never invested in a rapid rail link to downtown, an indispensable element for such a remotely located airport.A major part of the aeronautics industry, which makes abundant use of airport infrastructures, has developed around Dorval.Bombardier has even installed plants between Dorval's two runways while others, such as CAE, Rolls Royce and Air Canada’s major maintenance workshops, have set up near Dorval, where together, they employ over 20,000 aerospace workers.Freight forwarders and other suppliers of airport-related services have also set up in large numbers in and around Dorval.On the West Island alone, 73,000 jobs depend on the presence of an airport.Any attempt to uproot these employees to another location would raise quite a stir.Finally, when offered the choice between Mirabel and Dorval, all the airlines with regular commercial flights opted to set up at Dorval.A charter flight operator even turned to the courts for the right to fly out of Dorval! All the signs show that Mirabel was a costly error, a fact acknowledged by almost the entire metropolitan region.The best thing to do now is to continue working together to ensure the maintenance and development of Mirabel as an airport focussed on charter flights, logistics and distribution.ADM is working diligently to this end, with continuous support from all the economic agencies, especially Montréal International and Tourisme Montréal, which are actively promoting and marketing Mirabel.But for the next few decades, Dorval will remain the airport of choice, the only one that in the short term and at a reasonable cost offers the opportunity to revive airport activity by becoming a hub that adequately serves our high-tech, export, tourism and business tourism industries, along with all the other users.We must therefore not delay in implementing the investment project recently announced by ADM, and avoid being drawn into a debate that seeks above all to delay Dorval's expansion to the benefit of Mirabel.We put an end to this debate four years ago when regular flights were deregulated.But more than that, for the past 25 years all our decision-makers have attempted to do the same whenever they had the opportunity by making decisions that clearly confirmed their preference for Dorval.The time to act is now.Pierre Laferrière BUSINESS TOURISM.Continued from page 2 generate is estimated at US$50 billion, or, in other terms, they generate one million jobs and sell 18 million airplane seats and 50 million hotel rooms.As points out Pierre Bellerose of Tourism Montreal, it is "easier to obtain statistical data on participants in conventions or trade shows and exhibitions, because they are group activities.And for that same reason, it is easier to interact with them," that is, to influence their decisions and their behaviour as tourists.The idea is to encourage them to come back to Montreal."Individual tourism is more subject to fluctuate according to economic conditions," adds Bellerose."For the time being, individual tourism is quite healthy, as it reflects the conditions in our main markets - Ontario and the Northeastern United States - where the economy is in good shape, as we know.But this does not make it any easier to study individual tourism." Expansion of the Palais des Congrès Conventions and expositions make up a significant portion of Montreal's economy.For example, in its 1998-1999 season, the Palais des Congrès hosted over 200 events that brought a net inflow of $170 million in the city's economy.When a call for tenders was launched for the extension of the Palais in March last year, Louise Harel, Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and the Metropolis, pointed out that "American conventions to be held here until the year 2005 will be generating cash inflows of $55 million more every year and they will contribute to creating 1,000 more jobs in the Montreal tourism industry." While Montreal already occupies the top spot in Canada and is number 3 among big cities in North America — behind New York and Washington — dossier Montreal's Quartier International.The benefits are already materializing, as eight conventions were directly attracted by the Palais expansion.They have been confirmed and they will bring 38,000 conventioneers to Montreal where they will spend close to $75 million.The extension will increase the Palais' surface by 70,000 sq.metres, for a total of 125,000 sq.m., says its new president and general manager Paul Saint-Jacques."This is the result of a rather vast consensus among the entire Montreal community, and especially in tourism and business circles." The Palais is to be fully renovated and it will be geared to take in two large conventions simultaneously and to accommodate twice as many visitors as before.It will, says Saint-Jacques, "consolidate the Palais' leadership in the large international convention markets, increase the number of major North American conventions coming to the metropolis, stimulate the tourism industry, reinforce Montreal's international reputation and stature and rebuild the link between downtown and the Old Montreal area." When the extension of the Palais des Congrès was announced in September 1997, Paul Saint-Jacques’ predecessor, François Lebrun, said that "If we’re expanding, the purpose is to double the usable exhibition surface.What we want is to attract American exhibitions right here, because that is what's most profitable.A single American convention — and this is an interesting piece of data — brings in twice as much as a major international convention: $6 million instead of $3 million, and the exhibition makes the difference.Now, this is the actual market we are focusing on." In fact, a "widespread" market study undertaken by KPMG in 1996 found that the large convention market, and espe- Economic spin-offs of the Palais des congrès de Montréal's expansion Average 1992-1996 Projected 2001-2002 Projections 2005 Additional conferences Total economic spin-offs I Total expenditures by ! delegates, partici-; pants and exhibitors in Quebec $173.7 M $187.5 M + $54.6 M $242.1 M i Number of jobs : created in the : tourism industry (person-years) 3,202 3,456 + 1,020 4,476 : Tax and special-tax revenues Quebec government $25.9 $28 M + $8.2 M $36.2 M Tax and special-tax : revenues Federal government $21.6 M $23.3 M + $6.6 M $29.9 M Source: Société du Palais des congrès de Montréal, 1998 in the international convention market, it will be in a position to consolidate this preeminence.The long-awaited expansion of the Palais des Congrès will be completed in the spring 2002.It represents an investment of $240 million in taxpayer money and it will become a major landmark of cially conventions organized by our friends south of the 45th parallel, held "attractive potential" for Montreal, but on the one condition that the Palais be Continued on page 8 Leadership Montréal 4 May 2000 activity partner : Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal Ü^Üi mm COMMERCE ness 2000 ANNUAL BENEFIT GOLF TOURNAMENT Shotgun and Vegas formula Gifts for everyone, prizes, trophies, etc.This year, to have the chance to win an additional prize of $250, you need to register before March 31.2000.Shine up your clubs, the year 2000 brings the return of a new golf season, and along with it one of the first tournaments of the season.Price: member $195 non-member $280 (Plus GST 7% and QST 7.5%) For information and registration: Line Leblond (514) 871-4000, ext 4001 Would you like to be involved with this successful event as a sponsor?Different types of sponsorships are available: ¦* a • Brunch • Trophies • Door prizes • Holes Please contact Johanne Gagné at (514) 871-4000, ext 4016 Videotron Business Network : CASE Édifice Somrrtar 8150, boul.Métropolitain Est Bureau 250 Anjou, Québec.Canada Tèl.: (5t4) 351-7878 Poste 15 Fax ;(514) 351-7545 SYGERTECH MANAGEMENT DE LA TECHNOLOGIE Tore Samek, B Sc„ MBA Associé / Partner t.samek#sygerteeh.com wwwnygertech.com W I C Montreal The World Bank & the Inter-American Development Bank y| Banking, loans and financial market reforms June 14 to 16,2000 The World Trade Centre Montréal and Team Canada Inc, in collaboration with the International Trade Centre of Industry Canada, are pleased to invite you to take part in their next trade mission to the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C.Exploring new international business opportunities This awareness mission is designed specifically for companies and organizations that want to know more about the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank and how they operate.During this mission, the WTC Montréal will put you in contact with decisionmakers and industry experts at the WB and the IDB who will acquaint you with the way they conduct business and award contracts.Financial markets reforms and reinforcement in emerging countries More than ever, financial market reforms and reinforcement in emerging countries are given substantial support from multilateral development banks in terms of investments.More specifically, at the World Bank, in 1999, the financial sector has attracted the most important amount of investments: 23% of all loans, the equivalent of US $6.6 billion.The Inter-American Development Bank also invests heavily in the financial sector.In 1998, state reform and modernization projects, within which lies the financial reform sector, received US $3.8 billion in investments, the equivalent of 38% of all loans.The emerging importance of this sector at the multilateral development banks can be attributed to the recent financial crises that have shattered Asian, Russian and South American economies and that have demonstrated the urgent need for viable financial systems and institutions in order to sustain a durable economic development.Therefore, reforms in banking systems and financial markets have become a priority for the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.Consequently, the different projects have the following objectives in common: ¦ Regulating and monitoring banking and financial markets; ¦ Improving financial institution management; ¦ Creating legal structures for privatization; ¦ Making credit accessible to middle and low income populations.To participate or to get more information on this trade mission: Information Sylvain Bouffard (514) 849-8310/1-877-590-4040 sbouffard@wtcmontreal.com www.wtcmontreal.com Leadership Montréal 5 May 2000 Partner: p e c i a I Major partner: Développement Canada Economie I ¦ économique Canada Development Canada Continued from page 1 GREAT MONTREALERS.Sponsors: Bourse ¦•••• ' de Montréal I Caisse i dépôt ; et placement : du Québec ?SECOR bers, after careful consideration, select the four new Great Montrealers.An illustrious 2000 The list of 2000 laureates is illustrious indeed.The Great Montrealers 2000 selected this year are prominent figures, pillars of Quebec society.indeed, people who are larger than life.These four Great Montrealers will be honoured on the evening of June 8, 2000: ECONOMICS - Jean C.Monty Jean C.Monty is everywhere: telephone, computers, Internet, cellular telephones, pagers, and still more.His strategy involves converging all the networks and technologies to offer the largest array of products possible to consumers.Jean Monty has both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in economics from the University of Western Ontario, as well as an MBA from the University of Chicago.He was appointed president and chief executive officer of BCE in 1998, and is also chief executive officer of Bell Canada and chairman of the board of BCE Mobile Communications.Jean Monty is an influential figure in the Quebec business landscape: for the second year running his name has topped the list of Revue Commerce’s annual ranking of the 50 most influential business leaders in Quebec.His commitment in business and to community life has earned him membership in the Order of Canada.CULTURAL - Andrée Lachapelle Andrée Lachapelle is a pillar of Quebec theatre.Beginning her career as an actress in repertory theatre in 1952, this woman, whose first love is the stage, has had a career filled with unforgettable moments.She has helped stage the plays of many Quebec playwrights and has acted in numerous miniseries on television and at Radio-Canada radio.Her career also extends to the big screen, where she regularly collaborates with budding artists.A seasoned performer and one of the most respected dramatic actors in Quebec, Andrée Lachapelle continues to have a remarkable career in theatre.She was the first president of the Conseil québécois du théâtre and she is an ambassador for Quebec designers.For the past several years she has been a member of the Comité de diffusion des arts carcéraux (prison arts committee) and is actively involved in inmate assistance programs.SOCIAL - Maurice Richard Who hasn’t heard of Maurice Richard?Born in the Montreal neighbourhood of Bordeaux, Maurice began playing hockey at the age of eleven, but it wasn’t long before he left the minor league behind.He turned professional at the age of 21 and in 1942 joined the National Hockey League, playing for the Montreal Canadiens until his retirement in 1960.A passionate, determined scrappy player who was quick to defend both himself and his teammates, the “Rocket” soon became a living legend.Many records of the illustrious number 9 have never been broken.He remains one of the greatest hockey players of all time.Maurice Richard has been awarded countless trophies, and his name was added to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972.Beyond that, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1967.SCIENCE - Jacques Genest Dr.Genest is founder of the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, which has earned an international repu- Continued on page 9 ' Economie Ai ¦ ?in g the World Daring Exporters 1*1 Développement économique Canada Canada Economie Development Canada Proud to be associated with jthe 20th edition of the Mercuriades, Canada Economic Development supports Quebec enterprise^ in their search for new markets.Canada Economic Development congratulates all the companies which, in die past 20 years, have particularly distinguished theijnselves for their dynamism, the originality of their innovations and their growing presence on world markets.Leadership Montréal 6 May 2000 - committee TRANSPORTING PEOPLE AND MERCHANDISE: ORIENTATIONS 2000 By Martine Plaziag In 1993, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal ratified orientations in the area of transportation and drafted a memorandum that has since guided its positions in this regard.The Transportation committee, on which some 40 businessmen and women from all areas of transportation sit, revised and updated the Board of Trade's orientations, which were adopted at its March 29 board of directors meeting.Overview of the situation For companies in the metropolitan area, the transportation of goods and services is gaining increasing importance: the advent of new technologies has added new pressure due to faster delivery time and increasingly demanding customers who want their goods immediately.As well, many business people contend with traffic snarls on a daily basis.Indeed, in 1997 the Minister of Transport assessed the cost of road congestion at $502 million, $401 million of which was attributed to lost time.As for existing infrastructures, the airports and port of Montreal play a critical role in the development of the metropolitan region, since between 35% and 40% of the Quebec economy depends on exports.However, because of reductions in the transportation budget both at the federal, provincial and municipal levels, our infrastructures have been progressively deteriorating.It is thus estimated that over 30% of the road network under the Quebec Transport Minister’s authority fails to meet the standards set by the Department itself.Municipal infrastructures are also eroding due to an aging network and municipalities that have cut back their contributions to transit corporations.Under the Kyoto Accords, the Canadian government undertook to reduce greenhouse gases by 15 percent.As it stands, the budget allocated to upgrade the existing network is not enough to achieve this goal.The Board of Trade considers that a number of complementary measures must be added, including: a change in behaviour and in the way things are done; ¦ development of infrastructures and mass transit services; ¦ a sustained and ongoing effort to maintain existing infrastructures in good repair; ¦ a more rational approach in the selection of new infrastructures.Changing the way we do things ¦ The first change is in the area of investments, which should not be approved before the project in question has undergone a rigorous economic analysis.¦ The Board of Trade’s second recommendation is that the government turn more often to the private sector for services.Many forms of public-private partnerships exist that will still allow the government to retain a measure of control.¦ The Board of Trade also suggests that the demand for transportation be evened out through incentive measures and in some cases control mechanisms aimed at users of all types of transportation.¦ Beyond that, the Board of Trade favours the development of new mass transit infrastructures.There are many projects, all of which must be adapted to local circumstances, whether they require a minimal investment or costly outlays, such as metro and light train infrastructure projects.All projects must be subject to a rigorous economic analysis.¦ Moreover, the Board of Trade insists that investments be made in the short term to maintain the existing network in good repair with a view not only to ensuring the safety of users but also to save money in the short term: repairs always cost less when they are carried out on a regular basis.Conclusion The Board of Trade considers that: all levels of government should increase transportation investments, and if this is not possible, private financing should be sought; ¦ all projects should be subject to a rigorous economic analysis based on recognized accepted parameters; ¦ the results of these economic analyses should be made public; ¦ the service offering should be open to outside competition; ¦ equipment and infrastructure planning and the determination of service levels should come under the authority of the governments.Minister Chevrette s Transportation Plan On April 11, Minister Chevrette unveiled his long-awaited Transportation Plan.The Board of Trade subsequently issued a press release praising an excellent planning effort that contained well-targeted investments.Indeed, the Minister’s plan meets several of the evaluation criteria developed by the Board of Trade's Transportation committee: sufficient justification of projects ¦ an exhaustive analysis ¦ financing means ¦ an outline of the spin-offs and effects of the projects.However, the Board of Trade reaffirms its desire to see more detailed cost/ben- efit studies conducted for certain projects so as to ensure that the goals of the targeted clientele are met and that the substantial investments are justified.¦ PROJECT EVALUATION GRID RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF TRADE 1.Prerequisite conditions: provide a general justification of the need; ensure the technical feasibility of the solutions; ensure appropriate financing means.2.Cost/benefit analysis: Costs: assets (less residual value), maintenance, operation, attendant costs.¦ Direct benefits: savings in time and in turnover, operating and parking expenses, as well as less accidents.¦ Indirect benefits: time savings for other users, environment, urban development, etc.(congestion, parking, territory use, air and water pollution, noise, waste, municipal services).¦ Evaluation parameters: analysis and discount rate.¦ Economic efficiency criteria: net present value and internal rate of return.iOOC 3.Financial analysis: ¦ costs: property, maintenance, operating, financing (interest and dividends), taxes and income tax.¦ Receipts: sale of tickets and passes, tolls and other revenues (commercial aspect).¦ Parameters: means of financing, financing rate, term.¦ Criteria: net present value and internal rate of return.4.Studies of spin-offs and effects: ¦ On construction and operations: support to employment, production, revenues, effect on taxes, exports.¦ On development: catalyst for growth and a means of attracting new economic activity.For everyone who chooses the unbeaten path Harnessing new opportunities demands rigorous commitment.That’s why BDC offers innovative financial products to companies that have a strategic position in high-tech and emerging markets.Whatever your phase of development, our team of versatile professionals can help you grow, even in uncharted territory.To implement winning strategies both here and abroad and to achieve your full potential, call on your BDC investment specialists today! 1 888 INFO BDC / www.bdc.ca Canada £ BDC Business Development Bank of Canada In Business For Small Business Leadership Montréal 7 May 2000 partner dossier \ S ., Continued from page 4 BUSINESS TOURISM.enlarged.The study went on top say that 40% of all these conventions were going to require more space than currently available at the Palais.Five years from now, the Palais' objective will be to go and get 15% of the overall American market in Canada, and at the same time, it will be able to take in more Canadian and Quebec conventions and exhibitions.Therefore, the Palais des Congrès will be in a better position benefit from a weak Canadian dollar to attract American and European conventioneers and to convince Canadians and Quebecers to come to Montreal hold their conventions.New hotel construction One good indicator of Montreal's economic well-being is that real estate is doing well.Suffice to mention, among other signs, the construction underway at Cité du Multimédia and the transformation of the Forum into a mega amusement centre.Many other sectors are performing quite strongly, including the pharmaceutical industry, aerospace, the biotechnologies, engineering, infogaph-ics.Also, the film industry is working with some of the world's major stars, many events and festival, including the Formula 1 Grand Prix attract the jet set and turn the city as a choice destination, thus giving it even more appeal.As a consequence, the hotel offering in Montreal will be widened.Pierre Bellerose, of Tourism Montreal, quotes data from Hospitality Valuation Services International emphasizing that the Metropolitan area is benefiting from four major transactions (including the Westin on Sherbrooke Street that became the Mont-Royal Omni) for a total of 865 million.Another 8100 million or so must be added to account for renovation spending at a number of hotels: "We have identified seven new projects in Old Montreal, which is quite obviously the top choice location for tourists.This will add 500 rooms by the year 2005, mostly in romantic-type establishments." All studies agree that accommodation and restaurants are the prime beneficiaries of the spending generated by conventions.These two sectors account for 52% of tourism jobs, over 40% of the industry's payroll and one-third of its value-added."The hotel industry is experiencing strong levels of activity," comments Gilles Larivière, a Montreal- based Horwath associate."Just look at all the ongoing renovations, the new projects, an overall improved performance and higher real estate valuations.The industry is being revitalized and, as such, it attracts new brand names and new sources of financing, and it reacts more quickly to shifting consumer preferences.It may also launch itself into technological innovation." We can add that the industry will also be in a better position to meet the requirements of business travellers.Montreal's image The popularity of Montreal as a destination has been steadily growing over the last few years, both with business and leisure travellers.According to a recent study by Smith Travel Research, performance indicators show an unbroken improvement trend since 1994.Hotel revenue should top the 81.6 billion mark this year, including 81 billion coming out of the wallet of the so-called "international" tourists.The Metropolis' hotel inventory includes 24,000 rooms distributed across all categories, in 250 hotels.The average occupancy rate rose from 63.3% in 1996 to 65.6% in 1997 or the highest occupancy rate since 1998.Then, it rose further to 70.8% last year.Moreover, the big winners are the high-end, luxury hotels, those business travellers prefer.The average room price rose by 7.4% (to 8116 as compared to 8108 in 1998).Nevertheless, Montreal remains one of the international destinations where accommodation is less costly.In December 1998, the Guide to Daily Travel Prices published by Runzheimer Canada placed Montreal on top of the list of North American cities where daily travel expenditures are lowest (at US 8142), far ahead of New York (US 8342), San Francisco (US 8262) and even Vancouver (US 8161) and Denver (US 8158).Besides the extension of the Palais des Congrès, other factors are already having an impact on the flows of tourists in Montreal, especially where business travellers are concerned.Among these, the consolidation of regular flights at Dorval Airport (where 8500 million will be invested by 2004 for the purpose of Continued on page 10 ELECTRONIC COMMERCE INSTITUTE - TRAINING PROGRAM MAY 2000 9 Technical aspects I: X12 standards and mapping 10-11 Technical aspects II: components and integration to management information systems 17 Implementing EDI over the Internet 24 a.m.(Québec) Introduction à VEDI (in French) 24 p.m.(Québec) Implantation de l’EDI sur Internet (in French) 25 (Québec) Implantation de VEDI (in French) call us Implementing Financial EDI (820) call us Implementing the Advance Ship Notice (856) call us Introduction to EDIFACT Standard JUNE 2000 7 a.m.Marketing for the electronic commerce 7 p.m.Electronic commerce and exportation Information: (514) 840-1288 Ï I E ! " Institut du commerce électronique Electronic Commerce Institute Pierre Langelier, president and general manager, Electronic Commerce Institute THE INTERNET - A VENUE TOR IMPORTS AND EXPORTS In foreign trade a host of rules apply, whether the goods are physical, industrial, virtual or consumer.In all cases, the Internet can make things easier.All you have to know is what this technology can do for you.Veteran exporters and importers are familiar with the vast number of laws and constraints governing foreign trade.These merchants routinely carry out property transfers, obtain export certificates and licenses and deal with customs brokers, carriers and shipping agents.All this entails a mountain of paperwork, usually by hand.The advent of e-commerce is changing all that.The Net makes traditional operations easier, and three sectors are showing serious interest: customs brokers, credit companies and buyers’ and sellers’ intermediary sites.Customs brokers “For example, customs broker Fritz Starber offers its customers software that allows them to complete and forward forms on the Internet,” states Claude Riopel, senior advisor at the Electronic Commerce Institute.“This allows them to avoid critical errors in transcribing information.For example, if a container arrives at port labelled as weighing 3,000 kilos but the invoice doesn’t match, indicating 3,900 kilos for instance, the goods won’t be moved.It can be very costly to store the container, and even more so if it contains perishables.” Credit companies Other initiatives are beginning to emerge with a view to making things easier for companies negotiating abroad.Credit companies Thomas Cook and American Express, for example, now offer international payment services online.Once two companies regularly doing business with each other have established a relationship of trust, the Internet becomes the intermediary, with its technology acting as the border.Credit companies such as AMEX and Thomas Cook handle the transfer of funds according to the exchange rate.Sellers’ and buyers’ intermediary sites Other sites are positioning themselves as intermediaries between companies with needs and others that can meet these needs.Virtual fairs or markets bring together buyers and sellers from different countries, for example, www.virtualtradelink.com and www.wand.com.You can now find suppliers or new markets for your products with just a few clicks of your mouse.Dematerialization - a new concept When exported goods are virtual, which means they can be sold digitally and simply travel between two computers, they can cross borders with no one’s knowledge.The network itself becomes the method of delivery.However, this type of export involves new legal risks.To whom does the intellectual property of a digital book belong?What type of document establishes the contract between two parties?An e-mailed purchase order can easily be altered.Is there proof of a transaction in the event of a dispute?Companies must understand that e-commerce is somewhat different from traditional business.“Still, the Internet is not on another planet,” says attorney Eric Dunberry, a partner at Ogilvy Renault.“Because a product is virtual doesn’t mean that it’s not governed by laws.Certain goods cannot be traded between two countries, for example, encryption software, and you must respect tax, fiscal and customs regulations.” Mr.Dunberry points out that many international treaties exist and that a company intent on exporting to other countries must be familiar with the laws of the destination country since they may differ from our own.In light of this new way of doing business, the Electronic Commerce Institute will soon offer a training course on e-commerce and exports.(See p.10 of this issue for details.) ¦ Leadership Montréal 8 May 2000 p e c i Continued from page 6 GREAT MONTREALERS.tation for its research and discoveries.Doctor Genest is also a professor of medicine at Université de Montréal and McGill University.A pioneer and an innovator in clinical research, Doctor Genest founded the first bio-medical research department in a French teaching hospital in Quebec.He was also the founder and first president of the Conseil de la recherche en santé du Québec.And beyond that, he opened the first Centre for bio-ethics in Canada.The author of major works and important discoveries on hypertension, Dr.Genest has over 700 major publications to his credit.Awarded a doctorate honoris causa on twelve separate occasions, he is also a Companion of the Order of Canada and Grand Officer of the Ordre national du Québec.Gala 2000.an impressive program Montreal Mayor Pierre Bourque and the Honourable Martin Cauchon, Secretary of State at Economic Development Canada will be the honorary co-chairs of the evening, to be held at the Delta Hotel downtown.President of the Board of Trade Pierre Laferrière and Albert Miliaire, president of the Academy of Great Montrealers will also be present.WANTED FOUR PAID JOBS FOR OUTSTANDING STUDENT AWARD "GOLD" MEDALISTS This year’s Gala will be a departure from previous years: a chamber music ensemble from the Montreal Symphony Orchestra will play for your listening pleasure, and a Cirque du Soleil entertainer will dazzle everyone with his diabolo tricks.Add to all this a cocktail, a five-course gourmet meal with wine and after-dinner drinks and you have all the ingredients for a wonderful evening in the company of well-known personalities from the business, science and cultural world.And what about succession?Concerned with succession, the Academy of Great Montrealers takes advantage of the annual gala to award to three PhD graduates from Montreal universities or affiliated schools a $5,000 scholarship for excellence in research.To attend We invite you to join us at this memorable evening when the Board of Trade pays homage to four new Great Montrealers.Admission for members is $185.To reserve, please contact Line Leblond at (514) 871-4000, local 4001; or by e-mail at lleblond@ccmm.qc.ca.¦ The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is pleased to announce the seventeenth edition of the Outstanding Student Awards Program for secondary V and vocational training students registered in Greater Montreal schools.The goal of this competition is to acknowledge and promote excellence among young people.The Board of Trade jury will select three winners in each of the following four categories: Arts, Vocational Training, Science/Math, and Humanities/Languages.The four gold medalists will receive a $1,000 bursary and a summer job with a Board of Trade member company.We are now looking for these jobs.The hiring period should cover all five-day weeks during the months of July and August, 1999.In return for offering a paid job to one of the four winners, the company will benefit from the following exposure: at the name of the hiring company will be announced at the award ceremony during the business luncheon on May 11; at it will be listed in the program for the ceremony, which all contest finalists will be invited to attend; it and it will be included in a photoreport of the event published in Leadership Montréal.at The company will also receive two free tickets to the business luncheon.A Board of Trade working committee composed largely of representatives of Greater Montreal’s education community has confirmed that this competition has a very positive impact on the finalists who learn, through their meeting with the jury, that the business community is a dynamic and welcoming milieu.You can only benefit from your participation in this competition serving to acknowledge and promote the excellence of our young people.For more information or to offer a job.contact Nathalie Geoffroy at (514) 871-4000, extension 4009.¦ fP} Desjardins QUEBECOR INC.VIA Rail Canada HI ERNST & YOUNG mx\t s&iette .mm WÊÊm STANDARD LIFE A Leadership Montréal 9 May 2000 dossier Continued from page 8 BUSINESS TOURISM.supporting a major increase in the number of direct domestic, continental and international routes), and the keyed-up promotional campaigns in the U.S.market touting Montreal as a destination.There is also another non-negligible element: Montreal is an attractive product.In its Guide à l'intention des congressistes, the Association des Évaluations Environnementales, that held its most recent convention in Montreal, delivered the following profile of the city formerly known as Ville-Marie: "Montreal is a city of contrast, a fascinating mix of history and contemporary living and, as such, it is an ideal gateway to North America.An international hub, Montreal is home to many consulates, foreign trade missions, international organizations and multinational corporations.Recognized on a world scale for its dynamic and rich cultural life, the city opens up on the St-Lawrence River and the vast surrounding open space." This is the kind of statement and spirit the Official planner’s guide (a convention planner guide that can be found at www.tourisme-montreal.org), published by Tourism Montreal since 1985, uses to attract conventions, symposiums, exhibitions, fairs and business meetings.The guide says Montreal is a "welcoming" city.It introduces its restaurants and describes Montreal's "Culinary Art", its landmarks, its cultural and sports events, its festivals, its shopping experience."Not all tourism clienteles have the same perception of the city," explains Pierre Bellerose."For the French, for example, Montreal is a ‘human-scale’ city and a pleasant surprise in North America.English Canadians view it as the country's Fun City.Our American neighbours are drawn by the city's history, culture and cuisine.They see it as a French speaking city, very clean, where they feel quite safe.And Quebecers see Montreal as the metropolis of the arts and the place for shopping.Each group, including business travellers, discovers and visits Montreal in their own way." All of this is a good reason to work toward the economic vitality of Montreal.A distinctive image must be developed for the city in order to help target various types of clientele.We must implement all appropriate means to get in touch with these prospective tourists and to convince them.Then we must get them to come again."A festive, convivial city, Montreal is also a creative, imaginative, enterprising city, says Charles Lapointe.This city is a pool of talent and knowledge in high tech, transportation and communications, pharmaceutical production and research, the visual and performing arts, pop music.We must impress the mark of Montreal in the mind of both leisure and business tourists." "The real challenge," pointed out Steven Hacker, the president of IAEM at the occasion of the Palais des Congrès' Washington liaison office opening day ceremonies in May 1997, "is to forecast and anticipate change, both with technologies and state of mind.This is the best way to have more clients — more satisfied clients." "Tomorrow starts today," said the sage.¦ activities SEMINAR PRESENTED BY THE ELECTRONIC COMMERCE INSTITUTE EXPORTING THROUGH CYBER-MARKETS The Internet is creating a wide range of new possibilities that managers of most export firms should know about.This seminar will present you with useful "tricks" to know, avenues to explore, and pitfalls to avoid when using Internet technology to support your marketing activities.Date: May 16, 2000 Place: Delta Montréal Hotel 475 President-Kennedy Avenue Opus 1 Room Time: 8:30 a.m.to noon Cost: Member: 875 (+ 7% GST + 7.5% QST) = 886.27 Non-member: 8110 (+7% GST + 7.5% QST) = 8126.53 Reservation by fax: (514) 871-5971 Information: Nolie Imprévert -(514) 871-4000, ext.4020 E-mail: nimprevert@ccmm.qc.ca I What HEWLETT* W!HÆ PACKARD LmmIZÜsImÜüS NORTEL NETWORKS Québec «« Industrie et Commerce In the new economy there’s one thing more important than the answers.The questions."How can a company with no assets and no profits be worth millions of dollars more than we are?" "How come our most loyal customers are now buying online with some dotcom start-up?" "Are you worth what you think?" With so many answers being promised in the new economy, make sure you’re armed with the right questions.All the right questions www.arthurandersen.com Arthur Andersen Assurance • Business Consulting • Corporate Finance • eBusiness • Human Capital • Legal Services* • Outsourcing • Risk Consulting • Tax Services *Legal services are not offered in Canada due to Canadian regulations © 2000 Arthur Andersen.All rights reserved.Leadership Montréal 10 May 2000 forum Continued from page 3 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.Interesting fact: The CEFRIO study has shown that use of technologies does not vary much on a regional basis (in fact, due to the margin for error in the survey's results, there may well be no regional differences at all).However, there are regional variations in the use of the Internet by individuals.PERCENTAGE RATE OF WIRED COMPANIES (10 employees and mare) INDIVIDUALS REPORTING RECENT INTERNET USE (within the past week) (Census metropolitan areas) Montreal 62% Montreal 40% Quebec city 57% Quebec city 38% Other cities* 57% Western Quebec 27% Rest of Quebec 53% Eastern Quebec 29% Central Quebec 28% * Chicoutimi, Jonquière, Hull, Ottawa, Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke Source: CEFRIO, 2000.their business patterns and that results in increasingly integrated functions."Companies must not hesitate a minute to go and get help from the best possible strategists.This is a complex turning point which offers amazing opportunities.To seize them and steer toward the right direction, companies must be able to anticipate the structural change caused in their industry by the Internet," concludes Mr.Samek."It is true that, while everyone is taking about e-commerce, too few actually do it in Quebec," confirms Pierre Lange-lier, president and general manager of the Electronic Commerce Institute (ECI), whose mission is to raise the awareness and teach business managers about e-commerce.It is a well-known fact that Quebec is lagging behind.A study undertaken during the summer of 1999 by CEFRIO (Centre francophone de recherche en informatisation des organisations) on the use of IT by businesses in Quebec has shown Quebec companies to be largely absent from the Web.Approximately only one-third of the Quebec companies having ten employees or more have their own Web site.Brigitte Poussart, a CEFRIO researcher, points out that while two thirds of the companies who have a Web site used an outside firm to build it, 60% of them have spent less than $5,000 on it.Therefore, these Web sites are often nothing more than an online display window.E-commerce enabled Web sites are even less common: only 5.1% of Quebec companies having ten employees or more offer online ordering, and only 2.8% let the customer pay online.And unfortunately, Quebec Web sites are seldom a strategic communication tool for the companies operating them: most (56%) of these Web sites are updated less that once a month; only one-quarter (24%) provide value-added information (articles, chat rooms, etc.); finally, only 37% monitor their traffic and study the visitor statistical data.However, a number of the “wired” companies (i.e., those with Internet access but not necessarily their own Web site) did report a positive impact on their business: 54% of the wired companies said the Internet had a significant impact on the exchange of information with their clients and their suppliers; 37% saw a significant, positive impact on customer satisfaction; 32% said they increased their number of clients (while 39% of the companies with a Web site said so); and finally, 26% confirmed that the Internet made a significant contribution to their sales growth.However, business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce, or e-tailing, remains but a fraction of all commercial activity taking place on the Internet.In fact, in 1998, 80% of e-commerce was of the business-to-business (B2B) type.International Data Corp.(Canada) Ltd.said that the total value of online transactions in Canada, including all categories, reached $4.54 billion in 1998.IDC expects that figure to reach as much as $67.7 billion in 2003.The next B2B wave is already upon small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).In order to do business with large corporations, their sub-contractors must stay in tune.Therefore, the complete supply chain, all the way from the initial producer to the consumer and end-user will be transformed by e-business."E-business," says Pierre Langelier of the Electronic Commerce Institute, "is the integration of existing systems, both upstream and downstream.It is a means of establishing a direct link between the employees, the sales force and the clients and to update at all times the information on stocks, accounting and orders.Therefore, it is very important to revise all internal processes, and not only the external functions and relationships.” To meet the challenge, the Institute offers training courses and a listing of suppliers and services.The ECI is focused on helping managers in their thinking by providing them with unbiased and objective information.The Institute has a library at the disposal of its members and it offers SMBs its technical support.This past fall, the ECI published a guide under the title Le commerce électronique à l'intention de la PME (E-commerce for SMBs) by Valli-er Lapierre.The content of this reference book is available on the Internet at www.institut.qc.ca.It includes an overview of the situation and provides leads for companies to develop their own solutions.Convergence and partnerships In both the field of software development and that of consulting services, the IT industry seems to follow a logic of convergence (and of ever-increasing sophistication) of its products, that often prompts industry players to seek and establish strategic partnerships.Meanwhile, R&D remains a vital function, but it is sometimes too expensive for a single company to undertake.The mission of the Centre de recherche informatique de Montréal (CRIM) consists precisely in participating in the socio-economic and industrial development taking place in IT and in computer applications, through R&D activities, the transfer of expertise and technologies, establishing strategic alliances, linking industry participants, monitoring technological development and evolution and training human resources.To achieve its objectives, the CRIM works in association with partners in the private sector and with university research facilities and other centres of industrial research.In particular, the CRIM operates an Applied Software Engineering Centre whose mission is to give access to the best practices.The CRIM's main areas of research are: telecommunications and networks; speech recognition; image recognition; human/machine interface; intelligent agents; interface engineering.Last fall, the CRIM opened a Software Testing Centre devoted to analyzing the quality of software.Software testing is a specialized and expensive task for innovative companies that often lack the required resources to complete it.Yves Sanssouci, CEO of the CRIM, is absolutely convinced that "Technology must serve humanity, not the other way Continued on page 12 æÜHJÜ network time sheet & ,• The Latest rr ^ Technology Now Brings More Flexibility ”We know our projects costs so easily! cess to it from anywhere.little training v/as required! J jJJ 'fha aaslest m.IbJa time £> axpM 1 J \£SJ3S3 Accessible via Internet Integrated to your Intranet Simple & user-friendly interface Simplified profit & loss analysis Connectivity with your accounting system ÏÏ95 Simple & easy integration R Secured interface Facilitated project management Multilingual application Corporate identity integration option Customized statistics & reports Ready for use package available ¦ • Contact one of our account directors now and discover hov/ this new technology can improve your productivity.1-888-548-2224 (514) 866-2224 Leadership Montréal 11 May 2000 forum Continued from page 11 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.around." One of the CRIM's projects Sanssouci is most enthusiastic about is Retsoft, an imaging process with which it is possible to make a safe diagnostic of diabetes-induced retinopathy from a remote location.This project was born out of collaboration between the CRIM, the Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital and university scientists.It involved one full year of research and required #1.1 million in financing.This is a typical example of the kind of project the CRIM is looking for.At the CRIM, research must evolve into technologies that can be transferred over the short-term.Sometimes, these technologies are so promising that the CRIM will spin-off a new company.Such was the case with Locus Dialogue (a company specializing in speech recognition technologies) and Simlog (a company that was started by the employees of the computerized industrial processes unit specializing in the development of real-time graphic simulators for training heavy machinery operators).Several research projects are also underway with regard to mobility and human/machine interfaces.The CRIM benefits from the vast pool of knowledge available in the Metropolitan region, and it is of invaluable help to local industry.Profile of a few local companies A consulting and development firm, DGEM develops applications that are linked to the Internet.Tyme Web, its most recent product, is a tool designed to create time sheets and expense reports.The data are archived in a database that can be accessed by SQL to generate administrative and accounting reports, using a Web interface.The solution needs little bandwidth and it is quite affordable.Therefore, the product is particularly well-suited for SMBs.DGEM is representative of a breed of smaller IT companies that design and build modular products that can be customized to fit a client's specific needs.Another company, Décisif Solutions Logiciels is betting on the increasing number of call centres related to the growth of e-commerce.The company is specializing in CTI (computer/telephony integration) software designed for intelligent call routing (ICR), call tracing, reporting, Internet integration, and interactive voice response.These products are designed to manage requests, whether they arrive by telephone, e-mail or through a Web site.A development and consulting company, Progestic, has built a partnership with Oracle, perhaps the world's but at least the U.S.best-selling data base.The company also entered into partnerships with Microsoft and IBM.Then, together with DataCHEST, it developed an integrated solution for the management of chemicals and hazardous materials.In February, the company announced it had reached an agreement with one of the main international brokerage houses for the development of a specialized insurance management system.This is a breakthrough on the U.S.market and the president of the ISO 9001 certified company (since 1997), André Malo, is quite enthusiastic about it.The company has also developed inventory management applications for Hartco, a retailer of computer components whose sales amount to #880 million annually.Progestic is also interested in e-commerce and the company is currently working on applications for the food retailing industry.Continued on page 14 WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?At CGI the answer is obvious.You see, we pride ourselves on being thorough.And, when it comes to e-business we leave no stone unturned.After all, e-commerce generates millions of dollars in revenue for our clients.And as for the picture?The painting is hanging 1/4 inch too low on the right.Precision in IT.MHil consulting/systems integration/ma nage ment of IT functions/TSE:GIB.A/NYSE:GIB/www.cgi.ca Leadership Montréal 12 May 2000 4 DVERTORIAL STATIONNEMENT DE MONTRÉAL FROM PUBLIC TO PRIVATE: A FIVE-YEAR EXPERIMENT IN THE INTEREST OF MONTREALERS “If I had to sum up the first five years of Stationnement de Montréal.I would say ‘customer satisfaction’ and ‘8100 million for Ville de Montréal’,” declared Nicolle Forget when presenting the financial statements for Stationnement de Montréal for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.Mtre.Forget, who is chairperson of Accesum Inc., the general partner of Stationnement de Montréal, was highlighting the financial contribution of Stationnement de Montréal to the City and recalling the company’s new customer-oriented approach - the real cornerstone of its strategic plan.All of the company’s employees now make customer satisfaction their primary objective.A Continuous Improvement committee has been formed, and multi-service workshops, drawing on the expertise of employees and their commitment to providing exemplary customer service, to find ways to eliminate day-to-day annoyances and propose solutions for the future.Fiscal year 1999 At the end of the last fiscal year, the company posted revenues of 826,156,851, a 5.2% increase over the previous year.In addition to the more favourable weather conditions, it was the steps taken to counter fraudulent parking meter use and the full year’s receipts from the 117 parking meters installed in November 1998 that contributed primarily to this increase.The company's expenses were 824,201,325 in 1999, up 3.9%, from the previous year.This increase resulted from an increase in payroll expenses and a higher compensation paid to Ville de Montréal.Record earnings - up 23.7% Stationnement de Montréal posted earnings of 81,955,526 in 1999, up 23.7% over 1998.Under the terms of the concession agreement, earnings are distributed as follows: 80% to Ville de Montréal, 6% to the company’s Investment Fund, and 14% to the Economic Development Fund, also known as Fonds Ville-Marie.The Fonds Ville-Marie, an initiative of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, presently devotes all its resources to lower the number of high-school dropouts in Greater Montréal.The Board of Trade receives annual compensation of 8400,000 for having set up the company and for promoting its ongoing success.This compensation also helps the Board of Trade to fulfil its mission of promoting the economic and social development of the Montreal community.Five-year review and future prospects With regard to technology, the mechanical parking meter is clearly obsolete, and the installation of new equipment is a priority.The success of a pilot project testing computerized terminals launched last winter in the Place d’Youville parking lot will be decisive.As for the company’s financial contribution, the numbers speak for themselves: more than 8100 million paid to Ville de Montréal in the first five years (843.8 million from operations and 856.8 million paid when the contract was signed).“The perspective gained over the last five years has allowed us to draw some conclusions.On the whole, our results have been positive when you consider that the Stationnement de Montréal privatization experiment was one of the first of its kind in Quebec.But some components of the agreement must be reviewed,” declared Mrs.Forget.“The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Mon- treal, Stationnement de Montréal, and Ville de Montréal have already begun looking into this matter.” To obtain a copy of the annual report and financial statements of Accesum Inc.and its affiliates, call (514) 868-3731.¦ Leadership Montréal 13 May 2000 4 forum Continued from page 14 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY."In any case, step number one consists in gaining a thorough understanding of the client company, its goals and its business processes.The issue of what does the client want to computerize or optimize is often the last item on the agenda," says Alain Dagenais, executive vice-president, consulting services, GTI Canada.One of only two companies in Canada that can boast of being a "business partner" of FileMaker, GTI has also developed a very specific expertise in Lotus Notes, which is a valuable asset in enterprise resource management.Cognicase, through its Electronic Business Solutions division, has been focusing on two specific market segments: the financial services industry (banks, brokerage houses, insurance companies, etc.), and the telecommunications industry."These are the companies that are the most advanced in this area, and they are also the most demanding.They have a lot to gain.and everything to lose," explains Carl Simard, first vice-president, Electronic Business Solutions.The direction taken by Cognicase in research and development led the company to forge alliances, among others with Microcell, in order to benefit fully from the potential born of the convergence of the Internet and wireless communications.Another Cognicase division will be active in the development and promotion of Internet portals.The end result will be inter-linked portals focused both on vertical markets and on diversified communities.In this perspective, Cognicase will develop an interest in contents as well as in technological means.Intelligent agents offer potentially unlimited applications (WebTV, Web appliances, personal communication systems)."Today, clients expect to get information exactly where, when and how they wish to have it.Also, they want to be freed from the computer.This is why we made an alliance with Samsung, a company that has developed amazing expertise in electronics miniaturization," explains Carl Simard.If the computer will be soon pushed aside by a variety of fully mobile machines, at the CRIM, Yves Sanssouci, when asked about the future orientations of research, goes further: he sees the possible gradual elimination of conventional hardware and the ever more efficient and flexible distribution of information.Then, he says, we will have real multimedia.But such development will serve to highlight even more the need for the development of high-quality content.In the meantime, one thing is granted: the new applications being created already go far beyond the new economy and they permeate many areas considered as more traditional industries.This is what is happening in agriculture, a sector where high technology becomes more pervasive every day.Montreal-based CGI, an IT services provider, is the largest in Quebec, the largest in Canada, and the fifth largest in North America.Worldwide, CGI has 10,000 employees and a clientele of 2,500 mid- to large-size companies.Growth is part of the corporate strategy."Over the past ten years, CGI's development came equally from internal growth as well as through mergers/acquisitions (20 to date)," says Serge Godin, chairman and CEO.The acquisitions are used to gain complementary strengths, new markets, and critical mass in targeted economic sectors.Another part of cor- porate strategy is to emphasize large scale, long-term (five to ten years) IT outsourcing contracts which produce earnings stability.Ronald White, director of investor and media relations, says that about 10% of revenue comes from consulting, 15% from systems integration, and 75% from IT management (outsourcing).The consulting work is basically analyzing the client's needs and designing a solution.Systems integration is not only making sure that the software and the hardware work together but also that the new system works with the existing system.Outsourcing can range from providing full management of the client's IT functions to just providing an application.The Internet has had a major effect on how businesses operate.White says that 20% of CGI's revenue (or $300 million per year) comes from Web-related activities.CGI splits its e-commerce work into four sectors: e-customer, e- Continued on page 16 THE SAME LANGUAGE GTI Canada inc.Groupe Technologies de l’information EXPERT CONSULTANTS SPECIALIZING IN COMPUTER AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY VISIT US AT www.gticanada.com TO SEE HOW YOU CAN BENEFIT FROM A WAY OF DOING BUSINESS THAT IS BASED ON YOUR PROFIT, PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT AND QUALITY OBJECTIVES.% FileMaker Business Partner 1 Micr^off Novell 1600, René-Lévesque Blvd West, suite 1160, Montreal (Quebec) Canada H3H 1P9 Telephone: (614) 937-6122 Fax: (514) 937-6140 : Being a CRIM member also meat our RSD development activities, logical watch services and ne "east of new and > Justify your strategic aore coapetitive the quality of in innovative lible for big discounts on software testing, techno-des, so you con: techno lects a win-wi • Being part of an innovative force in • Having more than 110 members, including • Having access to a multidisciplinary team of inti advisors and instructors ' lli m JB Centre de informatiqu (514) 840-1234 www.crim.ca innovation@crim.ca Leadership Montréal 14 May 2000 activities Order your FREE product demo CD today! To find out more about the benefits of the Focus CT Suite and Contact, order your FREE Product Demo CD today.a m Æ* Jfflisif Your answer for better solutions Call I-888-SI7-2929 Or visit our website at www.decisif.com/ordercd Contact is a powerful customer relationship management software that significantly improves customer interactions.Décisifs standards-based CRM products empower small to medium-sized enterprises to deploy high performance customer interaction solutions.The Focus CT Suite is a collection of CTI applications that deliver cutting-edge end-to-end call center solutions.WELCOME EVENING FOR NEW MEMBERS On February 9 the Board of Trade held its second new member orientation meeting of the season.Conducted by Jean-Luc Geha, general manager, Call Centre Solutions, Bell Professional Services, and volunteer at the Board of Trade for several years, the meeting and the reception that followed allowed new members to obtain information on how to get the most out of their membership at the Board of Trade and meet its staff in an informal setting.Networking opportunities abound at the Board of Trade, and that evening provided yet another through a drawing, in which two winners were given the opportunity to present their company to the entire audience.Raoul Côté, a member and volunteer at the Board of Trade for close to 40 years, was one of the winners.Since everyone knows Mr.Côté, he generously ceded the floor to Hélène Chapados, technical consultant at Milli-care Services Environnementaux.The second winner was Lyne Galipeau, account manager at SQ Liaison.Congratulations and welcome to all our new members.A'b.J ’ sso Networking tip* Stand out.Make yourself visible.Remember, at a network event, it’s better to be a giraffe than a zebra.If you're a new member since May 1999 and were not able to attend the two first meetings, please note that the next and final meeting of the season will take place on Wednesday, May 31, 2000.To register, please call Isabelle Scaffidi at (514) 871-4000, extension 4022.¦ * Source: Networking Know-How, by Anne Barber and Lynne Waymon.HEARTFELT THANKS TO HOTEL EUROPA ROYAL L.mii .Concrete restoration Contractor specializing in concrete work and membrane application Highrise • Terrasse Interior and exterior parking structures Hydrodemolition Les Services techniques de béton Scaram Itée Scaram Concrete Technical Services Ltd.1995 Ouest, boul.St-EIzéar, Chomedey, Laval, QC H7L 3N7 Téléphone: (450) 687-3443 Télécopieur: (450) 687-3447 Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal SPECIAL BUSINESS LUNCHEON Thursday, June 1,2000 - Noon to 2 p.m.Palais des Congrès de Montréal - 611 room 201 Viger Avenue West, Montreal John D.Wetmore President and CEO IBM Canada Ltd."Winning in the new e-Business Economy" TICKET: $50 member of the CCMM and HEC 73$ non-member Plus GST and QST RESERVATIONS: Line Leblond (514) 871-4000, ext.4001 M Manage.Anything.Anywhere." The location was unmatched and rather stylish, a most welcoming place for 200 members of the Board of Trade to gather on April 4, 2000 for the sixth "Tuesday’s business after hours" of the 1999-2000 season.To date, this series of cocktails expressly organized for members only, and usually a no-charge event, gave so far over 1,000 participants the opportunity to develop their business networks and - why not - a chance to make new friends because, well, business thrives on trust and friends are the first people you will trust, right?The Board's Marketing Team has a tip for you: Do not necessarily view your favourite business organization - your Board of Trade - as a mere reservoir of potential clients.See it as a true network that can help and support your company's development as members will publicize you by word of mouth.You will notice the difference.Several door prizes were distributed in a drawing.The flower arrangement, a gift from A la Touche Féminine, was won by Ms.Denise Lambin of Studios du Quartier Latin; the Maximizer software, a gift from CMRG, went to Mr.Jean-Paul Sigouin, of Chauffa-Tech; the winner of a half-day session in planning priorities, offered by Priorité Management, was Ms.Nicole Paré, from Desjardins; finally a Via Rail pass was won by Ms.Marie-Ange Bourdon, of Bourdon & Associés.Our warm thanks to our generous sponsors and congratulations to the winners.And now.remember May 2 at the Salon Baccarat of the Casino de Montréal! It's a date! ¦ Leadership Montréal 15 May 2000 Continued from page 14 @ INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.supplier, e-employee, and infrastructure.E-customers can be other companies or end consumers.Typical e-customer contracts would involve transactional Web sites that are integrated with the clients' existing accounts receivable, shipping, and warehousing information systems.E-supplier contracts would involve creating and/or maintaining systems that are integrated with the clients' existing purchasing and inventory information systems.E-employee contracts would involve such things as enabling employees to submit expense reports and coordinate meetings using a Web browser.Infrastructure contracts involve providing systems that are scalable, secure, and reliable.White says that careful thought by the client is required prior to implementing an e-commerce system.Solutions must fit the existing systems.He says that CGI takes off-the-shelf subsystems, adds some customization, and integrates all the parts.He says that CGI's competitive advantage is its depth of expertise.CGI understands its clients' business requirements, its clients' legacy systems, and the Internet.This understanding is key to integrating the new and the old systems.With 25 years of experience, CGI has done it before, and done it with quality.Of the very few North American IT service firms to obtain ISO 9001 certification, CGI was the first.Arthur Andersen offers consulting services based on a strict methodology, explains Roxanne Letendre, e-business manager.The firm also has access to a network of centres of expertise by industrial sectors, and a listing of best business practices.Management - and particularly marketing vice-presidents -must ask themselves a number of questions and make sometimes though decisions when the time comes to embrace e-business.At Arthur Andersen, they find advisors who share their concerns and who are able to state them in terms of technological requirements.Are these services affordable?The clients are mostly companies whose annual revenue exceeds 1125 million.Conclusion There are several factors which explain why Metropolitan Montreal is home to a cluster of leading IT competitors.It is a transportation hub, and telecommunications are both excellent and cheap.Also, there is a pool of skilled labour - even if it is fully employed.There is a local market for the output of the local firms.There are also sophisticated and demanding customers who pressure firms to improve and innovate.Among the most demanding are firms in the telecommunications and finance sectors.It is not surprising that CGI and Cognicase, two IT firms who focus on the telecommunications and finance sectors, are world-class competitors.CEFRIO aims to increase the use of IT in Quebec.ECI has a similar aim, but it is geared specifically towards electronic commerce.As local customers become more knowledgeable and sophisticated, they will become more demanding.This has two effects: the local customers become more productive with the adoption of IT, and the local firms who serve them are forced to improve.Intense competition, demanding customers, a skilled labour pool, and the existence of supporting industries create world-class IT firms.In an era of global- ization, all firms face intense competition and demanding customers.But the Montreal area firms have the advantage of a skilled labour pool and supporting industries and organizations.¦ The Power of E-Business k Powered by P COGNICASE ».- .illlifcf hss j * For more information please contact us at: 1000 de la Gauchetiere Road West, Suite 800 Montreal (Quebec), Canada, H3B 4W5 Telephone: (514) 876-9077 Fax: (514) 876-9078 www.cognicase.com COGNICASE MONTREAL - QUEBEC - TORONTO - OTTAWA CALGARY - PARIS - TOULOUSE BORDEAUX - BRUSSELS - ROME - MILAN MADRID - BARCELONA - NEW YORK PHILADELPHIA - ATLANTA - SYDNEY Leadership Montréal 16 May 2000 activities Most of our activities are ' under Bill 90.Look for this logo AT THE BOARD, WE THINK.CALL CENTRES MOBILE INTERNET: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES On June 1, 2000, André Tremblay, president and CEO of Microcell Telecommunications Inc.will be the guest speaker at the Perspectives Series.In 1999, the Canadian wireless industry signed up 1.6 million new users, bringing the total number of subscribers to almost seven million.Wireless telephony continues to astound us on all fronts: the speed of its growth, both in terms of popularity and technological development.In this area, Microeell stands out as one of the leading Canadian players with Fido, the most widely recognized brand in wireless telephony in Canada.In his presentation, André Tremblay, president and CEO of Microcell Telecommunications Inc., will describe the many opportunities created by the current convergence of the Internet and wireless telephony.He will also share his vision on the highly promising future of wireless data transmission.Mr.Tremblay will also discuss the future of this technology, which will soon make the cellular telephone the preferred mode of access and the intermediary of choice for interaction between people and important elements in their environment.Indeed, this means of communication will soon offer us services that go well beyond voice transmission, such as effectively managing our payments, travel, recreation and many other aspects of our lives.Finally, Mr.Tremblay will discuss the challenges created by this technology in terms of market strategy, customer service and organizational structure.An event not to be missed.if new technologies are on your mind.¦ Major sponsor: (4>] Desjardins AÉROPORTS MONTRÉAL Bell K*NDS DE SOLIDARITÉ 3 DES TRAVAILLEURS -J GlaxoWelIcome AGEN MAY 2000 2 Noon to 2 p.m.Business luncheon The Key of “E” Anthony Comper Chairman and chief executive officer Bank of Montreal The Queen Elizabeth Hotel 2 5 to 7 p.m.Tuesday’s business after hours Casino de Montréal 4 7:30 to 9 a.m.Perspectives Transportation committee Putting an end to the decline of public transportation Jacques Fortin General manager Société de transport de la Commu nauté urbaine de Montréal Hôtel Inter-Continental Montréal 9 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.Contact-club Board of Trade premises 10* Noon to 2 p.m.Business luncheon - EC I Organized by Les Affaires E-business models to follow Five experts will present their point of view Le Centre Sheraton 11 5:30 to 10 p.m.Networking Dinner Businesswomen in Action committee Women between heaven and earth.at the dawn of the new millennium Hôtel OMNI Mont-Royal 16* 8:30 a.m.to 12:30 p.m Seminar - ECI Exporting through cybermarkets Delta Montreal Hotel 18 7:30 to 9 a.m.High Technology series Multimedia committee Attracting world mandates in high technology in the Greater Montreal region Howard R.Silverman President and chief executive officer CAI Corporate Affairs International Hôtel OMNI Mont-Royal 25 9 a.m.to 9 p.m.Annual benefit golf tournament Lachute Golf Club 30 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.Contact-club Board of Trade premises André Tremblay Chairman and chief executive officer Microcell Telecommunications, Inc.Hôtel Inter-Continental Montréal (90) (90) 30 Noon to 2 p.m.Business luncheon François Legault Minister of State for Education and Youth Government of Quebec Presentation of the Outstanding student awards - Secondary V and Vocational education Wyndham Hotel 31 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.Membership orientation for new members Board of Trade premises Noon to 2 p.m.Special business luncheon Winning in the new e-business economy John D.Wetmore President and CEO IBM Canada Ltd.Palais des Congrès de Montréal 8 a.m.to noon Training workshop Self-employed workers and microbusinesses committee Raising your business profile: much more than just a media plan Nadia Nadège President AADVENIR Your strategic marketing Board of Trade premises 5 to 7 p.m.Tuesday’s business after hours Place to be confirmed 7:30 to 9 a.m.Perspectives Guest speaker to be confirmed Fédération des caisses populaires Desjardins de Montréal et de l’Ouest-du-Québec Hôtel OMNI Mont-Royal 6:15 p.m.Great Montrealers’ Gala Delta Centre-Ville JUNE 2000 7:30 to 9 a.m.Perspectives Call Centres committee (90) Activities with a * are organized by i Institut du commerce électronique Electronic Commerce Institute Information and reservations: Line Leblond Tel: (514) 871-4000, ext.4001 Contact-clubs: Marie-Claude Ainey Tel.: (514) 871-400Ô, ext.4021 ECI activities: Nolie Imprévert Tel.: (514) 871-4000, ext.4020 Tuesday's business after hours: Sonia Cloutier Tel: (514) 871-4000, ext.4067 BYERS CASGRAIN k Diners Club f International AVOCATS ET CONSEILLERS D’AFFAIRES en Roule Major sponsor BOMBARDIER Desjardins % Pratt & Whitney Canada Fiducie Desjardins Une société de United Technologa Samson Belair ?eloitte & Touche ?» SNCIAVAIIN Canada Economic Development / Canadian Airlines International / IBM / Meloche Monnex / Progisia Informatique Inc./ Standard Life / VIA Rail Canada WORLD TRADE CENTRE MONTRÉAL ACTIVITIES MAY 2000 17 8:30 a.m.to noon Training workshop JUNE 2000 5 8:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m.International Financial Institutions 2 8:30 a.m.to noon wQ) Seminar (IFI) Training workshop Exhibiting at a trade show Board of Trade premises International sales and distribution Gérard Laurin contracts Exportation consultant 24 8:30 a.m.to noon Training workshop Bernard Colas, lawyer, Byers Casgrain Board of Trade premises Board of Trade premises Exporting high tech products 11 8:30 a.m.to noon (90) and services 6 8:30 a.m.to 2 p.m.Seminar (90j Training workshop Ghislain Levesque, information agent International partnerships and joint Canadian Security Intelligence Latin America ventures Service (CSIS) Board of Trade premises Bernard Twyford Raymond Lawyer Board of Trade premises 26 Board of Trade premises 8:30 a.m.to noon /qq\ Training workshop \L/ 9 8:30 a.m.to noon /JTJN Training workshop y”y \ Taking advantage of the different 12 8:30 a.m.to noon Letters of credit: priority pavanent pavanent mechanisms Training workshop instruments in international trade in international trade Sendees provided by the Canadian Paul Scardera, Rita Dumontet Suzelle Bélanger-Legault Commercial Corporation (CCC) National Bank of Canada Director, International trade and the Export Development Corpo- and André Bourassa Royal Bank of Canada ration (EDC) Fritz Starber Inc.Board of Trade premises Guest speaker to be confirmed Canadian Commercial Corporation Board of Trade premises Information and registration: and José Nicolas 31 8:30 a.m.to noon fgQj Training workshop Nolie Imprévert Director, Emerging exporters team (514) 871-4000, poste 4020.Export Development Corporation International sales and distribution Major sponsor: Board of Trade premises contracts Bernard Colas, Lawyer Byers Casgrain TELEGLOBE These activities are eligible under Bill 90.Board of Trade premises W T C VVA/\_>.MONTREAL Leadership Montréal 17 May 2000 14 \ | 5 partner BIOPHARMA-MONTREAL.COM === A PRESCRIPTION FOR A HEALTHY INDUSTRY On March 31, the Montréal TechnoVi-sion Biotechnology Board of Governors approved an action plan to meet the manpower challenge in the biopharma-ceutical sector.Based on seven specific initiatives, this plan will produce tangible results for the industry in the next 12 months, specifically by: Increasing funding for research training in industry; ¦ Developing the university research chair network; ¦ Facilitating recruitment and reducing associated costs; ¦ Better matching university training with industry needs.The availability of specialized manpower is one of the five major issues facing the biopharmaceutical sector.A study spearheaded by TechnoVision and conducted by McKinsey in 1999 revealed that the shortage of graduates would affect the growth of over 80% of companies in this industry within the next 3 to 5 years.The largest gap between supply and demand is in the area of PhD’s, where some 900 positions could be created in the next three years.ates but is not very involved in their academic career.The result is that funding agencies do not allocate their entire budgets, students miss out on excellent opportunities to train in industry research and universities are little inclined to promote these programs.Biopharma.Montreal.com The industry must step up its international recruitment activities.Our biopharmaceutical industry does not enjoy the international recognition that corresponds to its dominant position in North America.Our region is and must be perceived as a biopharmaceutical powerhouse.A well coordinated communication strategy, based on the immense potential of the Internet, would highlight all the players in this sector to promote recruitment abroad and the development of local companies, and to attract new enterprises.The prescription The action plan ratified by the Board of Governors is a seven-point prescription: To remedy this situation, TechnoVision consulted both the university milieu and industry and identified three areas of intervention: 1.Match post-doctoral university •V AT interns with industry needs; 2.Adapt and make better use of industry research funding mechanisms; 3.Develop a visibility and recruitment strategy outside the region.Post-doctoral interns A non-exhaustive inventory identified over 550 post-doctoral interns doing research in the universities in our region.More than 200 of them agreed to participate in a study spearheaded by the Secor group and to answer questions in a survey.Over 75% of these researchers said they were interested in working in industry and 80% of this number would like to find a job in Quebec.However, the connection between companies and these interns is weak for the following reasons: B They have difficulty communicating their interests because they have few ties with industry; B They have very limited knowledge of industry; B Industry shows little interest in these candidates; B The universities do not help them look for work.Funding mechanisms Federal and provincial agencies offer a wide range of industry research training programs aimed at graduate and post-graduate candidates.Few of these programs are used by the biopharmaceutical industry, which looks for gradu- 1.Increase the number of PhD candidates interested in a career in industry by capitalizing on the industry research funding program (MRC: Medical Research Council of Canada; NSERC: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada; FCAR: Fonds pour la formation de chercheurs et l’aide à la recherche).2.Increase the number of post-doctoral interns who will move to industry by creating at MRC a new scholarship program dedicated exclusively to industry research.3.Capitalize on the federal university research chair program to increase the enrolment capacity of Quebec universities for graduate and PhD students.4.Retrain some PhD and post-PhD holders to help them migrate to industry.5.Use the centres of excellence networks as a training vehicle for highly qualified personnel.6.Encourage undergraduate students to pursue graduate and doctorate programs with a view to pursuing careers in the biopharmaceutical industry.7.Develop a Web site that will bring together all the stakeholders in the industry and draft a communications plan that will increase the industry’s profile and promote biopharmaceutical career opportunities in our region.Supported by the Quebec Bio-industries Association, Pharmavision and universities, the “Biopharmaceutical Plan” is a prescription that industry leaders have decided to embrace with enthusiasm.Buoyed by the support offered by this thriving industry, Montréal TechnoVision plans to make a concerted effort to ensure that this prescription yield concrete results in the very short term.¦ activities SELF-EMPLOYED WORKERS AND MICROBUSINESSES COMMITTEE TRAINING WORKSHOP "RAISING YOUR BUSINESS PROFILE: MUCH MORE THAN JUST A MEDIA PUN" Does your presentation have enough impact?Whether you want to grow your business, increase sales or take up more space in your markets and in your community, the bottom line is, you want exposure and recognition in your business environment in order to build credibility and to be fully trusted.Do the right people know you?In this workshop, you will validate your objectives and identify the best communication tools: how to define and focus on your major skills and capabilities; how to stand out from the crowd in your professional environment; how to identify your core market segments, how to choose the most efficient networks, how to build up your professional profile and plan results-oriented, effective action.mgægg Guest speaker: Nadia Nadège, president, AADVENIR Your strategic marketing Speaker profile Ms.Nadège graduated in marketing, communications and journalism in Europe and in coaching and continuing education of adults in the United States.She has 28 years’ professional experience.Ms.Nadège has been VP marketing with various large international corporations during 15 years.She then started her own consulting firm in Paris, Los Angeles, then Montreal.President of AAD VENIR, Ms.Nadège is a specialist in strategic planning and corporate marketing and a lecturer in professional training and coaching programs.A director and member of several business organizations and networks including Business Network International, Canadian Women in Communication, International Business Communicators, she is actively involved with the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.The workshop will be presented in French.Date: Tuesday, June 6, 2000 Time: Registration and breakfast: 7:30 a.m.Workshop: 8:00 a.m.to 12:00 p.m.Location: Board of Trade 5 Place Ville Marie, plaza level, VIA Rail room Cost: Member: 550 (+ 7% GST and 7.5% QST) = 557.51 Non-member: 575 (+ 7% GST and 7.5% QST) = 586.27 Series of 4 workshops (members only): 5170 (+ 7% GST and 7.5% QST) = 5195.54 Information and registration: Line Leblond: (514) 871-4000, extension 4001 Registration by fax: (514) 871-5971 Registration by e-mail: lleblond@ccmm.qc.ca ¦ I NATIONAL I BANK a.y.h.Qle.neu uay of thinking Vidéotron Business Network THE GRAND PRIX BALL - AIR CANADA The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is delighted to be a Partner in The Grand Prix Ball - Air Canada, a major gathering of Montreal’s corporate elite and the social centrepiece of Montreal’s Formula One Race Weekend organized by Vision Group of Companies.Montreal will again play host on June 16th at historic Windsor Station to one of the world’s five Grand Prix Balls, as others are planned in Silverstone (UK), Monte Carlo (Monaco), Hocken-heim (Germany), and Indianapolis, IN (USA).The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal and a number of members will partake in this second edition of Le Bal du Grand Prix Air Canada.The 1999 Ball was a huge success, where 700 guests were treated to an evening of exclusive entertainment, food and the chance to mingle with world-renowned FI drivers, including Eddie Irvine, Mika Hakkinen, Heinz Harald Frentzen, and owner Eddie Jordan.This year’s event, The Grand Prix Ball - Air Canada, has expanded by popular demand to accommodate 1,000 VIP guests from the Montreal corporate elite, international community, and an elegant mix of celebrities, media groups, event sponsors, and drivers.The itinerary features a rich blend of festivities, including a champagne reception, driver-celebrity bumper car challenge (where a lucky member of the Board of Trade will win a seat in a car!), a five-star, four course feast, a live charity auction, three major entertainment acts, after-dinner liqueurs and desert, cigars, dancing, media coverage and late-night partying.Board of Trade members are encouraged to consider attending, as this year’s event is expected to secure its reputation as Montreal’s must-attend, corporate event of the year, and an integral part of the fabric of F-l Race Weekend.For more information or to reserve a table for ten (10) for 56,000, please contact Murdoch Media in Montreal at (514) 397-9737, ext.232.¦ Leadership Montréal 18 May 2000 ' ¦ .$ BS v ¦ S ' %~.y- 'mms V°- ¦•pv with ; m,- : .yfewss Æàà'tn*.^^ ife-W This company has eliminated 70% of its paperwork E-Commerce Billing through the Internet is, on average, three times less expensive than traditional billing.Many businesses are already taking advantage of this method and saving themselves a lot of money.If you want your business to stay competitive, do the same.Discover all that E-Commerce has to offer, with Bell.www.bell.ca/ecom 1 888 822-BELL Powered by BCE Emergis Connectivity • E-marketing consulting services • Web site creation • Catalogues • Hosting Leadership Montréal 19 May 2000 Port of Montreal Port de Montréal PROUD PARTNER OF THE GREATER MONTREAL LEADERSHIP NETWORK THE “MAJOR PARTNERS” Unite OU forces for the growth of Greater Montreal! Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal } Institut du commerce électronique Electronic Commerce Institute W T | C MONTREAL A.L.Van Houtte Ltée • ABB • Aéroports de Montréal • Agropur, Coopérative Agro-Alimentaire • Air Canada • “Air Liquide Canada inc.• Alcan • * Alstom Canada inc.• APG Solutions & Technologies inc.• Arthur Andersen • AstraZeneca Canada Inc.• AT&T Canada • “Aventis Pharma • Avon Canada Inc.• AXA Assu- rances inc.• Banque CIBC • Banque de développement du Canada - Siège social • Banque de Montréal • Banque Laurentienne du Canada • Banque Nationale du Canada • Banque Royale du Canada • Banque Scotia • Banque Toronto-Dominion • Bell ActiMédia • Bell Canada • Bell Helicopter Textron • Belron Canada • BioChem Pharma inc.• Bombardier inc.• Bourse de Montréal • Brasserie Labatt ltée • Bureau en Gros • Byers Casgrain - Avocats • Cabinet de relations publiques NATIONAL inc.(Le) • CAE Électronique ltée • Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec • Camco inc.• Canac inc.• Canadien National • Canadien Pacifique Ltd.• Cascades inc.• Casino de i ¦ Montréal • Château Stores of Canada Ltd.• Ciment St-Laurent • Cirque du Soleil • “Gleamet • Cogeco inc.• Cognicase • Commission scolaire de Montréal • Communauté urbaine de Montréal / bureau du président • Compagnie d'assurance Standard Life (La) • Compagnie d'assurances Bélair • Compaq Canada inc.• Cosmair Canada inc.- Groupe L’ORÉAL • Costco Canada inc.• "'CROP inc.• Danzas Canada Ltd.• Desjardins Ducharme Stein Monast et Sogemis inc.• Dessau-Soprin inc.• Dom-tar inc.• Donohue inc.• École des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC) • EDS Innovations inc.• EDU-MICRO inc.• Eicon Technology Corporation • Emploi-Québec • EMS Technologies, Space Electronics Group • Enghsh Montreal School Board • Ericsson Communications Inc.• Ernst & Young • Fasken Martineau DuMoulin • Féd.caisses pop.Desjardins de Mtl & Ouest-du-Qc • Fednav Limited • Fiducie Desjardins • Financière Banque Nationale • Fonds de Solidarité des Travailleurs du Québec (FTQ) • FTM Capital inc.• Gartner Group Canada • Gaz Métropolitain • Glaxo Wellcome Inc.• Goodyear Canada inc.• Great West, compagnie d’assurance-vie join Leaders ! Leaders - London Life • Groupe CGI inc.• Groupe Chagnon international ltée.• Groupe conseil DMR inc.• Groupe Coscient inc.(Le) • Groupe Cossette Communication • Groupe LGS inc.• Groupe Optimum inc.• Groupe Pharmaceutique Bristol-Myers Squibb • Groupe Saputo inc.• Groupe SNC-Lavalin inc.• Groupe Sun Life • Groupe Transcontinental G.C.T.ltée • Groupe TVA inc.• Groupe-conseil Aon inc.• Harry Rosen Inc.• Henry Birks & Sons inc.• Hewitt Équipement ltée • Hydro-Québec • IBM Canada ltée • Imperial Tobacco ltée • Industrielle-Alliance Cie d'Assurance sur la vie • Investissement-Québec • ISPAT SIDBEG inc.• Ivaco inc.• Journal de Montréal • KPMG s.r.l.• Kruger inc.• KSH ltée • Lafarge Canada inc.• Le Groupe Jean Coutu (PJC) inc.• Le Groupe Télé-Ressources ltée • Le Groupe Vidéotron ltée • Loto-Québec • Matol Botanical International ltée • McCarthy Tétrault • McGill University • Médis Services Pharmaceutiques et de santé inc.• Meloche Monnex inc.• Merck Frosst Canada inc.• Métro -Richelieu 2000 inc.• “Miorocell Télécommunications inc.• Molson Canada, région du Québec • Montréal Trust • Nesbitt Bums • Noranda - Affinerie CCR • Nortel Networks • “North Star Ship Chandler inc.• Novartis Pharma Canada inc.• Office municipal d'habitation de Montréal • Ogilvy Renault • Ouimet Gordon Bleu inc.• Parmalat Canada • Petro-Canada • Pfizer Canada Inc.• Pharmaprix • Pitney Bowes du Canada ltée • Planet Hollywood Canada inc.• Port de Montréal • Postes Canada • Power Corporation du Canada • Pratt & Whitney Canada • Pricewater-houseCoopers • Produits forestiers Alliance inc.• Provigo inc.• Québécor inc.• Raymond, Chabot, Grant, Thomton • Regroupement des collèges du Montréal métropolitain • Reine Elizabeth (Le) • Réno-Dépôt inc.• Restaurants McDonald du Canada ltée • Restaurants Sportscene inc.(Les) • Richter, Usher & Vineberg • “Robert Half International inc.• “Robert Mitchell Inc.• Rolls Royce Canada Ltd.• RONA inc.• Samson Bélair/Deloitte & Touche • Schering Canada inc.• Scotia Capitaux inc.• SIBN inc.• SITQ immobilier • Sobeys Québec • Société conseil Mercer ltée • Société de transport de la G.U.M.• Société des Alcools du Québec • Société du Groupe d’embouteillage Pepsi • Société du Palais des Congrès de Montréal • Société générale de financement du Québec • Société immobibère TrizecHahn • Société Radio-Canada • Sucre Lantic ltée • “Système M3i inc.• “Tecsult inc.• Téléglobe inc.• The Gazette • Transat A.T.inc.• UAP inc.• Université Concordia • Université de Montréal • Université du Québec à Montréal • Velan Inc.• Ville de Montréal - Service du développement économique • “Wyeth-Ayerst Canada Inc.• Xerox Canada inc.• ZENON.'WELCOME TO THE MAJOR PARTNERS' CIRCLE BECOME A MAJOR PARTNER CALL US AT (514) 871-4000, EXT.4067