NEWS

July 30, 2008

A green conference

From its very first meetings, the organizing committee ensured that this 60th conference would be as green as possible. It has done everything in its power to that end, just as the Winnipeg committee did.

In that spirit, it gathered information about the environmental concerns of the Hilton hotel where attendees will be staying.

The Hilton also wants to be a leader in the environmentally-friendly efforts of our society. Its administration has adopted a number of measures with that in mind:

• purchase of local and seasonal products;
• healthy food on the menu, thanks to top quality products;
• possibility of offering organic products, but at a higher price;
• priority given to water in pitchers rather than in bottles, as Europeans often want;
• redistribution of uneaten food to organizations, with the exception of food with sauces or mayonnaise, or food that has not been refrigerated for more than two hours;
• complete recovery of glass, plastic and paper; nothing is thrown away;
• use of porcelain and glass dishes, fabric napkins at banquets at noon and in the evening, recyclable paper napkins for health breaks, and organic soap for banquets;
• computer-controlled heating and air-conditioning;
• lights turned out after meeting rooms are cleaned.

Of course, this conference cannot claim to be certified as carbon neutral, but the first step has been taken. As astronaut Neil Armstrong said in 1969: “That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”.

 

July 18, 2008

Honorary Chair

Ms. Monique Jérôme-Forget, Minister of Finance, Minister of Government Services, Minister responsible for Government Administration and Chair of the Conseil du trésor, has agreed to act as Honorary Chair of IPAC Conference 2008. 

Ms. Jérôme-Forget holds a Doctorate in Psychology from McGill University in Montréal and has also studied in political economy at Université de Montréal, in history at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and in economics at the University of London.

She has also acquired diversified professional experience: Assistant deputy minister at the Department of Health and Welfare of Canada, Chair of the Institute for research on Public Policy as well as Chair and CEO of the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CSST) and Vice-chair of the Annual Congress of the World Health Organization (WHO).

March 28, 2008

Two important speakers have confirmed their presence at the Conference.

• Géraldine Joslyn Fraser Moleketi: Minister of Public Service and Administration, Republic of South Africa, and president of CAPAM (Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management).
• Michael Adams: author of several best-seller books and much sought-after speaker, he is the founding president of Environics Research Group.