INSERT PRESENTATION TITLE McGill Entrepreneurship Program Vision Into Reality Michel David September 29, 2014 Version 3.0 MONTRÉAL GLOBAL CITY Montréal: City-State Foundation PO Box 26557, RPO Queen Mary Montréal QC Canada H3X 4B1 info@montrealcitystate.ca www.montrealcitystate.ca
Table of Contents 1 Background 3 2 The Journey from Vision to Reality 5 3 The Problem A. Great Strengths Remain B. There are Significant Weaknesses C. What the Status Quo Will Bring 4 The Causes A. Western Drift B. Montréal Wealth Emigration to Toronto C. Québec Separatism D. Montréal and the ROQ Are Different 6 9 5 How Will We Know We Have Succeeded? 13 6 The Alternatives 14 7 The Global City Solution A. The Attributes of a Global City B. Masters of Our Destiny C. It's a Win-Win-Win 15 McGill Entrepreneurship Program Vision Into Reality 2014 All rights reserved V.3 09-29-2014 2
1. Background (1 of 2) This initiative aims for Montréal to become a global city. The originator was Michel David in 2009. Many people have helped since then, most notably Morton Grostern and Michel Lozeau. All three have lived mostly in Montréal, are bicultural. They are free citizens with no legacy to any institution or political party. Some are old enough to have lived in Montréal when it was the Metropolis of Canada. Unhappy witnesses to the decline of the city. McGill Entrepreneurship Program Vision Into Reality 2014 All rights reserved V.3 09-29-2014 3
1. Background (2 of 2) Over time, our vision for Montréal has evolved: At first, our thought was that structure was the solution: "Special Status" or even "City-State". But the most important question is what we want to be, our intention: "A Global City". The main elements of this presentation are as follows: The journey from vision to reality. The problem to be resolved. The causes of the problem. How will we know we have succeeded? The alternatives. The global city solution. McGill Entrepreneurship Program Vision Into Reality 2014 All rights reserved V.3 09-29-2014 4
2. The Journey from Vision to Reality This present project started in 2009. There was a previous effort around 1995. Nothing happened until the election of the Marois government in 2012. "Special status" for Montréal then became a hot subject. Significant impetus was provided by a IPSOS Reid survey which found that 75% of Montrealers supported the ideas we were proposing. The subject is now on the agenda of the Québec government, the City of Montréal and Québec City. There is a significant danger of low-balling the project, for Montréal to be the "Provincial Metropolis" of Québec. The people have the choice to decide if what they want to be citizens of a global city. McGill Entrepreneurship Program Vision Into Reality 2014 All rights reserved V.3 09-29-2014 5
3. The Problem A. Great Strengths Remain Quality of life. Learning and knowledge. Creativity. Safety. French, bilingual, multi-ethnic: Concordia Salus. McGill Entrepreneurship Program Vision Into Reality 2014 All rights reserved V.3 09-29-2014 6
3. The Problem B. There Are Significant Weaknesses Poorest city out of the 25 largest cities in North America (GDP per capita). Employment growth: 50% at best of comparable Canadian cities, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver. Loss of head offices. Low rate of entrepreneurship. Corruption, entitlements, infrastructure. McGill Entrepreneurship Program Vision Into Reality 2014 All rights reserved V.3 09-29-2014 7
3. The Problem C. What The Status Quo Will Bring The same system will produce the same results. McGill Entrepreneurship Program Vision Into Reality 2014 All rights reserved V.3 09-29-2014 8
4. The Causes A. Western Drift Starting at the Second World War, the Canadian Metropolis was going to be Toronto (Jane Jacobs). Longer range airplanes. St. Lawrence seaway. McGill Entrepreneurship Program Vision Into Reality 2014 All rights reserved V.3 09-29-2014 9
4. The Causes B. Montréal Wealth Emigration to Toronto Montréal wealth (mostly anglo) was invested in traditional industries. Toronto was the center of choice for new industries. The next generation of Montréal wealth located in Toronto for the most part. McGill Entrepreneurship Program Vision Into Reality 2014 All rights reserved V.3 09-29-2014 10
4. The Causes C. Québec Separatism The fundamental goal of the Parti Québécois is to win the YES referendum. Thus the first order of business in 1976 was to push as many anglo no votes out as possible: taxation, language laws. This was successful: head offices moved out, and 200 to 300,000 people emigrated. An ongoing possibility: NEVERENDUMS. Scotland (?). The Québec government does not want a strong Montréal for fear of competition with itself. The Federal government does not want a strong Montréal for fear of Québec having a strong champion. McGill Entrepreneurship Program Vision Into Reality 2014 All rights reserved V.3 09-29-2014 11
4. The Causes D. Montréal and the ROQ Are Different Make up of the population: ROQ is French, Montréal is 50% French, 50 anglo/allo. What they do: ROQ is resource based, Montréal is knowledge based. Who they are: ROQ is homogeneous/local Montréal is multi-ethnic/global. But Montréal is totally governed by ROQ rules. McGill Entrepreneurship Program Vision Into Reality 2014 All rights reserved V.3 09-29-2014 12
5. How Will We Know We Have Succeeded? Goal: Top 10 North American Cities Quality of life GDP per capita Employment Reputation Positive enablers We are already there: No. 4 Poorest city out of 25 with 2.0 million + population Sub par performance: 50% of comparable Canadian cities; Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver Recognized as a global city Liberty, entrepreneurship McGill Entrepreneurship Program Vision Into Reality 2014 All rights reserved V.3 09-29-2014 13
6. The Alternatives Status Quo Provincial Metropolis Global City Same system, same result: sub par performance. Recognition, after 40 years, as more than just another administrative region. Operational improvements, similar to Toronto Charter. Does not change the strategic drivers. More and better of the same. World class performance. Canada's connection to Europe and Africa. And favored point of entry for European, African, immigration and investment. McGill Entrepreneurship Program Vision Into Reality 2014 All rights reserved V.3 09-29-2014 14
7. The Global City Solution A. The Attributes of a Global City A global city contributes something valuable and unique to the world. For Montréal, this could be a combination of: Many cultures living in peace and respect. Learning and knowledge. Quality of life. It must have the size and strength to achieve the critical mass required to pursue its development initiatives successfully. In our view, the measure of this position is to be one of North America's top ten cities. In order to produce and sustain a world class offering, a city must be master of its destiny. McGill Entrepreneurship Program Vision Into Reality 2014 All rights reserved V.3 09-29-2014 15
7. The Global City Solution B. Masters of Our Destiny It is a basic principle of good management to put decision making as close as possible to the action. It is Montréal, not the Québec government and not the Federal government that has the mission to become a global city. This involves being responsible for the functions that are required to build its prosperity and culture: commerce, education, and health for example. There are others surely. Being in control of one's destiny involves fiscal responsibility, first and foremost. This means raising money and spending it wisely. It is not a game of getting more money from higher levels of government and then spending it on pet projects. Montréal needs access to sources of revenue that are much more diversified than at present. McGill Entrepreneurship Program Vision Into Reality 2014 All rights reserved V.3 09-29-2014 16
7. The Global City Solution C. It's a Win-Win-Win This project brings advantages to all stakeholders and takes nothing away from anyone. Montréal Québec Canada Becomes master of its destiny Significant increase in cultural reach and economic performance Gains a powerful economic driver which lifts all boats Gains a world class city to go along Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver With a unique personality particularly aligned with Europe and Africa McGill Entrepreneurship Program Vision Into Reality 2014 All rights reserved V.3 09-29-2014 17