MICHEL LEBLANC - BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Michel Leblanc joined SECOR in the spring of 2008 as an Associate Partner and an expert in economic and sectoral studies. He also worked for SECOR from 1996 to 2002, when he assisted governments, institutions and private companies in strategic planning exercises, and carrying out studies and analyses. On January 12, 2009, he became President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.

PRIOR WORK EXPERIENCE

From 2006 to 2008, Vice-President, Public Affairs and Communications, Genome Quebec.
Mr. Leblanc was in charge of government relations management, corporate relations, international development, and communications. He contributed to key strategic projects:

• Inauguration of a technology centre for RNomics at Université de Sherbrooke
• Identification of genomics as a strategic component of Quebec’s research and innovation strategy
• Launch of an international consortium in the field of population genomics (P3G) and the CARTaGENE research tool
• Launch of the Genome Quebec and Chicoutimi CSSS Biobank, the largest biobank in Canada
• Launch of mixed private-academic research projects as part of the PRIVAC program
• Formulation and adoption of Genome Quebec’s 2008-2011 strategic plan, including the refinancing of Genome Quebec by the provincial government
• Conceptualization and promotion of a project to create an integrative genomics institute for Quebec

From 2002 to 2006, Vice-President, Life Sciences, Montréal International.
Mr. Leblanc oversaw the mobilization of metropolitan Montréal’s Life Sciences cluster. He coordinated the activities of the Metropolitan Montréal Life Sciences Committee (MMLSC) and served as catalyst among corporate CEOs, research centre directors, university administrators, and high-ranking Quebec and Canadian government officials. He initiated and coordinated the development and implementation of a branding strategy for the Montréal InVivo cluster.

• Formulation of governance framework for the MMLSC and mobilization of over thirty cluster decision-makers
• Formulation and implementation of strategies promoting development of the cluster and levers accelerating its growth 
• Coordination of the work of consultants selected for MMLSC-approved projects 
• Establishment of committees and coordination of efforts to retain life sciences activities and companies
• Representations to governments and the media to communicate the cluster’s objectives and recommendations
• Management of high-level professionals during the implementation of projects

From 2004 to 2005, Mr. Leblanc also served as Vice-President, Research and Planning, and Communications Director for Montréal International, developing the organization’s 2005-2007 three-year plan.

- Economic development

• Strategic planning for companies and business groups
• Integration and synthesis of preparatory work for economic summits
• Analysis of the financing of permits in the taxi sector
• Analysis and formulation of initiatives to develop a smart city in Montréal
• Assessment and projection of labour force requirements in the IT industry, proposal for a mixed mechanism to manage a public program aiming to double the number of IT graduates and assessment of the program’s performance after two years
• Drafting of the report of the task force on the recovery of Montréal (the Bérard committee) and assistance in the drafting of the report of the Levitt committee
• Drafting of the report of the Desmarais committee on a strategy promoting the development of Greater Montréal’s health-care sector
• Analysis of the factors involved in attracting and retaining head offices and coordination activities and development of a strategy for the Montréal region
• Analysis and preparation of a report on the factors determining the location of the head office of a major pulp and paper producer
• Strategy for expanding the export capacity of the pork industry

- Economic impact studies

• Impact of a fixed-price strategy on the sale of new books in six markets
• Impact of salary increases in the commercial and industrial construction sector
• Impact of a prospective client pool shift on a regional hospital centre
• Impact of prospective changes in municipal expenditures and revenues in Quebec
• Impact of extending a natural gas pipeline in Quebec
• Position papers for business associations and groups affected by public policy reforms
• Many sectoral analyses

- Strategies for financing public services

• Implementation study concerning the home of the Montréal Symphony Orchestra
• Analysis of the financing of public transit in Greater Montréal
• Analysis of the mechanism for allocating funds under the agreement between the federal government and twenty-one organizations devoted to developing French-speaking communities outside Quebec and formulation of a new tool for assessing funding applications
• Analysis of financing requirements and proposal of funding allocation criteria for Quebec youth centres
• Technical analysis of the fiscal balance implications of various solutions for sharing the tax pie among different government levels
• Development of a new funding framework for university education in Quebec
• Review of ministerial orientations regarding private colleges
• Review of industry/university collaboration to finance universities
• Formulation of a strategic research and communication plan for a national university scholarship program
• Analysis of trends in the field of university library services and preparation of a reinvestment plan
• Preparation of a business plan for the deployment of a network of video conference rooms in CEGEPs
• Analysis of equity funding sources of public hospitals
• Preparation of public funding applications for hospital infrastructure projects
• Analysis of the operation and financing of bodily injuries compensation plans in North America

- International mandates

• Morocco: Modeling of the financing of the public hospital sector, impact assessment of reform proposals on the health insurance system, and formulation of recommendations.
• Chad: Preparation of a World Bank project to extend sanitary coverage; cost estimate for implementing and operating sanitary training and management mechanisms at the level of the districts and prefectures; impact assessment of these costs on the national health-care budget. 
• Cameroon: Analysis of unit costs and financing of the health-care sector, detailed unit-cost analysis, formulation of a framework for priority action, and proposal for measures to decentralize allocation mechanisms and budgetary control.

From 1993 to 1996: Research Director, Institute for Research on Public Policy – Public Finance and Social Policy Program. In addition to pursuing his own research activities, Mr. Leblanc coordinated research teams and contributed to other Institute research projects. He analyzed budget policies, tax transfers, support policies, and social program financing. He also organized round table meetings and conferences and represented the Institute at public events.

1992: Private consultant for economic analyses - Compensation plans for work-related accidents (impact of parameters for the number and duration of industrial injuries), the sharing of tax revenues in Morocco (formulas for sharing tax revenues between the central government and municipalities), and business ownership in Quebec (database and calculation of ownership rates based on various parameters).

EDUCATION

• Bachelor of science in economics (B.Sc. 1987)
  and Master of science in economics (M.Sc. 1992), Université de Montréal

OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Michel Leblanc sits on the boards of directors of the Montreal Health District, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal Foundation and MR³ Montréal Relève. As a member of the Conseil des partenaires de l’innovation, established by the Minister of Economic Development, Innovation, and Export Trade, Mr. Leblanc helped formulate Quebec’s strategy for research and innovation, announced in December 2006. In 2005 and 1006, Mr. Leblanc served as observer on the board of directors of BIOQuébec.

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