"Emerging companies are an important part of our economy, yet recent statistics paint a bleak picture of their ability to access the money they need to survive," said Hohol. "At TSX Venture, we believe that emerging companies are the future of the Canadian economy and that these statistics are unacceptable. We must look for solutions today. As a symposium sponsor we hope to do just that."
The one-day event entitled 'Risk Capital in Canada: Breaking Down Barriers, Increasing Access,' will be hosted by the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Commerce, in association with the Canadian Foundation for Investor Education (CFIE).
"The future growth of Canada's economy is contingent on our ability to help promising young companies thrive and prosper," adds Daniel F. Muzyka, dean of the Faculty of Commerce. "This symposium is an opportunity for government, academics, business and the public to come together and address the challenges Canada faces in becoming a leading incubator for emerging companies."
Premier Gordon Campbell will open the symposium, which will feature a prestigious line-up of international authorities in risk capital. The event will examine the overall risk capital environment and infrastructure for emerging, innovative companies in Canada, including a comparison of Canada's performance against international standards, an examination of the supply of risk capital and whether government policies and programs do enough to support emerging Canadian companies.
This is the second symposium in a national series from the CFIE focused on Canadian capital markets. The first was held last March in Toronto on the issue of securities regulation in Canada.
"Without an open, inclusive discussion of the issues facing Canada's capital markets, we can't ensure the future health and vitality of our economy. This series is designed to engage those who can lead change in that discussion," said Lonnie Tate, Chair of the CFIE.
Information on speakers, panels and registration is available at www.tsx.ca (under News & Events) or www.commerce.ubc.ca/news. For more information on the symposium series, send a note to symposium@tsx.ca.
The CFIE, established by the TSX Group in January 2002, is a national, educational, charitable organization dedicated to increasing interest, knowledge and understanding of issues important to Canadian investors and capital markets. The Foundation seeks to create a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For more information on CFIE, go to tsx.ca and click on "About Us" & then "Education".
As one of the world's leading business faculties, UBC Commerce represents the future of management thinking. Combining award winning research, an outstanding faculty, and unmatched global partnerships, UBC Commerce generates new business knowledge, fuels organizations with innovative ideas and graduates tomorrow's business leaders.
