NSB Logo Hon. John Baird Hon. John Baird

Hon. John Baird

Speaker

Toronto, ON, Canada

Former Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs

John Baird is a Senior Advisor to various enterprises and a former Senior Cabinet Minister in the Government of Canada. An instrumental figure in bilateral trade and investment relationships, Mr. Baird has played a leading role in the Canada-China dialogue and worked to build ties with ASEAN countries.  In addition, Mr. Baird has worked closely with international leaders to strengthen security and economic ties with the United States and Middle Eastern countries.

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In the News

John Baird in the media January 1, 2024

Keynote Speeches

The Current State of our Nation

United with allies and partners in the fight against terror. Side by side with the only liberal democracy in the Middle East. Strong relationships in the Arab world. Firm in our objection to militaristic expansionism in Eastern Europe. An expanded diplomatic footprint in Asia. And strong trade ties that will create lasting prosperity for generations to come. Canada stands tall in the world. In this presentation, Mr. Baird looks at the current state and where he sees the future of Canada as a country.

 

North American Integration

America is Canada’s biggest trading partner, and Canada is America’s biggest trading partner. As former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Baird has a great depth of experience in shaping North American cooperation. From trade, to infrastructure, to foreign policy, Mr. Baird offers insight into where cross-border cooperation is heading.

 

Economic Growth for Canada Beyond our Borders

A report by HSBC predicted that by the year 2050, 19 of the 30 largest economies will be in countries we now call “emerging.” The numbers are simply staggering. The economic potential is immense. The demographic shift is monumental. And Canada must be a part of it. It’s not a choice; it must be a national imperative. In this presentation, Mr. Baird offers insight to the future prosperity of the Canadian economy as it relates to cross-border partnerships.

 

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Speaker Biography

A native of Ottawa, Baird spent three terms as a Member of Parliament and four years as Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also served as President of the Treasury Board, Minister of the Environment, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, and Member of the Canadian Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean. Prior to entering federal politics, Mr. Baird spent ten years in the Ontario Legislature where he served as Minister of Community and Social Services, Minister of Energy, and Government House Leader.

Baird actively endorses the Conservative Party of Canada’s leadership election and was recently commissioned by the Conservative Party to analyze and report the party’s campaign. Currently, Mr. Baird serves as a Senior Business Advisor with Bennett Jones LLP, a premier Canadian law firm. In addition, Mr. Baird sits on the advisory board of Barrick Gold Corp., the corporate boards of Canadian Pacific, Canadian Forest Products (Canfor), the FWD Group and PineBridge Investments. He also serves as a Global Strategic Advisor to Hatch Ltd, a Canadian global multidisciplinary management, engineering and development consultancy and a Senior Advisor at Eurasia Group, a global political risk consultancy.

Mr. Baird received the Excellence in the Cause of Parliamentary Democracy award at the 34th Annual Churchill Society Dinner, a non-partisan organization in honor of Sir Winston Churchill that aims to promote education and discussion about Canada’s parliamentary democracy. 

He also volunteers his time with Community Living Ontario, an organization that supports individuals with developmental disabilities, the Prince’s Charities, the charitable office of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, and is a board member of the Friends of Israel Initiative. He holds an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies from Queen’s University at Kingston and was presented with an honorary Doctor of Law LLD in 2018.

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