Provincial Treasury

Fiscal Equalization and Economic Development
Policy within Federations
An International Conference, Oct. 28-29, 2002
Organized by the
Government of Prince Edward Island
in conjunction with the Forum of Federations

International and Canadian experts on federal fiscal arrangements will gather in Charlottetown to discuss the experience of their countries in designing and implementing federal programs to address economic and fiscal disparities.

Participants will include:

Paul Bernd Spahn from the Goethe University in Frankfurt Germany. Professor Spahn is an internationally renowned specialist in German Fiscal federalism. He has also served as advisor to the World Bank and the European Parliament. He will discuss arrangements in Germany and the European Economic Community.
William J. Fox, professor at the Economics Department and Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He is a specialist in fiscal matters and has advised the Federal Reserve Bank and the World Bank. He will discuss the US experience.
Ronald L. Watts, Principal Emeritus Institute of Intergovernmental Affairs, Queens University, Kingston, Ontario. He has worked for 40 years on federal comparative studies. His most recent book is Comparing Federal Systems 1999. He will provide an overview of the subject.
Teresa Garcia Mila, Universitat Pompeu, Fabra. She will discuss the evolving economic and fiscal arrangements in Spain.
Francois Vaillancourt, University of Montreal, will discuss Canadian arrangements.
Malcolm Nicholas, Commonwealth Grants Commission, Australia. He is the "Doug Clark" of the Australian equalization program and will discuss the Australian experience.
Steve Perritaz representing Bernard Dafflon, University of Fribourg, Switzerland will discuss the Swiss experience.
Ron Neumann from Manitoba Finance, to discuss the South African experience.
Discussants include Mario Albert, Quebec Finance; Paul Hobson, Acadia University; Francois Delorme (TBC), Federal Finance. There will be ample opportunity for all delegates to raise questions during the proceedings.
Welcome from the Hon Pat Mella, PEI Provincial Treasurer and Premier Pat Binns

Venue

The Delta Prince Edward
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

A block of rooms is being held for registrants at the Delta Hotel.
Conference room Rates from $114 per night for single rooms.
Call 1 888 244 8666 toll free, or 1 902 894 1203 Direct.
Quote Charlottetown International Fiscal Conference.

Registration
Please return the Registration form with payment by September 27, 2002.

Price
$150. Includes a reception, lunch and dinner.
Registrations after September 27, 2002 will be assessed a late fee of $50.
All payments to be received by Oct. 11, 2002 to guarantee entry.

Program
Conference Program

For More Information
John R. Palmer, Director
Economics, Statistics and Federal Fiscal Relations
(902) 368-4031
Conference2002@gov.pe.ca