Events

Bill Morneau is a Canadian businessman and public servant best known for serving as Canada’s Minister of Finance from 2015 to 2020. Before entering politics, he built a successful career leading Morneau Shepell, a human resources and pension management firm that grew into one of North America’s largest in its field under his leadership. In government, he played a central role in shaping economic policy during a period of steady growth and in responding to major global challenges. As Finance Minister, he introduced Canada’s first gender-based budget plan, embedding gender analysis into fiscal policy, and oversaw the decision to place Viola Desmond on the ten-dollar bill—the first Canadian woman to be featured on a regularly circulating banknote. Morneau has also been active in philanthropy and education, supporting initiatives in healthcare, learning, and social development. His career reflects a consistent focus on strengthening Canada’s economic foundations while investing in people and communities. Morneau has had a deep interest in demography over his career in business and government, discussing this relevance as keynote speaker at our recent Demographic Science Summit.