The Hon. Preston Manning

Speaking topics

Presentations listed below include in-person and virtual keynotes, as well as workshops, fireside chats, and other presentation formats.

• Scouting the Future: Identifying Dangers and Opportunities

  One of the iconic figures of the Old West was the “scout.” His role was to ride ahead of the main company to identify potential dangers and opportunities, and then to report back so that the main company could wisely and safely plan its future course.

  As a management consultant, as a reform-oriented politician, and as a senior Canadian statesman, Mr. Manning offers your organization the perspective and services of a scout.

  At the request of those who engage his services as a speaker, he offers his perspective and advice on the dangers and opportunities that lie ahead on:

  • The Political Frontier – federally, provincially, municipally, and with respect to the future of democracy.
  • The Economic Frontier – with respect to energy, the environment, and the future of market driven capitalism.
  • The Ethical Frontier – with respect to political, business, scientific, and personal ethics.
  • The Science and Technology Frontier – with respect to bridging the gaps between the scientific community and the business and political communities.
  • The Faith Frontier – with respect to navigating the faith-political interface wisely and graciously.

  As a “receiver oriented” communicator, Mr. Manning’s starting point is the needs, concerns, perspectives, and expectations of his client and audience. He works closely with the client in preparing his remarks so as to ensure that they serve the purposes desired by the client.

  As a “man of action” Mr. Manning does not believe in merely “talking for talking’s sake.” His addresses are therefore strongly motivational, ending when appropriate with a “call to action” designed to advance the client’s interests.

   

• The Future of Canada/U.S. Relations: Explaining the Beaver to the Eagle

  This theme and address takes a look at some of the most endearing and exasperating characteristics of Canadians in the context of trying explain the humble Canadian beaver to the American eagle.

  Mr. Manning often combines this light-hearted look at Canadian strengths and weaknesses with an analysis of the future of Canada/U.S. relations and the issues facing both countries.

• Making Markets Work

  Markets are devices for bringing resources to bear on the demands of Canadians for goods and services using pricing signals and financial incentives. Advocates of government intervention in the economy often base their arguments on the allegation that markets have failed in some way. Mr. Manning has given numerous addresses on how to make markets work better for consumers, involving a more rigorous and responsible application of market principles to the energy sector, capital markets, and the market for environmental goods and services.

• Environmental Conservation: Balancing the Ecological Budget

  The conventional approach to dealing with environmental challenges is to call for greater government regulation. Without denying the importance of regulation, Mr. Manning is a strong advocate of harnessing market mechanisms to the task of conserving our environment. He argues that “conservation” and “conservatism” are compatible and that people who believe we should “live within our means” fiscally should apply that principle to balancing the ecological budget as well.

• Supporting Local Government

  While there are 338 elected federal officials in Canada and about 760 elected provincial/territorial officials, there are more than 25,000 elected municipal officials in Canada.

  Mr. Manning discusses the growing importance of municipal governance and ways and means of strengthening the values, knowledge, skills, ethics, and leadership capabilities of elected municipal officials addressing important local issues.

• Ethical Lighthouses

  Mr. Manning frequently addresses graduating classes at universities, colleges, and professional training programs. Using the analogy of lighthouses along dangerous coastlines, he urges his audiences to provide a new level of ethical leadership to business, government, and society.