C.D. Howe Institute Welcomes New Board Chair Blake C. Goldring and Directors; Honours Outgoing Chair Hugh L. MacKinnon

June 10, 2025 – Following the C.D. Howe Institute’s spring Board Meetings and Annual Meeting of Members on June 4, the Institute is pleased to announce important changes to its Board of Directors.

After more than a decade of exceptional service, Hugh L. MacKinnon, K.C., has stepped down as Chair of the Board. In recognition of his 11 years of outstanding leadership and long-standing commitment to the Institute’s mission, Mr. MacKinnon has been appointed as the C.D. Howe Institute’s Chair Emeritus, a newly created honorary role.

“Hugh has been one of the best directors in the C.D. Howe Institute’s history, and we are proud to have him be the Institute’s first Chair Emeritus,” says C.D. Howe Institute President and CEO William B.P. Robson. “Hugh has been unfailingly attentive to the needs of the C.D. Howe Institute, superb as a leader of its Board of Directors, and a champion of the Institute’s mission to improve public policy.”

Effective immediately, Blake C. Goldring has been appointed as Chair of the Board of Directors.

Executive Chairman of AGF Management Limited – an independent and globally diverse asset management firm with investment operations and client servicing teams on the ground in North America and Europe – Mr. Goldring previously was one of two Vice-Chairs of the C.D. Howe Institute’s board.

The Institute is also pleased to announce that Marcia Moffat, Managing Director and Country Head of Canada, BlackRock, has been appointed Vice-Chair alongside Aaron Regent, Chairman and CEO of Magris Performance Materials. In addition, two new members have been appointed to the Board: Kevin Strain, President and CEO of Sun Life, and David Rawlings, CEO of JPMorgan Chase Canada.

“We are delighted to welcome Blake as Chair, and deeply appreciate his willingness to lead,” adds Robson. “We are grateful to Marcia for her willingness to increase her already considerable contribution to the board as Vice-Chair. We look forward to working with Kevin and David as the Institute continues to advance nonpartisan, evidence-based public policy.”

The Institute’s Board of Directors and staff extend sincere thanks to outgoing board members Ron Mathison, President and CEO of Matco Investments, and Gilles Ouellette, Group Head, Wealth Management at the Bank of Montreal, for their service and contributions to the board and to the Institute’s mission.

For information contact: Lauren Malyk, Manager, Communications, C.D. Howe Institute, 416-873-6168, lmalyk@cdhowe.org

The C.D. Howe Institute is an independent not-for-profit research institute whose mission is to raise living standards by fostering economically sound public policies. Widely considered to be Canada’s most influential think tank, the Institute is a trusted source of essential policy intelligence, distinguished by research that is nonpartisan, evidence-based and subject to definitive expert review.