David Heurtel
speakertrainer, lawyer, strategic communications specialist and former minister of the French government
David Heurtel, speaker, is counsel in Fasken's Environment, Energy and Climate Change Group. Prior to joining the firm, David had a career with the Quebec government. He served as Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Change from 2014 to 2017 and Minister of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion from 2017 to 2018. He has also held various executive positions, including President and CEO of the Parc Olympique de Montréal. In addition, David teaches public administration as Public Administration Scholar in Residence at Concordia University and is a political analyst for 98,5 FM Montréal, CBC News Network's Power & Politics, CJAD 800 and CTV News Montreal.
He has extensive experience in management, strategic communications, government relations, and environmental and immigration matters. David uses his know-how and market knowledge to assist clients with the consequences of the modernization of the EQA on their business, the development of industrial projects subject to the environmental impact assessment and review procedure and the resulting social acceptability issues, the application of Quebec's cap-and-trade system and transactions in the joint Quebec-California carbon market. He also advises clients on the application of immigration programs in Quebec, particularly with respect to skilled labour.
David is very involved in his community. He is president of the board of directors of the community organization Ali et les Princes de la Rue and is a member of the board of directors of Écotech Québec, the clean technology industry cluster. He was a member of the board of directors of the Quartier des spectacles and was, among other things, chairman of the board of directors of Québec Cinéma, vice-president of socio-economic issues for the Chamber of Commerce of East Montreal, director of the Société des célébrations du 375e anniversaire de Montréal and member of the Comité de développement de l'Est de Montréal.
David Heurtel's lectures and training workshops:
- Duration of his lectures: about 60 minutes, adaptable.
- Workshop: 2 to 6 hours, depending on your needs, tailor-made.
- Conferences and training courses available in French and English.
- A preparatory call is foreseen in order to choose and adapt the content of the conference or training.
Labour shortages and immigration: Issues, risks and opportunities
Over the next 10 years, Quebec will have to fill more than 1.3 million jobs in all sectors, skilled and unskilled, in all regions.
At least 20% of these jobs will be filled by people with an immigrant background.
Labour shortages are a major risk faced by a growing number of companies.
Companies are facing a global war for talent.
- How to develop a national and international recruitment strategy
- Know how to effectively navigate the various federal and provincial immigration procedures
- Implement a government relations strategy to obtain measures adapted to your reality and to take advantage of available funding
- Implement integration, francization and retention measures to keep new talent in the company
Organisational social responsibility and social acceptability of projects: An inescapable reality
Nowadays, managing an organisation and carrying out a development project involves taking into account social responsibility and social acceptability, which is a major challenge.
There is a real buzz about corporate social responsibility, defined as the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into the management of organisations and the selection of projects. The governance of companies and the environmental and social impacts of their activities are now under scrutiny by consumers and financial markets. As a result, the performance of organisations, including obtaining financing for their projects, depends on the implementation of good practices in sustainable development, corporate social responsibility and social acceptability.
In Quebec, social acceptability is a key issue for any organisation, regardless of the sector of activity. In fact, social acceptability is not limited to the environmental field, with which it is often associated, but now transcends all sectors: mining, energy, industrial, real estate, banking, municipal, health, etc.
In recent years, we have seen an increase in the number of projects delayed, or even halted, by the phenomenon of social acceptability, since it is no longer 'acceptable' to impose oneself on a community; one must integrate and harmonise with it. Increasingly, citizens are demanding that projects be developed in collaboration with local, regional and indigenous communities within the framework of a broad and transparent consultation and information process.
That being said, social responsibility and social acceptability are now indispensable components of the management of an organisation and of any project.
In this conference you will learn more about the elements that should be part of your strategic planning and scorecard. These will facilitate your analysis of the risks related to social responsibility and social acceptability.
How to develop and maintain good relations with governments
The state is omnipresent in the life of organisations. Whether at the municipal, provincial or federal level, good relations with political representatives and the public administration are essential both for partnership development and in times of conflict.
Whether it is for issues such as financing, project development, permits or authorisations, public consultation, negotiation and dispute resolution, crisis management or lobbying, it is essential to develop and maintain good relations and an open channel of communication with elected officials, their teams and the public administration.
This conference provides insight into how to develop and/or improve effective and productive strategic relationships with different aspects, levels and agencies of government.
David Heurtel offers a variety of training courses tailored to your needs.
Here are some of the training titles he can develop with you.
Communications training :
- Strategic communication at the heart of your business
Check out all our communications training.
Crisis management training :
- Applied crisis management
See all our training courses on crisis management.
Training on negotiation :
- The art of negotiation
Biography of David Heurtel :
David Heurtel is counsel at Fasken. He advises clients on government relations and public relations of all kinds with municipalities, the Québec government and the Government of Canada; he also advises clients on environmental, energy and climate change, ESG and immigration issues.
Prior to joining the firm, he served in the Quebec National Assembly as MNA for the riding of Viau from 2013 to 2018, and had a career in the Quebec government as Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change from 2014 to 2017, then as Minister of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion from 2017 to 2018. David has held various executive positions, including President and CEO of the Parc Olympique de Montréal from 2011 to 2013.
In addition, David is a political analyst for CTV News Montreal and CJAD 800 Montreal where he is also host.
He is Assistant Professor in the Master's program in Public Policy and Public Administration at Concordia University.
David is Chairman of the Board of the RSEQ (Réseau du Sport Étudiant du Québec) and is the author of Journées de Ministre, published by VLB Éditeur in 2020.
THEMES :
- Communications and media
- Crisis management
- Strategic communication plan
- Government Relations
- Social acceptance
- ESG criteria
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS :
- Wireless headset
- Small table or lectern (to hold notes and water bottle)
- No visual support
HIS BOOK :
VIDEO EXCERPT:
Interview with David Heurtel - Everything will change! (June 2020)
David Heurtel in conference:
Watch the excerpt of David Heurtel's conference presented at our VITRINE OF speakers on June 1, 2022: