Empire Club - View of Brexit

An Insider’s View of Brexit

The Impact on Canada and the Globe

Keynote Speaker Andrew Percy, Moderator Donna Skelly

Feb. 27, 2020

The Empire Club of Canada welcomes keynote speaker Andrew Percy, British Government MP alongside moderator Donna Skelly, MP to offer ‘An Insider’s View of Brexit: The Impact on Canada and the Globe.’

Keynote Speaker:

Andrew Percy, MP, Brigg and Goole, United Kingdom

Since his initial election to parliament in 2010 Andrew has served in a number of high profile roles. In July 2016 Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Andrew to her Cabinet as Parliamentary Undersecretary of State and Minister for Local Growth and the Northern Powerhouse. He served in this role until June 2017 where his ministerial responsibilities included: the Northern Powerhouse (Northern Business Development and Growth), devolution deals, local growth, coastal communities, community rights (including pubs), local enterprise partnership policy, enterprise zones, high streets, inward investment and infrastructure, including High Speed 2, and European Regional Development Fund.

Before and after serving as a Minister, Andrew served as Prime Ministers David Cameron and Teresa May’s Trade Envoy to Canada, a British foreign policy position within UK Trade and Investment Office. Trade Envoys are appointed by the PM in order to promote British business and trade interests with select high-growth and developing markets. While serving as Trade Envoy to Canada under Teresa May the focus turned towards the post Brexit world.

Andrew was re-elected as the MP of Brigg and Goole with over 70% of the vote in the recent 2019 election under Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He is also an expert communicator within the Conservative Party even appearing frequently as a guest contributor on CBC’s Power and Politics for his insights on British politics, Brexit, trade and elections. He joined the Advisory Board of Maple Leaf Strategies in 2017.

Question and Answer Moderator:

Donna Skelly, Member of Provincial Parliament for Flamborough—Glanbrook

Donna Skelly was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 2018, representing the riding of Flamborough-Glanbrook. Donna is also the Parliamentary Assistant (PA) to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, a post she has held since last summer.

Donna entered politics following a successful 30-year career in broadcast journalism. During that time, Donna produced and hosted widely acclaimed current affairs programming, as well as reporting and then anchoring the news on CHCH TV. She has held several leadership roles, including advocacy before the CRTC and Parliamentary Committees, serving as President of the Local Union for the employee bargaining unit and the founding of a leading-edge digital news service.

In March 2016, Donna was elected to Hamilton City Council, where she quickly earned a reputation as a City Councillor who stood up for taxpayers. Donna lives in Hamilton with her two sons Dane and Cole and French bulldog Louis.