Former B.C. finance minister Carole Taylor will chair the economic advisory council set up by federal finance minister Jim Flaherty.
The 11-member council, which includes business leaders and academics from across the country, will advise the minister as part of Ottawa's national consultation on the 2009 federal budget. It will also provide ongoing advice to the federal government.
Council members include B.C. billionaire Jim Pattison; Geoff Beattie, president of the Thomson family holding company Woodbridge Co.; James Irving, president of New Brunswick-based JD Irving; and Mike Lazaridis, founder of Research in Motion.
Also on the council: Paul Desmarais Jr., George Gosbee, Isabelle Hudon, Jack Mintz, Ajit Someshwar and Annette Verschuren.
The council is scheduled to have its first meeting prior to Christmas and continue to provide periodic economic advice after the budget is announced on January 27.
All members have agreed to a salary of $1, but government will pay their council-related expenses.