Honourable senators, I rise today to highlight the sixteenth instalment of the John Molson Undergraduate Case Competition, or JMUCC, which will be held in Montreal from February 25 to March 2.

Organized by the John Molson School of Business at my alma mater, Concordia University, JMUCC brings together some of the brightest young minds from across Canada and around the world to complete and solve captivating and demanding business cases. It is considered the largest international undergraduate case competition in the world.

The competition is judged by a panel of industry specialists who evaluate each team’s proposal, ranking them based on their innovative and pragmatic solutions.

JMUCC started back in 2009, and I was involved from the very beginning. Since then, it has been my honour to serve as lead judge for the finals.

Paramount to the development of Canadian business is investing in the next generation of brilliant young minds. It is crucial that we give our future leaders the chance to show their passion, spirit and dynamism. That is exactly what JMUCC strives to accomplish, and, I must admit, they do so very successfully.

In its past 16 years, JMUCC has attracted more than 1,600 students from universities from all corners of the world and covered dozens of cases, developing Canada’s and the world’s next generation of entrepreneurs and businesspeople.

JMUCC also helps to grow Canada’s reputation abroad as a hub for international business, putting Canada in a better place for growth in international business and cooperation. Additionally, the case competition brings significant international attention to Montreal and reasserts Concordia University’s place as one of our country’s most distinguished and attractive post‑secondary institutions with world-class talent and global appeal.

The skills that these students will acquire and polish at JMUCC will be foundational elements in their careers. The critical thinking, problem solving and social skills that these students will gain are all necessary to fuel Canada’s growing economy, and will set these students up for years of success.

These skills go beyond business and the workforce; they will help shape these young adults into good, generous citizens.

Honourable senators, please join me in congratulating Concordia University and the John Molson School of Business for holding such an incredible event that brings together the best and brightest undergraduate minds in the whole world. I wish all the students participating in this year’s edition much success, and I very much look forward to seeing them at the finals on March 2.

Thank you. Meegwetch.