Benjamin Tal is a managing director and deputy chief economist with CIBC Capital Markets Inc. He is responsible for analyzing economic developments and their implications for North American fixed income, equity, foreign exchange, and commodities markets. Mr. Tal also acts in an advisory capacity to bank officers on issues related to wealth management, household/corporate credit, and risk. Well-known for his ground-breaking published research on topics such as labour market dynamics, real estate, credit markets, international trade and business economic conditions, Mr. Tal not only contributes to the conversation, but frequently sets the agenda. He has close to 20 years' experience in the private sector advising clients, industry leaders, corporate boards, trade associations, and governments on economic and financial issues. National and global media regularly seek him out for his insight and analysis on economic issues that impact financial markets, consumers, corporations and public policy. He is also a frequent lecturer in the economic programs of various Canadian universities. Mr. Tal is a member of the Economic Committee of The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, The Economic Development Committee of the Toronto Board of Trade. He is also a member of the board of Governors of Junior Achievement of Central Ontario, and a board member of the Toronto Financial Services Alliance.