“The president of J.D. Irving, Limited, is one of 11 business and academic heavyweights who will advise federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on the budget and deteriorating economy.”

“I wonder if there isn’t room for a broader constituency to be represented,” Passaris said.

- Carole Taylor (chair). Former British Columbia finance minister.
- Geoff Beattie. Deputy chairman of publishing and information services company Thomson Corp. and president of Woodbridge Co., the Thomson family investment company.
- Paul Desmarais Jr. Chairman and co-CEO of Power Corp. of Canada, international management and holding company with interests in North American and European financial services, media and other industries.
- George Gosbee. president of Calgary-based global energy advisory firm Tristone Capital.
- Isabelle Hudon. Head of Montreal’s board of trade.
- James D. Irving. President of the multibillion-dollar Irving family business empire that includes interests in forestry, retail, trucking, media and energy.
- Mike Lazaridis. Co-CEO of Research in Motion, creator of the BlackBerry and one of Canada’s best known technology companies.
- Jack Mintz. University of Calgary professor, former president and CEO of the C.D. Howe Institute., an economic think tank based in Toronto.
- James A. Pattison. Vancouver-based owner of the multibillion-dollar Jim Pattison Group of companies with investments around the world in industries including media, car dealerships, grocery store chains, advertising, real estate, forest products and financial services.
- Ajit Someshwar. CEO of Toronto-based technology resource and management consultant CSI Consulting.
- Annette Verschuren. president of the Home Depot Canada chain of home renovation stores.