Public Record 79th Annual Couchiching Conference This year’s theme was "Watershed Moment or Wasted Opportunity." Participants examined the global economic meltdown and how it has changed views on the economy, the role of the state, and public policy.  This August 6th panel, entitled "The Role of the State", featured presentations by Tom Flanagan (Professor of Political Science at the University of Calgary), Alex Himelfarb (Former Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet) and Armine Yalnizyan (Senior Economist, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives).