BlackBerry founder, Indian origin techie on Canadian crisis council

By Gurmukh Singh, Toronto, Dec 19 : BlackBerry founder Mike Lazaridis and Indian origin IT businessman Ajit Someshwar are among 11 people appointed to an economy advisory council by the Canadian government.

As Canada enters recession and faces a huge deficit for the first time in years, the council appointed Thursday will advise the government in dealing with the economic crisis.

Finance minister Jim Flaherty said he will consult council members before drawing up his budget to be presented next month.

"In this time of unprecedented economic turmoil, I am bringing some of Canada's best minds together to find solutions and help launch a timely recovery. I will look to this group for advice on budget 2009 and will continue to consult them in the months ahead," he said.

The council members, including Someshwar, will work for one dollar a year.

Mumbai-born Someshwar is chief executive officer of an IT and risk management company, CSI Consulting, based in Toronto. He is also the national convener of the newly founded Canada-India Foundation (CIF).

The finance minister said he called all the council members and told them that their "advice is needed for your country". He will meet them here Tuesday.