Finance Minister Joe Oliver Wednesday announced the members of his Economic Advisory Council, which includes a handful of financial industry veterans.

The 16-member advisory group will provide the federal government with input on a range of fiscal, economic and financial issues.

The council was first established during the financial crisis in 2008 to give then-finance minister Jim Flaherty advice at that time of turmoil. Now, it’s seen as providing input as the federal government sets to return to fiscal balance.

The new council includes brokerage industry veteran, Peter Brown, founder of the firm that has now become known as Canaccord Genuity Group Inc.; Monique Leroux, the current chairwoman, president and CEO of Desjardins Group; Sandy Riley, president & CEO of brokerage firm Richardson Financial Group Ltd. and former head of Investors Group Inc.; John Bradlow, managing partner of private equity firm Penfund; former investment banker Don Lindsay, who is now president & CEO of Teck Resources Ltd., but before that was president of CIBC World Markets, and Paul Desmarais, Jr., chairman and co-CEO of Power Corp. of Canada and co-chairman of Power Financial Corp.

The council includes various executives from other sectors too, along with academics, such as Jack Mintz, director of the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary, and Janice MacKinnon, professor of fiscal policy at the University of Saskatchewan, and a former finance minister for Saskatchewan.

The list of other business leaders includes Andrew Oland, president of Moosehead Breweries Ltd.; Jim Pattison, chairman and CEO of The Jim Pattison Group; Dani Reiss, president and CEO of Canada Goose Inc.; Nancy Southern, chairwoman, president & CEO of ATCO Ltd. and Canadian Utilities Ltd., and Rob Wildeboer, executive chairman and co-founder of auto parts firm, Martinrea International Inc.

Desmarais, Jr., Mintz, and Pattison also served on the original council.

“As we return to balanced budgets in 2015 it is important we listen to Canada’s leading business and economic innovators. Balanced budgets will provide a host of benefits and opportunities. It means we can lower taxes and invest in the priorities of Canadian families,” said Oliver. “I look forward to working with the Council members and hearing their ideas as we move toward a new era of fiscal sustainability and prosperity for our country.”

The council members take a symbolic $1 salary, but have their expenses covered by the government.