Canada’s prime minister has announced more changes among the top level of civil servants, including the recruitment of province officials into senior government posts.
Catherine Blewett will be joining the federal public service from the government of Nova Scotia where she is clerk of the Executive Council and secretary to Cabinet. Blewett, who has held a range of posts for the government of Nova Scotia, will be deputy minister of fisheries and oceans from June 20, replacing Matthew King, who announced his retirement.
Another province recruit is Marie Lemay, currently president of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, who becomes deputy minister of public services and procurement from April 11. She replaces George Da Pont, who is retiring from the public service.
Dylan Jones joins the public service from the charity sector. Currently president and CEO of the Canada West Foundation, an independent policy think-tank and charity which focuses on natural resources, trade and investment, human capital and economics research, he becomes deputy minister of Western economic diversification, effective June 20, 2016. He is replacing Daphne Meredith, whose retirement is coming up in June.
Before his time at the foundation, Jones worked for the government of Saskatchewan for 12 years holding various posts including deputy minister for intergovernmental relations and senior policy advisor at the Executive Council.
Coleen Volk, who has been deputy secretary to the Cabinet (senior personnel, business transformation and renewal), at the Privy Council Office since April 2013, becomes associate deputy minister of environment and climate change, from April 11.
Siddika Mithani, currently associate deputy minister of environment and climate change, who has spent much of her public service career at Canada’s health department, has been appointed president of the Public Health Agency of Canada, effective April 11.
She replaces Krista Outhwaite, who is retiring.
Prime minister Justin Trudeau thanked the retirees for “their many distinguished accomplishments over the course of their careers and noted their dedication and commitment in serving Canadians.”
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