April 07, 2005
NEWS RELEASE
Prime Minister Paul Martin today announced the appointment of William J.S. Elliott, currently Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Security and Intelligence, Privy Council Office, as his National Security Advisor, effective April 8, 2005. Mr. Elliott succeeds Robert A. Wright who has been appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer of Export Development Canada.
“Mr. Elliott brings considerable experience to his new position,” said Prime Minister Martin. “I am very pleased to have a person of Mr. Elliott’s calibre in this key role, to continue advancing intelligence and threat assessment and interagency cooperation.”
Prior to assuming his current position as Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Security and Intelligence at the Privy Council Office in 2003, Mr. Elliott served as Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety and Security, Transport Canada, for a period of three years. Mr. Elliott began his career as a lawyer in private practice in 1981. He joined the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada in 1988 and has held progressively more senior positions since that time, including Senior General Counsel and Head of Legal Services for Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Justice Canada and Deputy Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard. He is a graduate of the University of Ottawa where he obtained a B.A. and an LL.B. (Common Law).
The Prime Minister took the opportunity to thank Mr. Wright for his dedication and excellent service as Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, Deputy Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, Security and Intelligence Coordinator and National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister.
Biographical information attached
WILLIAM J.S. ELLIOTT
Education: B.A., University of Ottawa
LL.B., (Common Law), University of Ottawa
Professional Experience
June 2003 to present
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Security and Intelligence, Privy Council Office
2000 - 2003
Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety and Security, Transport Canada
1998 - 2000
Deputy Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard, Fisheries and Oceans
1994 -1998
Senior General Counsel and Head of Legal Services, Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Justice Canada
1992 - 1994
Senior Counsel/Manager, Comprehensive Claims and Northern Affairs, Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Justice Canada
1990 - 1992
Chief of Staff, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada
1989 - 1990
Executive Assistant, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada
1988 - 1989
Legal Advisor and Special Assistant, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada
1981 - 1988
Private practice of law
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