APPOINTMENTS TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE
STAFF RELATIONS BOARD

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, February 14, 2000 – The Honourable Stéphane Dion, President of the Privy Council and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, today announced the following appointments:

Jean-Pierre Tessier, of Lac Beauport, Quebec, is appointed as a full-time member of the Public Service Staff Relations Board, effective February 28, 2000.

Mr. Tessier obtained his law degree from Laval University in 1970 and was admitted to the Quebec Bar the following year. He has over 30 years of experience in the labour relations field. His career achievements include the positions of counsel, labour relations director and chief negotiator with the Quebec Federation of School Boards between 1971 and 1985. He has also served as a Department of Health negotiator with the Quebec Federation of General Practitioners between 1989 and 1996. Various private-sector, parapublic, corporate-public and public bodies have also called on his expertise.

Mr. Tessier also has an excellent knowledge of the role and functions of administrative tribunals. Until recently, he was the Chair of the Employment Insurance Board of Referees for the Quebec City/Ste-Foy region. Mr. Tessier currently practises law, mainly as labour relations arbitrator and negotiator, in his own labour relations firm.

Anne E. Bertrand, of Fredericton, New Brunswick, is appointed as a part-time member of the Public Service Staff Relations Board, effective immediately.

Ms. Bertrand graduated from the faculty of law of the University of New Brunswick in 1984. She was admitted to the New Brunswick Bar in 1985 and subsequently practised law with the firm Hanson, Hashey. Since 1987, Ms. Bertrand has focussed her law practice on civil litigation, arbitration, labour and corporate law. She is currently with the law firm Bertrand and Bertrand, and has also been acting since 1996 as referee for hearings held under the Canada Labour Code. In addition, she has been teaching labour law and civil litigation for the New Brunswick Bar admission course since 1988.

Francine Chad-Smith, Q.C., of Regina, Saskatchewan, is appointed as a part-time member of the Public Service Staff Relations Board, effective immediately.

Ms. Chad-Smith obtained a law degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1975 and was admitted to the Saskatchewan Bar the following year. She subsequently joined the law firm of Goldenberg, Taylor, Randall, Buckwold and Halstead in Saskatoon. She then practised law in Regina, where she also held management positions with Saskatchewan Government Insurance. Ms. Chad-Smith has practised law as a sole practitioner since 1989, mainly in labour law, arbitration and mediation. She has been a member of numerous boards of arbitration and has taken part in quasi-judicial and administration hearings under the Saskatchewan Labour Standards Act, the Saskatchewan Human Rights Act and the Saskatchewan Education Act. In addition, she currently acts as a referee under the Canada Labour Code.

Stephen F. D. Kelleher, Q.C., of Vancouver, British Columbia, is reappointed as a part-time member of the Public Service Staff Relations Board, effective immediately. It is his second mandate.

Mr. Kelleher has a bachelor degree in political science and a law degree from the University of British Columbia. He was admitted to the British Columbia Bar in 1974. He subsequently specialized in labour law and was appointed Vice-Chair of the British Columbia Labour Relations Board in 1981. He chaired the Board between 1982 and 1984 and has since worked as an arbitrator and mediator in both the private and public sectors.

Colin Taylor, of Vancouver, British Columbia, is reappointed as a part-time member of the Public Service Staff Relations Board, effective immediately. It is his second mandate.

Mr. Taylor has been active in the arbitration and mediation field for 25 years. He was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1972, and subsequently taught at the faculty of law of the University of Alberta. Mr. Taylor practised law between 1974 and 1977 with the law firm of Taylor, Knaak, Nickerson & Roberts. After a year in the United Kingdom as general counsel for Strand Holidays Limited, Mr. Taylor continued his legal career in Alberta, specializing in labour dispute arbitration and mediation, as well as commercial litigation. He was admitted to the British Columbia Bar in 1987. Since then he has practised law as a sole practitioner in that province.

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For information:
André Lamarre
Special Assistant
(613) 943-1838

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