PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT OF THE ATLANTIC CANADA OPPORTUNITIES AGENCY

May 20, 2003
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced the appointment of Monique Collette, currently Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services, Department of Justice, as President of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). Ms. Collette succeeds Dennis Wallace who has been appointed Special Advisor to the Minister of Industry and who will retire from the Public Service at the end of September.

Ms. Collette brings to the position a profound understanding of the Atlantic region and its needs, as well as extensive knowledge of the operations of ACOA, having held progressively more senior positions with the Agency in both New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island for close to ten years. A native of New Brunswick, Ms. Collette earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Moncton.

The Prime Minister took the opportunity to thank Dennis Wallace for his dedication to the Public Service and his excellence in serving Canadians over the years and to wish him well in his future endeavours.

These appointments are effective May 31, 2003.

Biographical information attached.

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PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555

MONIQUE COLLETTE

Date of Birth:             June 1953

Education:                 B.A. (Translation), University of Moncton

Professional Experience

December 2000 to Present
Assistant Deputy Minister, Integration, then Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services, Department of Justice

November 1997 - November 2000
Executive Director, National Crime Prevention Centre, Department of Justice

June 1996 - November 1997
Director General, Communications, Human Resources Development

February 1996 - June 1996
Special Advisor to the Deputy Minister (secondment), Human Resources Development

June 1994 - February 1996
Vice-President, Prince Edward Island, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

January 1993 - June 1994
Corporate Assistant, Minister's Office, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

September 1990 - January 1993
Corporate Secretary, then Director General, Coordination, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Moncton

February 1989 - September 1990
Assistant to the President, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Moncton

April 1987 - February 1989
Director General, Regional Operations Division, Secretary of State Canada, then Executive Assistant, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

April 1985 - March 1987
Regional Director, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island Regions, Secretary of State Canada

January 1974 - March 1985
Positions of increasing responsibility within the Secretary of State Canada, culminating in the position of Acting Regional Director, Regional Operations, Translation Bureau, Secretary of State of Canada

DENNIS WALLACE

Date of Birth:         April 1946

Education:             Diploma in Business Administration, Lakehead University 
                              Bachelor, Political Science, Lakehead University 
                              Masters, Business Administration, University of Western Ontario

Professional Experience

September 2001 to Present
President of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

August 1998 - September 2001
Associate Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

December 1995 - August 1998
Assistant Deputy Minister, Veterans Services, Department of Veterans Affairs

May 1992 - 1995
Executive Director, Canadian Grain Commission

April 1988 - 1992
Assistant Deputy Minister, Western Economic Diversification Canada

March 1986 - 1988
Regional Director General, Alberta, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

May 1982 - 1986
Director of Operations, Ontario Region, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

May 1981 - 1982
Project Executive, Management Improvement, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

1975 - 1981
Various positions with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, including District Manager, Indian and Inuit Affairs in Kenora, Ontario