May 29, 2001
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced the following changes in the Public Service:

Robert G. Wright, currently Deputy Minister for International Trade, becomes Ambassador of Canada to Japan. Mr. Wright joined the Public Service in 1971 as an officer with the Department of Industry, Trade and Commerce, and has held progressively more senior positions with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, both in Canada and abroad, since that time. His previous experience includes: First Secretary, Canadian Delegation to the Tokyo Round, Geneva, Switzerland; Director, Pacific Trade Relations Division; Deputy Head, Canadian Delegation to the Uruguay Round, Geneva, Switzerland; Director General, U.S. Trade and Economic Policy Bureau; and Deputy Head of Mission and Minister (Economic), Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Leonard Edwards, currently Ambassador of Canada to Japan, becomes Deputy Minister for International Trade. Mr. Edwards joined the Public Service as a foreign service officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1969, and has held positions of increasing responsibility, both in Canada and abroad, since that time, including Deputy Director, Pacific Division and Northeast Asia Division; Executive Director, Summits Management Office; and Assistant Deputy Minister, Asia and Pacific.

Shirley Serafini, currently Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, becomes Ambassador of Canada to the Kingdom of Norway. She previously served as Associate Deputy Minister of Industry. Mrs. Serafini began her Public Service career in 1972, and has held a variety of positions of increasing responsibility since that time, including Director General, Broadcasting and Content Services Policy Branch, Department of Communications; Assistant Under-Secretary of State, Multiculturalism, Department of Secretary of State; and Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Social Development, Privy Council Office.

Marc Lafrenière, currently Executive Director of the Canada Information Office, becomes Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Mr. Lafrenière previously served as Associate Deputy Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. He joined the Public Service in 1971. His previous experience includes some 16 years with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, where he held such positions as Senior Negotiator, Western Arctic, Office of Native Claims; and Director General, Constitution, Legislation and Federal-Provincial Relations, as well as senior positions with the Privy Council Office, including Assistant Secretary, Aboriginal Affairs.

Guy Mc Kenzie, currently Assistant Secretary (Infrastructure), Treasury Board Secretariat, becomes Executive Director of the Canada Information Office. He previously served as Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, Federal Office of Regional Development (Quebec), and then Assistant Secretary, Year 2000 Project, Treasury Board Secretariat. Mr. Mc Kenzie began his Public Service career in 1982 as a Senior Advisor with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs. Over the years, he has held various positions of increasing responsibility including Director, Coordination and Strategic Planning, Program Sector, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources; Regional Director General, Quebec Region, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs; and Director General, Federal-Provincial and Aboriginal Relations, Strategic Policy, Department of Human Resources Development.

Jim Lahey, currently Associate Deputy Minister of Human Resources Development, becomes Associate Secretary to the Treasury Board. His responsibilities will include supporting and advising the President and Secretary in relation to the modernization of the public service initiatives. Prior to assuming his current position, Mr. Lahey was Deputy Secretary (Intergovernmental Policy), Privy Council Office. Since joining the Public Service in 1973, Mr. Lahey has held positions of increasing responsibility in a variety of departments, including Director, Strategic Planning, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs; Director General, Security Policy and Operations Directorate, Department of the Solicitor General; Assistant Deputy Minister, Labour, and then Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, Department of Human Resources Development.

Maryantonett Flumian, currently Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Firearms Centre, Department of Justice, becomes Associate Deputy Minister of Human Resources Development. Ms. Flumian previously held the position of Executive Advisor on Federal-Nunavut Relations, Office of the Interim Commissioner. Ms. Flumian has held a variety of senior positions within the Public Service, including Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy and Program Planning, Department of Fisheries and Oceans; and Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Western Economic Diversification. Her earlier experience includes Chief of Staff to the Minister, Department of Labour, Government of Ontario; and Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Labour Market and Productivity Centre.

John Sims, currently Special Advisor to the Associate Deputy Minister, Legal Operations Sector, Department of Justice, becomes Associate Deputy Minister of Justice. Mr. Sims began his career in the Public Service in 1977 as Legal Counsel with the Department of Justice, and has, over the years, held progressively more senior positions with the department, including General Counsel, Canadian Security Intelligence Service; Senior General Counsel, Treasury Board; and Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Citizenship and Immigration.

Jack Stagg, currently Associate Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, becomes Special Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Herb Gray. In this capacity, Mr. Stagg will be Mr. Gray’s deputy minister with regard to the work related to the resolution of claims arising from Indian Residential Schools. Mr. Stagg has over 20 years’ experience in aboriginal affairs, having held a number of progressively more senior positions with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs over the years, including Acting Senior Negotiator, Yukon; Director, Intergovernmental Affairs; Director General, Constitutional Development and Strategic Planning; and Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy and Consultation.

Ruth Dantzer, currently Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Social Development Policy, Privy Council Office, becomes Associate Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. Ms. Dantzer previously held a number of positions with the Department of Finance, including Director, Sales Tax Policy, Tax Policy Branch.

The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to thank Richard Thompson, Associate Deputy Minister of Justice, who is leaving the Public Service, for his dedication and service over the years, and to wish him well in his future endeavours.

These appointments are effective June 11, 2001, except that of Maryantonnett Flumian which is effective July 3, 2001.

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Biographical notes attached.

PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555

*********

Date of Birth: April 1947

- B.Sc., McGill University

December 1995 to Present
Deputy Minister for International Trade

August 1994 - December 1995
Deputy Head of Mission and Minister (Economic), Canadian Embassy, Washington, D.C.

August 1993 - August 1994
Minister (Economic), Canadian Embassy, Washington, D.C.

August 1991 - 1993
Director General, U.S. Trade and Economic Policy Bureau, Department of External Affairs and International Trade

August 1985 - 1991
Minister (Economic) and Deputy Head, Canadian Delegation to the Uruguay Round, Geneva, Switzerland

September 1984 - August 1985
Director, GATT Affairs Division, Department of External Affairs

August 1982 - August 1984
Director, Pacific Trade Relations Division, Department of External Affairs

February 1981 - July 1982
Chief, Pacific Division, Department of External Affairs

September 1980 - February 1981
Chief, Western Europe Division, Department of Industry, Trade and Commerce

September 1977 - September 1980
First Secretary, Canadian Delegation to the Tokyo Round, Geneva, Switzerland

August 1975 - September 1977
Chief, Agriculture Division, Department of Industry, Trade and Commerce

November 1971 - August 1975
Officer, Commodity Trade Policy Branch, Department of Industry, Trade and Commerce

September 1970 - November 1971
Economist, A.E. Ames (Montreal)

1968 - 1969
Officer, Economic Research, Canadian Pacific (Montreal)

*********

Date of Birth: September 1946

Education:

- B.A., History, University of Saskatchewan
- M.A., History, University of Saskatchewan

Professional Experience

1998 - to Present
Ambassador to Japan

1996 - 1997
Assistant Deputy Minister, Trade and Economic Policy, Foreign Affairs and International Trade

1994 - 1996
Assistant Deputy Minister, Asia and Pacific, Foreign Affairs and International Trade

1991 - 1994
Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Seoul

1988 - 1991
Director General, Corporate Management Bureau, Foreign Affairs and International Trade

1983 - 1988
Counsellor, Canadian Permanent Mission to the United Nations (Geneva), then Executive Director, Summits Management Office, Foreign Affairs and International Trade

1978 - 1983
Deputy Director, Pacific Division and Northeast Asia Division, then Deputy Chairman, Secretariat for Policy Planning, International Affairs, Foreign Affairs and International Trade

1973 - 1978
First Secretary and Consul, Ankara, then Political Officer, NATO Secretariat, Brussels, Foreign Affairs and International Trade

1971 - 1973
Permanent Representative, Hanoi, then Desk Officer, East Asia Division, Foreign Affairs and International Trade

1969 - 1971
Foreign service officer, International Affairs, then Legal Advisor, Saigon, Foreign Affairs and International Trade

*********

SHIRLEY WOLFF SERAFINI

Date of Birth: April 1949

Education:

- B.A. (Mathematics), Carleton University
- M.Sc. (Mathematics and Statistics), Carleton University

June 1999 to Present
Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

September 1996 - May 1999
Associate Deputy Minister of Industry

November 1994 - September 1996
Associate Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

1991 - 1994
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Social Development, Privy Council Office

1991
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Government Operations and Labour Relations, Privy Council Office

1987 - 1991
Assistant Under-Secretary of State, Multiculturalism, Department of Secretary of State

1986 - 1987
Director General, Broadcasting and Cultural Industries, Department of Communications

1983 - 1986
Acting Director General, then Director General, Broadcasting and Content Services Policy Branch, Department of Communications

1982 - 1983
Director, Broadcasting Policy Division, Department of Communications

1976 - 1982
Economic Analyst, then Senior Economist, Economic Policy Division, Department of Communications

1975 - 1976
Head, Statistical Development, Department of Communications

1972 - 1975
Survey Statistician, Statistics Canada

Date of birth: November 1947

- B.A., History, University of Ottawa
- Studies towards an M.A. in History, University of Ottawa

July 1998 to Present
Executive Director of the Canada Information Office

September 1996 - July 1998
Associate Deputy Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

February 1996 - September 1996
Acting Deputy Secretary (Intergovernmental Operations), Privy Council Office

February 1995 - February 1996
Assistant Secretary (Intergovernmental Operations), Privy Council Office

August 1993 - February 1995
Assistant Secretary (Aboriginal Affairs), Privy Council Office

February 1991 - August 1993
Assistant Secretary, Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat, Federal-Provincial Relations Office

April 1989 - February 1991
Director General, Constitution, Legislation and Federal Provincial Relations, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs

November 1985 - 1989
Senior Advisor, Policy Co-ordination, Office of Aboriginal Constitutional Affairs, Federal-Provincial Relations Office

1980 - 1985
Acting Senior Negotiator, Western Arctic, and subsequently Senior Negotiator, Western Arctic, Office of Native Claims, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs

1978 - 1980
Assistant to the Special Representative for Northern Claims, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs

1971 - 1978
Various positions with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, including the position of Acting Assistant Director, Claims Office

1969 - 1971
Student advisor and subsequently archivist, University of Ottawa

*********

Date of Birth: November 1954

Education:

- Bachelor of Law, Laval University
- Notary and Title Attorney Diploma, Laval University

January 2000 to Present
Assistant Secretary (Infrastructure), Treasury Board Secretariat

May 1998 - January 2000
Assistant Secretary, Year 2000 Project, Treasury Board Secretariat

1996 - 1998
Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, Federal Office of Regional Development (Quebec)

1994 - 1996
Director General, Federal-Provincial and Aboriginal Relations, Strategic Policy, Department of Human Resources Development

1991 - 1994
Regional Director General, Quebec Region, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs

1990 - 1991
Director General, Communications and External Relations, Department of Supply and Services

1989 - 1990
Director General, Executive Services, Department of Justice

1988 - 1989
Director General, Analysis, Planning and Legislation, Program Sector, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources

1986 - 1988
Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister and Secretary of the Advisory Committee on Francophone Participation, then Director, Coordination and Strategic Planning, Program Sector, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources

1982 - 1986
Senior Advisor, Corporate Policy, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, then Director, Rights Transfer and Registration, Canada Oil and Gas Lands Administration

Date of Birth: August 1949

- Bachelor, History and Political Science, University of Toronto
- Masters, Canadian History, University of Ottawa

February 1999 to Present
Associate Deputy Minister of Human Resources Development

June 1998 to February 1999
Deputy Secretary (Intergovernmental Policy), Privy Council Office

November 1995 - May 1998
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, Department of Human Resources Development

November 1994 - November 1995
Assistant Deputy Minister, Labour, Department of Human Resources Development

August 1993 - November 1994
Chairman, Transition Management, Human Resources and Labour Canada, then Executive Manager, Communications and Renewal, Department of Human Resources Development

May 1990 - August 1993
Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Department of Labour

July 1988 - May 1990
Director General, Security Policy and Operations Directorate, Department of the Solicitor General

November 1985 - July 1988
Director General, Executive Support Services, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs

May 1982 - November 1985
Director, Strategic Planning, and Director, Policy Planning and Development, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs

May 1979 - May 1982
Liaison Officer, Management Practices, Office of the Comptroller General of Canada

1976 - 1979
Consultant, then Senior Consultant, Bureau of Management Consulting, Department of Supply and Services

1973 - 1976
Executive Assistant to the Director of the Prairie Region (Winnipeg), then Program Analyst, Program Implementation, Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs

*********

Date of Birth: August 1953

- Bachelor in History, University of Toronto
- Masters in History, University of Ottawa

Professional Experience:

February 2000 to present
Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Firearms Centre, Department of Justice

1999 - 2000
Special Assignments, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs

1997 - 1999
Executive Advisor on Federal-Nunavut Relations, Office of the Interim Commissioner, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs

1994 - 1997
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Western Economic Diversification

1992 - 1994
Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Strategic Planning and Consultations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

1991 - 1992
Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy and Program Planning, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

1987 - 1991
Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Labour Market and Productivity Centre, Ottawa

1985 - 1987
Chief of Staff to Minister (Legislation), Department of Labour, Government of Ontario, Toronto

1981 - 1985
Program Officer, Industry and Labour Adjustment Program, then Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister, Department of Finance

*********

Date of Birth: May 1944

Education:

- LL.B., Law, Queen’s University at Kingston
- B.A. (Hon.), History, Economics, Queen’s University at Kingston

Professional Experience:

September 1998 to present
Special Advisor to the Associate Deputy Minister, Legal Operations Sector, Department of Justice

1995 - 1998
Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Citizenship and Immigration, Department of Justice

1988 - 1995
Senior General Counsel, Legal Services - Treasury Board, Department of Justice

1987 - 1988
Senior General Counsel, Legal Services - Solicitor General, Department of Justice

1984 - 1987
Senior Counsel, then General Counsel - Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Department of Justice

1981 - 1984
Counsel, then Senior Counsel, Civil Litigation, Department of Justice

1977 - 1981
Legal Counsel, Legal Services - Transport Canada, Department of Justice

1973 - 1977
Private Practice

*********

- Bachelor, History, McMaster University
- Masters, History, McMaster University
- Doctorate, History, Cambridge University

November 1999 to Present
Associate Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

1996 - 1999
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Economic and Regional Development Policy, Privy Council Office

1993 - 1996
Assistant Deputy Minister, Northern Affairs Programs, then Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy and Consultation, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

1987 - 1993
Director General, Constitutional Development and Strategic Planning, Northern Affairs Program, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

1985 - 1987
Director, Constitutional Development and Aboriginal Affairs, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

1984 - 1985
Director, Intergovernmental Affairs, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

1982 - 1984
Assistant Negotiator, Yukon, then Acting Senior Negotiator, Yukon, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

1979 - 1982
Senior Research Analyst, Office of Native Claims, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

1975 - 1979
Researcher, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

1974 - 1975
Social Science Researcher, Public Archives of Canada

1972 - 1974
Educational Field Representative and Editor, Prentice-Hall of Canada Ltd., Toronto

RUTH DANTZER

Date of Birth: February 1959

Education:

- Ph.D., Education-Leadership, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan
- Masters Business Administration, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario
- Bachelor of Arts (Advanced) History and Economics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

1997 to present
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Social Development Policy, Privy Council Office

1994 - 1997
Chief, then Director, Sales Tax Policy, Tax Policy Branch, Department of Finance

1991 - 1994
Senior Tax Policy Analyst, Indian Tax Policy, Sales Tax and Personal Income Tax, Tax Policy Branch, Department of Finance

1988 - 1991
Manager, Department of National Health and Welfare

1987 - 1988
Advisor/Consultant to the Executive, Meadow Lake Tribal Council, Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan; and Special Instructor, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan

1985 - 1987
Economic Development Co-ordinator, Flying Dust Band, Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan