The Honourable Peter Michael Pitfield,
Former Clerk of the Privy Council (1975-1979)

The Honourable Peter Michael Pitfield, P.C.
Clerk of the Privy Council and
Secretary to the Cabinet
January 16, 1975 to June 4, 1979
March 11, 1980 to December 9, 1982
Appointed Member of the Queen's Privy Council
March 19, 1984

Biographical Notes

Michael Pitfield served twice as Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet; the first time from January 16, 1975, to June 4, 1979, and again from March 11, 1980, to December 9, 1982.

Mr. Pitfield graduated from St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, and the University of Ottawa. He obtained his law degree from McGill University and in 1962 he was admitted to the Quebec Bar. Mr. Pitfield joined the Public Service of Canada in 1959, serving as an administrative assistant to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. Over the years he held various positions, including Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Plans), Deputy Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs and Deputy Registrar General of Canada. On December 22, 1982, Mr. Pitfield was appointed to the Senate. He served as Chairman of the Special Committee of the Senate on the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and as a member of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament. From 1984 to 2003 Mr. Pitfield served as Vice-Chairman and a director of Power Corporation of Canada and in 2003 was named Director Emeritus of the company. In 2003, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute created the Michael Pitfield Chair in Cardiac Surgery.

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