April 18, 2001
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced the following senior appointments:

Paul Thibault, currently Associate Deputy Minister of Industry, becomes Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Thibault previously served as Federal Coordinator Y2K National Contingency Planning at the Department of National Defence. He joined the Public Service in 1968 as a foreign service officer, and has held progressively more senior positions since that time, including Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Security and Intelligence), Privy Council Office and Assistant Secretary (Government Operations, Foreign and Defence), Treasury Board Secretariat. This appointment is effective April 30, 2001.

Pierre Reid, currently Rector, Université de Sherbrooke, becomes Associate Deputy Minister of Industry. Mr. Reid began his career as a Systems Manager with IBM Canada. His professional experience includes some twenty three years with the Université de Sherbrooke, where he held various positions, including Director of the MBA Program, School of Business and Vice-Rector, Administration. He worked as a Freelance Consultant in Information Systems for a period of twelve years and was the owner of CDI-INTÉGRAL INC. This appointment is effective June 1, 2001.

Nurjehan Mawani, C.M., former Chairperson of the Immigration and Refugee Board, becomes a Commissioner of the Public Service Commission. Mrs. Mawani began her public service career as Vice-Chairman and Member of the Immigration Appeal Board. She later served as Deputy Chairman, Immigration Appeal Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board and, in 1992, became the Board’s Chairperson. Mrs. Mawani, a lawyer, articled and practised with the law firm of Clark Wilson in Vancouver, British Columbia. From 1973 to 1983, she was a solicitor in general practice in London, England. Mrs. Mawani is a member of the Order of Canada and the recipient of the Public Service of Canada’s Outstanding Achievement Award, the highest honour in the Public Service. This appointment is effective May 14, 2001.

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Biographical notes attached.

PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555

Date of Birth: April 1945

Education:

- Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, University of Ottawa

- MA studies, Carleton University

- Diploma in Public Administration, École nationale d’administration-Paris

Associate Deputy Minister, Industry Canada

Federal Coordinator, Y2K National Contingency Planning, Department of National Defence

Executive Director, Immigration and Refugee Board

Assistant Secretary, Government Operations Sector and Executive Director, Canada Infrastructure Works Program, Treasury Board Secretariat

Acting Deputy Secretary, Program Branch, Treasury Board Secretariat

Assistant Secretary, Program Branch (Government Operations, Foreign & Defence) Treasury Board Secretariat

Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Security & Intelligence), Privy Council Office

Director of Operations, Priorities and Planning Secretariat, Privy Council Office

Economic Counsellor, Canadian Embassy, Paris

Deputy Director, General Economic Relations and Coordinator for the Ottawa Economic Summit, Department of External Affairs

Various assignments in Ottawa and abroad with the Department of External Affairs, including Geneva and Tehran

Date of Birth: August 1948

- Doctor of Science (Mathematics), Université de Paris XI (France)

- Bachelor of Science (Mathematics), Université Laval

Rector (President), Université de Sherbrooke

Professor, School of Business, Université de Sherbrooke

Vice-Rector, Administration, Université de Sherbrooke

Entrepreneur and Owner, CDI-INTÉGRAL INC.

Freelance Consultant in Information Systems

Director of the MBA Program, School of Business, Université de Sherbrooke

Vice-Dean, School of Business, Université de Sherbrooke

Visiting Professor, École des hautes études commerciales, Montreal

Professor, School of Business, Université de Sherbrooke,

Professor and Director, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

Systems Engineer, IBM Canada

Date of Birth: September 1947

Mombasa, Kenya

S abInns of Court School of Law, London, England, 1964-1967

S abHonours Degree Standard, Department of Sociology, University of Leeds, 1968

S abCalled to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn, 1968

S abAdmitted as a Solicitor to the Supreme Court of England and Wales, 1973

S abCalled to the British Columbia Bar, 1985

Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Immigration and Refugee Board; appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada and received the Public Service Outstanding Achievement Award

Deputy Chairman, Immigration Appeal Division, Immigration and Refugee Board

Vice-Chairman and Member, Immigration Appeal Board

Articled and practised with the law firm of Clark Wilson, Vancouver, British Columbia

Solicitor in general practice, London England, and established and managed a Legal Advice Centre to serve the needs of immigrant and refugee communities (London)