Prime Minister Announces Creation of the Leadership Network

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced the creation of The Leadership Network, a new horizontal organization, to carry forward the reforms begun by La Relève -- a series of initiatives to meet the challenge of building a modern and vibrant Public Service able to use fully the talents of its people.

This organization will support the collective management of Assistant Deputy Ministers, build on the activities of the La Relève Task Force, which it will replace, and assist leaders at all levels of the Public Service meet the ongoing challenge of renewal.

The Prime Minister also announced that Peter Harrison, currently serving as Head of the La Relève Task Force, has been appointed as Head of The Leadership Network. Mr. Harrison's appointment is effective immediately.

The Prime Minister took this opportunity to thank the La Relève Task Force which, under the leadership of Peter Harrison, has made a significant contribution to public service reform. He also took the opportunity to congratulate the Task Force on receiving the Gold Star Agency Award for the year 1997/98 from the Canadian Public Personnel Management Association. The Association considered La Relève to have had the most positive effect of the decade on human resource management and renewal in the Public Service.

Biographical notes attached.

PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555

Born: March 1947

Education:
- B.A. (First Class Honours), Geography, London School of Economics (London, England)
- M.A., Geography, University of Victoria (British Columbia)
- Ph.D., Geography, University of Washington (Seattle, Washington, U.S.A)

Professional Experience:

December 1995 to Present
Associate Deputy Minister of Human Resources Development and Vice-Chairperson of the Canada Employment Insurance Commission (On assignment as Head of the La Relève Task Force since January 1997)

April 1993 - December 1995
Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources, Revenue Canada

April 1991 - April 1993
Deputy Principal, Canadian Centre for Management Development

August 1989 - April 1991
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Priorities and Planning, Privy Council Office

December 1987 - August 1989
Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic Development, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

September 1986 - December 1987
General Director, Economic Development Policy Branch, Department of Finance

April 1984 - September 1986
Director, Social Policy Division, Department of Finance

June 1981 - April 1984
Assistant Director, Minerals, Northern Development and Special Projects, Department of Finance

1973 - 1981
Assistant, then Associate Professor (tenured), Department of Geography and Regional Planning, University of Ottawa

1970 - 1973
Research Associate, Department of Economics, University of Washington