Minister of Health announces appointments to the Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Ottawa, Ontario – June 5, 2019 – The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, announced today the appointment of a new Chairperson of the Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). This marks the first time a woman has served as Chairperson of CIHR’s Governing Council. The Minister also named four new members to CIHR’s Council.

Together with the current members of CIHR's Governing Council, these exceptional Canadians will play a vital role in helping shape health research that changes the lives of Canadians across the country. They will set CIHR's strategic directions, goals and policies, approve CIHR's budget, and evaluate the organization's performance and achievements.

The Council members will also advise the Minister of Health on how research can strengthen Canada's health care system and improve the effectiveness of health services and products for the benefit of all Canadians.

The following individual was appointed by the Governor-in-Council (GiC) to a five-year term as Chairperson of CIHR’s Governing Council:

• Dr. Jeannie Shoveller of Vancouver, British Columbia: Dr. Shoveller was appointed as Chairperson of CIHR’s Governing Council, having first been appointed to the Council in 2017. She is a professor at the University of British Columbia, the research director of the BC Centre on Substance Use, and the Associate Director of the Centre for Gender & Sexual Health Equity.

The following individuals were appointed by the GiC to three-year terms as members of CIHR’s Governing Council:

• Mr. Don Ferguson of Fredericton, New Brunswick: Mr. Ferguson is a former Deputy Minister of Health for New Brunswick.
• Ms. Debbie Fischer of Toronto, Ontario: Ms. Fischer formerly served on CIHR’s Governing Council from 2015 to 2018. She is an executive associate at KPMG and an executive-in-residence at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.
• Mr. Dominic Giroux of Sudbury, Ontario: Mr. Giroux is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Health Sciences North and the Health Sciences North Research Institute.
• Dr. Brianne A. Kent of Vancouver, British Columbia: Dr. Kent is a postdoctoral research fellow at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

These appointments were made under the Government of Canada’s new approach to Governor-in-Council appointments. The Government is committed to a merit-based, open, and transparent process for selecting GiC appointees. It is designed to identify highly qualified candidates who are committed to the principles of public service and embrace public service values, all while striving to achieve regional representation and gender parity.