Clerk and Deputy Clerk bios
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet
Mr. Michael Sabia was named the 26th Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet on July 7, 2025.
Prior to becoming Clerk, Mr. Sabia served as the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hydro‑Québec since 2023. He previously served as Canada’s Deputy Minister of Finance from 2020 to 2023.
Mr. Sabia’s other notable roles include Chair of the Board of the Canada Infrastructure Bank, as well as Director of the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, in 2020.
He was previously President and CEO of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) – a role he served in from 2009 until 2020. During his tenure, he led the rebuilding of the CDPQ into a global financial institution.
Prior to joining the CDPQ, Mr. Sabia was CEO of Bell Canada Enterprises and CFO of Canadian National Railway. He began his career in the federal public service, serving principally in the Department of Finance Canada and the Privy Council Office, where he was Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Plans).
In addition to serving on government advisory groups in Canada, he has participated in a number of international initiatives, including the United Nations Net Zero Alliance and as Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum’s working group on infrastructure and development.
In 2017, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister
Effective January 27, 2024, Nathalie G. Drouin, Ad. E., was named Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister. Nathalie served as Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet from August 23, 2021, to January 26, 2024.
Prior to joining the Privy Council Office, Nathalie was Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada from June 2017 to August 2021. She previously served as Senior Associate Deputy Minister of the Department of Justice of Canada from September 2016 to June 2017.
From September 2012 to September 2016, Nathalie was Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General for the Government of Quebec.
In addition, she held a number of positions within the Autorité des marchés financiers, including Director of Legal Affairs and Director General of Market Supervision and Legal Affairs.
Nathalie G. Drouin holds a bachelor’s degree in law and a post-graduate diploma in business administration, both from Université Laval. She has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 1992.
Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet and Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Christiane Fox was appointed Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, effective January 27, 2024. As of October 21, 2024, she is concurrently serving as the Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Prior to her appointment as Deputy Clerk, Christiane held several deputy minister roles across the public service. She was the Deputy Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada from July 2022 to January 2024, the Deputy Minister of Indigenous Services Canada from September 2020 to July 2022, the Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs from November 2019 to September 2020, and the Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Youth from June 2017 to November 2019. She is also the Deputy Minister Champion of the Federal Youth Network.
Christiane has also held several positions at the Privy Council Office, including Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Communications and Consultations; Director of Operations, Policy, in the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Relations Secretariat; and Director General of Communications.
Christiane started her career as a communications advisor at Industry Canada (now Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada), where she worked in communications and in science policy. She also spent a year with the Competition Policy Review Secretariat as Director of Communications and Consultations.
Christiane has a B.A. in Mass Communications and Psychology from Carleton University and is a graduate of the University of Ottawa’s Master’s Certificate Program in Public Administration.