Minister’s Transition Book 1: Introduction to Public Services and Procurement Canada—March 2025

Public Services and Procurement Canada Legal Authorities

Department of Public Works and Government Services Act

The Department of Public Works and Government Services Act establishes the Department of Public Works and Government Services, named Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) since 2016.

The legal name, Department of Public Works and Government Services, must be used for statutory instruments (for example, legislation, regulations, or Orders in Council) and in legal documents (for example, contracts) where there is an intention to create legal obligations or otherwise have legal effects.

Role of the Minister

The Department of Public Works and Government Services Act gives the Minister the authority to:

• acquire goods and services
• construct, maintain and repair public works and federal real property
• provide architectural and engineering advice
• provide office accommodation for public servants
• plan and coordinate telecommunications services
• provide IM/IT services upon request
• provide consulting and audit services
• provide services related to employee pay and pension administration
• provide translation and related services
• provide the above services to any other level of government or person

The Act also provides that the Minister is the Receiver General for Canada.

Additional Acts give the Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada statutory powers related to responsibilities that are central to the operation of the government as a whole and to support the functions of other federal departments and agencies. These include:

Defence Production Act

Part I of this Act gives the minister the exclusive authority to buy or acquire ships and defence supplies and to construct defence projects. Section 10(b) permits the Minister to request that another Minister procure or construct some supplies or projects. The Defence Production Act applies to all government contracts which meet the Act’s definition of “defence contract”.

Part II of this Act restricts access to “controlled goods” (arms-related assets and technology). Only those persons who have been determined not to pose a security risk, pursuant to security assessments, can possess controlled goods.

Expropriation Act

Under this Act, an interest in land can only be expropriated when the interest is, in the opinion of the Minister, required by the Crown for a public work or other public purpose and only for a federal department or agency. Certain Crown Corporations, such as the National Capital Commission, have provisions in their Acts enabling them to request expropriation by the Minister under the Expropriation Act. Railway companies can also request that the Minister of Transport obtain an Order in Council directing the Minister of PSPC to expropriate lands that they have been unable to acquire on a negotiated basis.

Payment in Lieu of Taxes Act

This Act authorizes the Minister to make Payments In Lieu of Taxes to provinces and municipalities on federally owned property. It does so because the federal government is constitutionally exempt from provincial and municipal property taxation.

In case of disagreement between a taxing authority and the Minister regarding property value, property dimension or effective rate applicable to any federal property, the Dispute Advisory Panel established under the Act makes recommendations to the Minister.

Seized Property Management Act

This Act gives the Minister the authority to provide consultative and other services to any person employed in the federal public administration or by a provincial or municipal authority in relation to the seizure, restraint, custody, management, forfeiture or disposal of property. The Act also gives the Minister the authority to manage property seized, restrained or forfeited under any act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province, or paid under subsection 18(2) of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, and the authority to dispose of property when it is forfeited.

Surplus Crown Assets Act

This Act establishes the legal framework for the disposal of surplus material Crown assets. No department may dispose of surplus assets other than in accordance with the Act. Subject to terms and conditions that the Treasury Board may prescribe, a department may sell, exchange, transfer to another department, lease, lend, or otherwise dispose of or deal with surplus assets. Departments and federal bodies may request the Minister to dispose of or deal with assets under the Act. The Minister plays the role of the main disposal and end-of-life cycle material management agent for the Crown. All real property or immovables as defined in the Federal Real Property and Federal Immovables Act are excluded.

Some other acts that give the Minister responsibilities are:

• Translation Bureau Act
• Federal Prompt Payment for Construction Work Act
• Official Residences Act
• Publication of Statutes Act
• Canada Post Corporation Act
• Bridges Act
• Dry Docks Subsidies Act
• Northumberland Strait Crossing Act
• Financial Administration Act

General Accountability

Broadly, Ministers fulfill their accountabilities with respect to organizations by demonstrating appropriate diligence and competence in the discharge of their responsibilities. What constitutes appropriate ministerial oversight will depend on a number of factors, such as the nature of the organization and the Minister’s role. Ministerial accountability to Parliament does not mean that a Minister is presumed to have knowledge of every matter that occurs within his or her department or portfolio, nor that the Minister is required to accept personal responsibility for every matter. It requires that the Minister attend to all matters in Parliament that concern any organizations for which he or she is responsible, including responding to questions. It further requires that the Minister take appropriate corrective action to address any problems that may have arisen, consistent with the Minister’s role with respect to the organization in question. In exercising the powers conferred by Parliament and in implementing Cabinet decisions, Ministers are supported by a Deputy Minister and departmental officials. Many of the Minister’s powers are normally exercised on the Minister’s behalf by Deputy Ministers and departmental officials, who may in some cases act under formal delegations. Ministers are individually accountable to Parliament and the Prime Minister for their own actions and those of their department, including the actions of all officials under their management and direction. Public servants do not share in Ministers’ Constitutional accountability to Parliament but support Ministers in this accountability. This includes appearing before parliamentary committees on behalf of their Ministers to answer questions or provide information that Ministers could not be expected to provide personally.

Financial and Spending Authorities

Responsibility for the control and spending of public money is placed on the Minister and the Deputy Minister by Parliament through appropriation acts, the Financial Administration Act and its regulations.

Only the Minister and the Deputy Minister may delegate spending and financial authorities in writing to positions in the department where responsibility can be most effectively exercised and where accountability for results can be determined.

Departmental officials with delegated authority are granted only those authorities related to the delivery and administration of their approved areas of responsibility. The employee must complete mandatory training and the department has monitoring controls in place to ensure compliance with legislative and policy requirements.

Procurement

The minister is responsible for acquiring, planning and organizing the provision of goods and services for all departments. The Minister currently has the exclusive authority to acquire goods for departments (which has the same meaning as in section two of the Financial Administration Act). These exclusive authorities are subject to some departmental exceptions, such as the Canada Revenue Agency and Shared Services Canada. Effective June 9, 2025, amendments to the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act will extend these exclusive authorities to services, including construction services (but not including legal services). Despite these exclusive authorities (sometimes referred to as a “monopoly”), the Minister has the authority to delegate authority to acquire goods and services to an appropriate minister under any terms and conditions that the Minister considers suitable. In anticipation of the expansion of the exclusive authorities relating to services, delegation letters have already been sent out by your predecessor.

To effectively and efficiently deliver on his responsibilities related to procurement, the Minister provides other departments and agencies contracting guidance, templates, standard clauses, and ready-made tools departments can use to procure the goods and services they require pursuant to delegations that have been issued to their respective Ministers. When departments use these tools such as Supply Arrangements for the purchase of services they do so under the authority of their own respective Minister.

The Minister must rely on the advice of departments and agencies when they are the technical authority on a requirement, and trust they have done the proper due diligence when recommending a specific course of action to PSPC officials.

While the Minister has broad powers related to procurement, procurement processes are carried out by departmental officials. They ensure due diligence and compliance with established procurement processes that have been designed to respect existing laws, regulations, trade agreements, policies, and other requirements. Departmental officials ensure the integrity of the procurement process and will seek Ministerial approval in specific situations, namely when procurements are above the amounts that have been delegated to officials, or when Treasury Board approval is required.

Oversight and Security

Office of Supplier Integrity and Compliance

The Office of Supplier Integrity and Compliance (OSIC) enables PSPC to inquire into suppliers of concern, take appropriate action to mitigate the risk they pose and promote ethical business practices in the marketplace. Most of the OSIC’s administrative and decision-making authorities, derived from the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act, have been delegated to the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Departmental Oversight Branch under the title of Registrar of Ineligibility and Suspension.

Specifically, the Registrar has been delegated authority to:

• declare ineligible or suspend a supplier from award of a contract or real property agreement
• determine ineligibility and suspension periods, including reductions, stays and renewals, and
• enter into administrative agreements with suppliers and prescribe terms and conditions

Authorities are delegated from the Minister directly to the Registrar of Ineligibility and Suspension, rather than to the Deputy Minister, to maintain a level of independence and impartiality between the official exercising the debarment authority (the Registrar) and those responsible for administering procurement and real property authorities. While the Minister has no role in the decision-making process under the OSIC, they are informed of all determinations of ineligibility and suspension.

Investigations

Authorities for investigations have been delegated to the Deputy Minister as prescribed in the Financial Administration Act, and for the sub-delegation of these authorities. In turn, there is a departmental policy that provides direction on how to sub-delegate these authorities.

Contract Security Program

The Contract Security Program (CSP) is a policy-based program, and the authority is derived from the Treasury Board Secretariat Policy on Government Security (PGS). The CSP’s contract security services are triggered based on security requirements identified by client organizations when they initiate a procurement process. Additionally, the Program has the authority to provide leadership, advice and guidance for matters related to contract security. Where PSPC is the Contracting Authority on behalf of client departments and agencies, the CSP provides its services, including advice and guidance on contracts that contain security requirements.

Communications Overview

Mandate

The Communications sectors of PSPC deliver strategic, timely and coordinated services to ensure that communications are managed effectively to support the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and the department.

Key Activities

Strategic advice

We work closely with the department’s programs and regions, and other government departments, to develop and execute communications strategies and activities that align with ministerial, departmental and Government priorities.

Proactive communications

We showcase the department’s work through events, announcements, social media, web content, marketing activities, media outreach and videos. The team is available to provide support for the development of messaging, scripts, video recordings and editing to support the Minister’s communications on departmental priorities.

Issues management

Working with program branches, and through assessment of media, social media, disclosures and other sources, we identify emerging issues and prepare required communications materials to ensure that information in the public domain concerning the department is accurate and properly contextualized.

Media relations and media services

The Media Relations team manages all interactions with journalists. This includes responding to media questions; planning, organizing and providing on-site support for technical briefings and other media events; and providing spokesperson training. When an issue involves multiple organizations, the team coordinates responses with other departments.

Media Services monitors traditional media, share issues of interest with the department, and provide media analyses, summaries and morning and evening media clippings packages.

Events and announcements

The Ministerial Services and Communications Integration team leads, manages and coordinates comprehensive events logistics for the Minister or his/her representative, from planning and execution to the post-event assessment for departmental announcements.

The team coordinates and updates the Strategic Communications calendar to identify departmental announcements and related activities of interest. This document is presented during the weekly Communications Opportunities Meeting with the Minister’s Office. The team also manages the approval process and the transmission of communications products to the Minister’s Office and the Privy Council Office.

Speechwriting

Where content and subject matter are directly related to the department’s mandate, the Speechwriting team draft speeches for the Minister (or ministers and members of Parliament on behalf of the Minister) for events, announcements, keynotes, stakeholder meetings, internal events, Parliamentary Committee appearances, and debates in the House of Commons.

The speechwriters are key to capturing the Minister’s voice and ensuring consistent messaging in all spoken activities

Keeping in touch with Communications

The Communications team meets regularly with the Minister’s communications team to provide professional and non-partisan communications advice.

Public Services and Procurement Canada Senior Executives

Deputy Minister and associate deputy ministers

Arianne Reza
Deputy Minister

Michael Mills
Associate Deputy Minister

Alex Benay
Associate Deputy Minister

Human Capital Management Portfolio

Kim Steele
Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Human Capital Management Solutions

Mathew Myre
ADM, Strategy and Integration

Teresa D’Andrea
ADM and Chief Data Officer (CDO), Data Modernization

Annie Champagne
ADM, Pay Administration

Defence Procurement Review

Siobhan Harty
ADM, Defence Procurement Review

Ministerial Corporate Services

Simon Page
ADM, Defence and Marine Procurement

Dominic Laporte
ADM, Procurement

Mark Quinlan
ADM, Real Property Services

Jennifer Garrett
Associate ADM, Science & Parliamentary Infrastructure

Lucie Séguin
ADM, Receiver General & Pension

Michael Hammond
ADM, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Finance

Lorenzo Ieraci
ADM, Policy, Planning & Communications

Kiran Hanspal
ADM, Human Resources

Paula Folkes-Dallaire
Associate ADM, Defence & Marine Procurement

Mollie Royds
Associate ADM, Procurement

Nathalie Bertrand
Associate ADM, Real Property Services

Duncan Retson
Associate ADM, Science & Parliamentary Infrastructure

Catherine Poulin
ADM, Departmental Oversight

Jean-François Lymburner
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Translation Bureau

Marc Brouillard
ADM & Chief Information Officer (CIO), Digital Services

Casey Thomas
Office of the Chief Audit, Evaluation and Risk Executive

Paula Wilson
Senior General Counsel

Office of the Procurement Ombud

Alexander Jeglic
Procurement Ombud

Office of the Ombud for Mental Health

Mario Baril
Ombud for Mental Health

Portfolio Agencies Heads

Canada Post

National Capital Commission

Canada Lands Company Limited

Defence Construction Canada

Biographies

Arianne Reza, Deputy Minister of Public Services and Procurement

Arianne Reza was appointed Deputy Minister of Public Services and Procurement on November 2, 2023. Prior to that, she served as Associate Deputy Minister, beginning in August 2021.

In her role, Ms. Reza oversees key government internal services as part of the work Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) does as central purchasing agent, real property manager, treasurer, accountant, pay and pension administrator, integrity advisor, common service provider and linguistic authority.

Previously, as the Assistant Deputy Minister for Procurement at PSPC, Ms. Reza was the senior official responsible for federal procurement. She oversaw 1,400 employees across Canada who procured billions worth of goods and services annually on behalf of over 100 federal departments and agencies. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Reza led the urgent procurement of critical goods and services to ensure the health and safety of Canadians, including vaccines and personal protective equipment.

Ms. Reza directed the development and implementation for the simplification of procurement practices. These efforts focused on building an accessible procurement system that drives value for money while advancing government socio-economic objectives, simplifying the procurement system for suppliers and client departments, and delivering results for Canadians. She is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Working Party of the Leading Practitioners on Public Procurement.

Ms. Reza has over 25 years of experience in the federal public service. She worked at the Canada Border Services Agency, where she held senior executive roles in regional and international operations and oversaw commercial and traveller border programs. She was also previously Special Advisor to the Associate Secretary of the Treasury Board and Special Advisor to the President of the Canada School of Public Service.

Ms. Reza holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Carleton University and completed the Advancing Women in Leadership Program at the Sprott School of Business.

Alex Benay, Associate Deputy Minister of Public Services and Procurement (Enterprise Pay Coordination)

Alex Benay became Associate Deputy Minister of Public Services and Procurement (Enterprise Pay Coordination) in June 2023.

Prior to this appointment, Alex was a senior partner with Levio Business and Technology and Vice Chair of the National Arts Centre. From 2020 to 2022, he served as the Global Lead of Government Azure Strategy at Microsoft where he helped governments around the world adopt cloud technologies.

From 2019 to 2020, Alex was a partner with KPMG where he led the digital transformation of governments and Fortune 500 companies in the areas of technology, people and strategy.

Alex was a Deputy Minister at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat from 2017 to 2019 where he served as Chief Information Officer. In this role, he oversaw key information technology initiatives in service modernization, legacy system management, good governance, and open and transparent government.

Alex was also the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation (Ingenium) where he oversaw the transformation of the country’s national museums. In addition, he is a former Global Affairs Canada executive.

Alex is the author of two books: Canadian Failures and Government Digital. He holds a bachelor of arts in history from the University of Ottawa.

Michael Mills, Associate Deputy Minister of Public Services and Procurement

Michael Mills became Associate Deputy Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) in December 2023.

As PSPC’s Reconciliation Champion, Michael supports the Department’s commitment to advancing reconciliation and increasing Indigenous participation in federal procurement.

Michael recently became Associate Deputy Minister Champion for the Universities of Regina and Saskatchewan. In this role, Michael works to strengthen collaboration between the Public Service and the universities by aligning areas of mutual interest such as research needs, providing content expertise, and engaging with key campus partners.

Prior to his appointment as Associate Deputy Minister, Michael held several leadership roles at PSPC, most recently serving as Assistant Deputy Minister, Procurement Branch. Michael has instituted several components of strategic branch leadership, along with departmental and federal transformation. He has led large complex procurement projects, such as high-frequency rail and the Canadian Dental Care Plan while remaining focused on ensuring that PSPC’s mandate commitments and corporate priorities were followed, in the areas of greening, reconciliation, and diversity and inclusion.

In prior years, Michael assisted with the Department’s contribution to the government’s pandemic response and served as Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Procurement Branch, and Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property Services.

Michael also worked as Vice-President of Investment for a federal Crown corporation called PPP Canada, where Michael and his team helped clients from all levels of government to structure public-private partnership transactions and to implement successful public-private partnership procurement strategies.

Prior to working at PPP Canada, Michael held various positions with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, the Department of Finance Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics from the University of Regina and a Master of Arts in Economics from Queen’s University.

Mark Quinlan, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property Services

Mark Quinlan is the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of Real Property Services.

Since 2023, Mark has been responsible for the operations of Real Property Services, including project management, project delivery, facilities management, technical services, real estate services, strategic sourcing and infrastructure asset management. He is also responsible for the Office Portfolio Plan, Disposal and Housing, and Client Relations Services.

Prior to this, Mark was with the Canada Revenue Agency, where he was Assistant Commissioner of the Quebec Region. During his career with the federal public service, Mark has held several other executive positions, including Vice-President of Operations for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, as well as Regional Director General of the Quebec Region for Public Services and Procurement Canada.

Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce (finance) from the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University and a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Quebec at Montréal. He also holds a graduate diploma in notarial law from the University of Sherbrooke and an executive diploma in public leadership from Harvard Kennedy School.

Nathalie Bertrand, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property Services

Nathalie Bertrand became Associate Assistant Deputy Minister of Real Property Services on May 6, 2024.

In this role, Nathalie is responsible for the operations of Real Property Services, including project management, project delivery, facilities management, technical services, real estate services, strategic sourcing and infrastructure asset management. She is also responsible for the Office Portfolio Plan, Disposal and Housing, and Client Relations Services.

Prior to this, Nathalie was with Infrastructure Canada (INFC) where she served as:

• Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) of the Transformation Branch
• ADM of the Corporate Services Branch
• Chief Financial Officer

Before joining INFC, Nathalie worked at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service for 17 years where she held various executive roles, including Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Director of Resource Management.

Nathalie holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Laurentian University, as well as a Chartered Professional Accountant designation.

Jennifer Garrett, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Science and Parliamentary Infrastructure

Jennifer Garrett was appointed as the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Science and Parliamentary Infrastructure Branch in January 2025, after having served in this role as Acting Assistant Deputy Minister since January 2024. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Garrett was the Director General for the Centre Block Rehabilitation Program in the Parliamentary Precinct Branch since 2016. Her responsibilities include overseeing the rehabilitation of the Centre Block, Canada’s iconic symbol of democracy, as well as the construction of the new adjacent underground Parliament Welcome Centre.

In this role, Ms. Garrett is responsible for carrying on the important work of renewing Canada’s Parliamentary Precinct. Furthermore, she is responsible for implementing the Long Term Vision and Plan to restore and modernize the buildings and grounds of Parliament Hill.

Ms. Garrett has been in the federal public service for over 25 years and has substantial program management experience managing large and complex programs of work in the real property and defence procurement domains. Ms. Garrett holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and a Major in Urban Studies. Ms. Garrett is working towards a Masters in Urban and Rural Planning at Dalhousie University.

Duncan Retson, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Science and Parliamentary Infrastructure

Duncan Retson was appointed to the position of Associate Assistant Deputy Minister of the Science and Parliamentary Infrastructure Branch in June 2019.

In his role, Duncan supports the delivery of new science infrastructure across Canada to meet the needs of our scientists into the future, and to carry on the important work of renewing Canada’s Parliamentary Precinct.

Before returning to the National Capital Region to take on his current role, Duncan served as Regional Director General of the department’s Atlantic Region for two years.

As the regional head of the department, Duncan oversaw the planning and provision of Public Services and Procurement Canada’s programs and services to federal clients throughout the Atlantic Region. He was also responsible for the delivery of key projects, such as the rehabilitation of Province House in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and the construction of the Public Service Pay Centre in Miramichi, New Brunswick.

Duncan joined the department in 2013 in the Atlantic Region. He later moved to the National Capital Region, where he held senior positions, including Director General of Operations and Accommodations for the Parliamentary Precinct Branch, in which he was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the historic buildings and grounds of the precinct.

Duncan holds undergraduate degrees from Acadia University in physics, English and education. He also obtained a graduate degree from Western University in English and another in public administration from Queen’s University.

Dominic Laporte, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Procurement

Dominic Laporte became Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of Procurement on January 29, 2024.

In this role, Dominic oversees the planning and delivery of procurement projects and initiatives supporting the department’s mission to provide high-quality services and programs that meet the needs of federal organizations while ensuring responsible stewardship on behalf of Canadians. He also leads the development and implementation of procurement modernization initiatives aimed at making procurement processes easier, faster and more accessible for both suppliers and buyers.

Before joining the Procurement Branch, Dominic served as Chief Executive Officer of Public Services and Procurement Canada’s Translation Bureau, the Government of Canada’s centre of excellence for linguistic services. Prior to that, he worked for several years as Assistant Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Corporate Services at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, as well as Executive Director of Pension Policy and Programs with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Dominic’s commitment to ensuring that procurement is conducted in a fair, open and transparent manner is deeply rooted in the various roles he held during the first part of his career at the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, where he served as a lawyer, research director, secretary and executive director.

Dominic holds a bachelor’s degree in economics as well as degrees in common law and civil law from the University of Ottawa. He is a member of the Law Society of Ontario.

Mollie Royds, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Procurement

Mollie Royds is Associate Assistant Deputy Minister of the Procurement Branch. Before joining Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) in April 2022, Mollie was Director General of Procurement Services in the Materiel Group at National Defence. From September 2017 to July 2019, she was Executive Director in the Government Operations Sector at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Mollie was the first Executive Director of the Independent Review Panel for the Defence Acquisition Office within the National Defence portfolio. She was also previously Director of Strategic Policy and Integration for the interim Defence Procurement Secretariat at PSPC. Prior to that, Mollie was Director of Strategic Policy for the Northern Affairs Organization at the former Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. She has also worked at the Privy Council Office, holding positions first as an analyst in the Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat, and then as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Priorities and Planning.

Mollie began her career in the public service at National Defence in the Policy Group, including serving as Deputy Director of Western Hemisphere Policy, as well as a policy analyst in the following directorates: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Policy, Policy Development and Parliamentary Affairs. She also had assignments as Senior Policy Advisor to the Commander of Canada Command, as well as to the Canadian Armed Forces-commanded Multi-National Brigade under the NATO Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mollie has a master of arts in political science from the University of Calgary and a bachelor of arts (honours) from Dalhousie University.

Simon Page, Assistant Deputy Minister, Defence and Marine Procurement

Simon Page joined the department as Assistant Deputy Minister of the Defence and Marine Procurement Branch on March 1, 2021.

In his role, Mr. Page supports Canada's military and coast guard operations, heading major air, land and marine procurements, and associated sustainment and support service contracts.

Mr. Page retired from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in December 2019, after more than 35 years of service, to join the public service as a civilian and assume the duties of Associate Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) at National Defence.

His long career in the CAF began with his enrolment in the Canadian Forces in 1984 under the Regular Officer Training Plan as a Maritime Engineer. Over the years, Mr. Page progressed through the military ranks. In December 2012, he became the Chief of Staff for the Maritime Equipment Programme Management Division of the Materiel Group. In 2015, Mr. Page was promoted to Commodore, and he was posted to the position of Chief of Staff, Operations and in the Military Personnel Command organization in 2018. In June 2019, he assumed the duties of Officer Commanding the Command and Deputy Chief of Staff - Materiel, up until his retirement from the CAF.

Mr. Page graduated from the Royal Military College with a Bachelor in Computer Engineering and also holds a master’s degree in defence studies at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto.

Paula Folkes-Dallaire, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Defence and Marine Procurement

Paula Folkes-Dallaire was appointed to the position of Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Defence and Marine Procurement, on April 3, 2023.

In this role, Paula supports Canada's military and coast guard operations by leading major air, land and marine procurements, and associated sustainment and support service contracts.

From 2019 to 2023, Paula served as the Director General of Defence Procurement at the Embassy of Canada in Washington D.C. In this role, she lead a team that manages Canada’s acquisitions under the United States Foreign Military Sales program, as well as an international cooperation program for defence procurement.

Paula has over 14 years of executive experience in a variety of leadership roles within Public Services and Procurement Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

She served for almost 4 years as the Senior Director of Canada’s Future Fighter Capability Project, working to replace Canada’s CF-18 fighter aircraft.

At Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Paula held leadership roles in:

• program evaluation
• corporate planning, performance and reporting
• corporate risk management
• strategic policy
• real property

She has also held roles within the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada.

Paula holds a B.A. in political science, a masters of public administration from the University of Toledo in Ohio, and a Certificate in Cyber Security Risk Management from Harvard. She is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and is a published author in the Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation.

Siobhan Harty, Assistant Deputy Minister, Defence Procurement Review

Siobhan Harty has been Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM), Defence Procurement Review, since September 2023. As ADM she is leading a cross-departmental review of policies and processes.

Prior to this appointment, Siobhan was Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Priorities and Planning, Privy Council Office. In this role, she was responsible for supporting meetings of the Cabinet and the planning of the government’s overall policy agenda through the Speech from the Throne. Siobhan has also held the positions of Assistant Secretary, Government Operations, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, and Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Parliamentary Affairs, Privy Council Office, as well as senior executive-level positions at Employment and Social Development Canada and Public Safety Canada.

Before joining the federal public service in 2002, Siobhan was a tenure-track professor of international politics at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. She holds a doctor of philosophy in political science from McGill University, a master of philosophy in Latin American studies from Oxford University and a bachelor of arts (honours) in political science from Concordia University.

Annie Champagne, Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Capital Management Pay Administration

Annie Champagne was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Capital Management Pay Administration, in January 2024.

In this role, Annie oversees the administration of compensation and provides ongoing support to stabilize HR-to-pay efforts across government.

Annie joined PSPC in 2020 as Director General (DG) of Policy, Planning, and Analytics within the Pay Administration Branch at PSPC. As DG, she led the HR to pay internal and inter-departmental governance committees. Her responsibilities included overseeing reporting mechanisms to monitor and align accountabilities across pay branches and throughout the enterprise.

Prior to her arrival at PSPC, Annie occupied different senior roles at the Canada School of Public Service, serving as DG in the Learning Program Branch. Additionally, she held significant positions at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, including Executive Director of the Learning Division, Director of the Inspection Modernization Office, and Director of the Aquatic Animal Health Division. Annie also worked for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police within National Security Criminal Investigations, serving as the Director of the Strategic Services function.

Annie holds a bachelor of education degree and a bachelor of sciences in human kinetics, both from the University of Ottawa.

Kim Steele, Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Technology Officer, Human Capital Management Solutions

Kim Steele was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Human Capital Management Solutions, supporting the Enterprise Pay Coordination Office at Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), effective October 2, 2023.

In her role as CTO for Human Capital Management, Kim leads the overall effort to advance the technology solutions for the current and future human resources and pay systems of the Government of Canada.

Kim has held various senior roles in PSPC, including Chief Information Officer and ADM of the Digital Services Branch, ADM of the Pay Solutions Branch, Director General of Strategic and Enabling Services, as well as Director General of Project Portfolio Management and the Service Management Sector in the former Chief Information Officer Branch (CIOB). Before her arrival at PSPC, Kim was the Director of Information Management Policy in CIOB at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Kim holds a master's degree in library and information science and a bachelor of arts in English literature from the University of Western Ontario.

Mathew Myre, Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Capital Management Strategy and Integration

Mathew Myre is Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Capital Management Strategy and Integration. His team is responsible for the overall strategic direction for human resources and pay, including policy, communications, governance and project oversight.

Previously, Mathew was Director General of Strategy and Program Management for the Next Generation Human Resources and Pay Initiative at Shared Services Canada, where he was responsible for the development of policy, communications as well as digital transformation activities (for example, costing and user experience).

Over the course of his 20-year career, Mathew has worked on policies and programs at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Privy Council Office, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Public Safety Canada and Canadian Heritage.

Mathew holds a bachelor of arts in history and philosophy from the University of Ottawa and a master of arts in international affairs from Carleton University.

Teresa D’Andrea, Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Data Officer, Human Capital Management Data Modernization

Teresa D’Andrea was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Data Officer of Human Capital Management Data Modernization, on October 24, 2024.

Teresa has experience in both the private and public sectors and is an accomplished public speaker and leader in the field of data and technology. She is internationally recognized for her leadership in managing digital service solutions at scale, and a winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for public service innovation. Teresa champions the power of service design and data in driving meaningful change and shaping public services for the better.

Prior to her arrival at Public Services and Procurement Canada, she served as Director General of the Service and Data Modernization team at Transport Canada, where she prioritized innovation and collaboration, focusing on incorporating human behavior into service design.

Teresa has also worked at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat in the Office of the Chief Information Officer of Canada, serving as Executive Director of Digital Enablement and as Director of GC Digital Exchange. In these roles, she led several of the federal government's signature initiatives aimed at transforming the Government of Canada to a digital-first, data-driven organization.

Over the course of her career, she has also worked at Employment and Social Development Canada, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Nortel Networks and Imperial Oil.

Lucie Séguin, Assistant Deputy Minister, Receiver General and Pension

Lucie Séguin was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister of the Receiver General and Pension Branch on September 19, 2022.

In her role, Lucie is responsible for leading the operations of the federal treasury, representing $3.15 trillion in cash flows, preparing the Public Accounts of Canada and maintaining the government's general ledger. She is spearheading the modernization of the Receiver General function, a major initiative that will leverage emerging banking and accounting industry advancements to deliver faster, more convenient and more secure payment experiences for Canadians.

Lucie also ensures the delivery of government-wide services, including the Government of Canada's pension administration for 8 pension plans, the Canadian General Standards Board, GCSurplus and Seized Property Management Services, and e-clippings. As King's Printer for Canada, she is responsible for the publishing of the Canada Gazette and the Statutes of Canada. In addition, Lucie provides advisory services to departments and agencies on government advertising and public opinion research.

Previously, Lucie was Chief Executive Officer of Public Services and Procurement Canada's Translation Bureau, where she positioned the Bureau as a centre of excellence in linguistic services for the Government of Canada and a leader in adopting artificial intelligence while ensuring language quality. Lucie oversaw all the translation, interpretation and terminology services, in both official languages and in more than 100 Indigenous and foreign languages, to federal government departments and agencies, as well as to the Canadian Parliament.

Prior to joining the Translation Bureau, Lucie held various executive positions with decision-making and strategic responsibilities at Library and Archives Canada and Natural Resources Canada.

Lucie has two children. She holds a bachelor's degree in education, a master's degree in public administration and a Chartered Professional Accountants Canada certification.

Catherine Poulin, Assistant Deputy Minister, Departmental Oversight

Catherine Poulin is the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Departmental Oversight Branch (DOB). In this position, Catherine oversees the Industrial Security Sector, the Security and Emergency Management Sector, the Integrity and Forensic Accounting Services Sector and the Security Systems Management Sector. She also serves as the Senior Officer under the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act and as the Registrar of Ineligibility and Suspension pursuant to the Ineligibility and Suspension Policy.

Before assuming her role on December 30, 2022, Catherine was Director General, Integrity and Forensic Accounting Services, DOB, where she was responsible for the government-wide Integrity Regime, Forensic Accounting Services, the Fairness Monitoring Program as well as the Business Dispute Management Program.

Catherine began her career in private practice before joining the Forensic Accounting Management Group within Public Services and Procurement Canada, where she occupied the position of Senior Director from January 2015 to July 2018. In that role, she was responsible for the provision of professional forensic services to law enforcement agencies, as well as to other departments and agencies related to financial investigations. Catherine collaborated on many national and international criminal investigations led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and represented Canada as a member of Europol’s Association of Law Enforcement Forensic Accountants.

Catherine holds a degree in business administration from the University of Sherbrooke and a post-graduate diploma in administrative and financial business from the former École supérieure de commerce in Poitiers, France. She is a member of the Quebec Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) Order and also holds the American credential Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF).

Jean-François Lymburner, Chief Executive Officer, Translation Bureau

Jean-François Lymburner became Chief Executive Officer of the Translation Bureau on January 22, 2024. In this role, Jean-François oversees the translation, interpretation and terminology services that the Translation Bureau provides to Canada’s government, Parliament and courts in English, French, Indigenous languages and foreign languages, as well as sign languages. He is also responsible for the Language Portal of Canada, which provides Canadians with free tools to improve their knowledge of English and French.

Jean-François joined Public Services and Procurement Canada in 2017 as Director General, Client Relationships and Demand Management, Real Property Services. At the end of 2021, he became Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property Services. In that capacity, he focused on providing excellent client service and using operations to support key government objectives, in particular, greening government operations, modernizing the public service, improving accessibility and advancing Indigenous reconciliation.

Prior to joining Public Services and Procurement Canada, Jean-François served as Director General, Client Relationships and Business Intake, Projects and Client Relationships Branch, at the newly created Shared Services Canada. Before that, he was Director General of Strategic Infrastructure, Information Management and Research at Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Jean-François holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from École Polytechnique de Montréal, and has completed the Certificate Program in Public Sector Leadership and Governance at the University of Ottawa.

Michael Hammond, Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister, Finance Branch

Michael Hammond was appointed Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister, Finance Branch, on November 4, 2024.

In this role, Michael provides financial leadership and project oversight for the department, including overseeing its annual operating budget in excess of $9 billion.

Before rejoining Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), Michael served as Chief Financial Officer at the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions. Previously, he also held financial management roles at PSPC, the Privy Council Office, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Michael holds a bachelor of commerce from the University of British Columbia and a master of business administration from the University of Toronto. He is also a chartered professional accountant.

Lorenzo Ieraci, Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Planning and Communications

Lorenzo Ieraci became Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) of the Policy, Planning and Communications Branch on March 28, 2022.

In this role, Lorenzo oversees key corporate and strategic functions in the department, including communications, integrated business planning, Cabinet and parliamentary affairs, and access to information and privacy. He also has responsibilities in helping to lead and coordinate some department-wide priorities, such as accessibility, Indigenous reconciliation and greening. In addition, he coordinates the Minister’s portfolio organizations, including Canada Post, the National Capital Commission, Defence Construction Canada and Canada Lands Company.

Previously, Lorenzo was Acting Associate ADM of the Procurement Branch. In that role, he supported the ADM in managing a branch that is responsible for delivering a large part of the government’s $22 billion in spending on acquisitions.

Lorenzo holds a master’s degree in public policy and public administration from Concordia University, and he obtained an Executive Certificate in Conflict Management from the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Law.

Kiran Hanspal, Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources

Kiran Hanspal was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister of the Human Resources Branch at Public Services and Procurement Canada on October 7, 2019.

In this role, Kiran is responsible for promoting an agile, inclusive and client-focused culture through integrated talent management practices and workplace well-being, including strategic workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, performance management, learning and leadership development, mental health, awards and recognition, official languages, and diversity.

Prior to this appointment, Kiran served as the Head of Human Resources at Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, from October 2016 to September 2019. At VAC, she advanced a digitized, tiered human resources service delivery model and piloted the pod approach to support HR-to-pay stabilization.

Before her appointment as the Head of Human Resources at VAC, Kiran held senior positions in the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (including the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer), Natural Resources Canada and Health Canada, where she was responsible for human resources, planning, performance management and evaluation. She has also led the development of strategic and program regulatory initiatives, and her contributions include transforming policies, implementation excellence and fostering innovation.

She is a recipient of the 2018 Michelle C. Comeau Award for her contribution to veteran hiring in the public service. Kiran graduated with a bachelor of science from the University of Toronto and a master of health administration from the University of Ottawa.

Marc Brouillard, Chief Information Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister, Digital Services

Marc Brouillard became Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Assistant Deputy Minister of the Digital Services Branch on January 8, 2024.

In this role, Marc provides strategic leadership in pursuing world-class excellence in digital transformation service delivery, data and information management, and cyber security.

Before his arrival at Public Services and Procurement Canada, Marc served as Chief Digital Officer for Fisheries and Oceans Canada. He also held the following roles at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat:

• Chief Technology Officer and acting CIO of Canada
• deputy departmental CIO and acting departmental CIO

Prior to joining the Government of Canada, Marc was Vice-President of Business Development for a local ecommerce services start-up. He also spent 13 years at MONTAGE IT Services, a division of MTS/Allstream, where he held numerous positions in technology consulting and business development.

Marc holds a Computer Programming Diploma from Algonquin College as well as a CIO Leadership Professional Development Certificate from the CIO Institute of the University of Ottawa.

Casey Thomas, Chief Audit, Evaluation and Risk Executive, Office of the Chief Audit, Evaluation and Risk Executive

Casey Thomas was appointed Chief Audit, Evaluation and Risk Executive, Office of the Chief Audit, Evaluation and Risk Executive, on August 6, 2024.

In this role, Casey oversees the provision of independent advice, assurance and insights to the Minister, the deputy ministers and senior management, helping to strengthen governance, risk management and control processes across the department.

Casey is also responsible for establishing collaborative and constructive relationships and networks, promoting effective partnerships with other government departments, central agencies and stakeholders in the areas of audit, evaluation and integrated risk management. Under her leadership, she ensures that the Office of the Chief Audit, Evaluation and Risk Executive adheres to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s policies on internal auditing, evaluation and corporate risk management.

With over 25 years of performance audit experience, Casey brings expertise from her previous role as Assistant Auditor General at the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG). Throughout her time at the OAG, she led the performance audit practice, oversaw high-impact audits and contributed to the advancement of strategic corporate initiatives.

Casey holds a bachelor of arts in political science from Concordia University and a master of arts in public administration from Carleton University. She is passionate about fostering an environment of collaboration, and she is committed to delivering timely and objective information to support sound decision-making and drive continual improvement

Paula Wilson, Senior General Counsel and Executive Director, Legal Services

Paula Wilson became Senior General Counsel and Executive Director of Legal Services on September 7, 2022.

In this role, Paula directs and supervises approximately 100 employees, including 74 lawyers who provide legal advice to clients about real property, acquisition of goods and services, pension and pay administration, access to information and disposal of assets.

Before taking on this role, Paula occupied the position of General Counsel and Director of the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, which falls under the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Previous to that, she was Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel with Agriculture and Food Inspection Legal Services from 2017 to 2020. From 2004 to 2017, she occupied various positions within the Legal Services Unit at Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and Indigenous Services Canada.

Prior to 2004, Paula practised union-side labour and employment law and commercial law at a private sector law firm in Ottawa.

Paula holds a bachelor of arts (honours) degree from Queen’s University and a bachelor of laws degree from the University of Windsor.

Cheryl Baraniecki, Regional Director General, Western Region

Cheryl Baraniecki began her role as Regional Director General of the Western Region effective December 2, 2019.

Cheryl represents the Minister's and deputy ministers' interests in the Western Region, which covers the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and the territories of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. In this role, Cheryl is responsible for providing the department's full range of integrated and client-focused services, such as real property services, including office accommodation; architectural and engineering services; property and project management; environmental services; and land acquisition and disposal. She also delivers services like procurement of goods and services, real property contracting, and support to small and medium enterprises.

Cheryl joined Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)'s Western Region office as Regional Director of Procurement in February 2018. Prior to joining PSPC, she worked within the federal public service beginning in 2000 with Environment and Climate Change Canada, and gained experience serving as a senior departmental contact for stakeholders across the three Prairie provinces and the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Her skills working horizontally with diverse clients will support PSPC's Western Region well.

Cheryl completed a bachelor of science and a master of science at the University of Alberta in microbiology and cell biotechnology. She has a passion for aviation and dog sports, which she shares with her two busy boys, Evan and Ryan, and her husband, Jay.

Fernando Mojica, Regional Director General, Pacific Region

Fernando Mojica was appointed Regional Director General (RDG) of the Pacific Region on August 21, 2024.

Fernando began his career as a submarine officer with the Colombian Navy and joined the Canadian Coast Guard in 2005. Throughout his time with the organization, Fernando worked in various roles, including overseeing all mechanical and electrical aspects of the fleet and the Vessel Traffic Management Information Systems.

Since then, he has held a number of key leadership positions, including Director of Service Delivery; Director of Marine Civil Infrastructure and Environmental Response; Director of Remotely Piloted Aircraft System in Transport Canada; Director within the Major Projects Directorate; Senior Director of Fleet and Maritime Services (FMS); and Senior Director Fleet Central Region, Canadian Coast Guard.

Fernando has led multifaceted national operation programs and implemented national policies in national and regional operational contexts. He graduated as a submarine officer from the Colombian Navy, and holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and telecommunications from the Colombian Naval Academy. He also holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Polytechnique.

Françoys Bernier, Regional Director General, Quebec Region

Françoys Bernier became Regional Director General, Quebec Region, on November 28, 2022.

In this role, Françoys is responsible for providing the full range of integrated and client-focused services offered by the department in the Quebec Region, where he represents the Minister’s and deputy ministers' interests. The region covers the province of Quebec outside of the National Capital Region, with major offices in the cities of Montréal and Québec.

Prior to taking on this role, Françoys was Regional Director of the Centre of Expertise—Professional and Technical Services. His responsibilities included project management; environmental services; architecture and engineering; design; and building and facilities management, which involved providing housing to 22,000 public servants. Françoys also held the position of regional director responsible for the transformation of the Place Bonaventure office in Montréal in 2018. This transformation of a conventional office into an activity-based workplace was the first of its kind in a Government of Canada space. The project has received several national and international distinctions, and over 1,000 visitors from both the public and private sectors have come to see the space to date.

Françoys completed a degree in geography and postgraduate studies in geographic information systems at the University of Quebec in Montréal. Before joining the public service, he worked in academia and in the private sector.

A father of two, Françoys lives in Montréal.

Jennifer Fowler, Regional Director General, Atlantic Region

Jennifer Fowler was appointed Regional Director General (RDG) of the Atlantic Region on August 1, 2024.

As RDG, Jennifer is responsible for a staff of approximately 700 employees and operations in 11 offices across the 4 Atlantic provinces. The Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) Atlantic team delivers real property, procurement and a range of other services, including program requirements of the former Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, now part of PSPC’s Cape Breton Operations.

Jennifer has been working for PSPC’s Atlantic Region since 2019, where she served initially as Regional Director, Accommodation and Portfolio Management Services, and then as Senior Director, Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre. She also worked in various capacities for Fisheries and Oceans Canada from 2010 to 2019.

Jennifer has extensive knowledge and experience overseeing real property portfolios and working to strengthen key client relationships. Over the years, she has consistently demonstrated her dedication and leadership skills and has contributed significantly to the success of the Atlantic Region.

Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Ottawa as well as a master’s degree in public administration from Dalhousie University.

Alexia Touralias, Regional Director General, Ontario Region

Alexia Touralias was appointed Regional Director General (RDG) of the Ontario Region, effective June 10, 2020.

As RDG of the Ontario Region, Alexia provides executive leadership in the region, representing the Minister's and deputy ministers' interests. In addition to managing the corporate support functions, she is responsible for the provision of integrated services to clients and departments in the region.

Prior to her current role, Alexia has been the Director General of Innovation and Business Development within the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario since September 2015. She has worked as an executive in various capacities within the Agency, including as Acting Vice-President of Business Innovation and Community Development, and as the Director of Canada Business Ontario. She was previously with Infrastructure Canada and the Privy Council Office.

Alexia holds a master's degree in public administration from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, and a bachelor of arts in political science from the University of Windsor in Ontario.

Alexander Jeglic, Procurement Ombud

Mr. Alexander Jeglic has been re-appointed as Procurement Ombud for another five-year term.

Alex is a lawyer by background and previously served as General Counsel for Private-Public Partnerships Canada Inc., a federal Crown Corporation, where he was involved in the procurement processes for large infrastructure projects. He also held positions of increased responsibility in the United States and Canada including at the Canadian Commercial Corporation as Senior Legal Counsel and the Australian Trade Commission as Business Development Manager and International Trade Advisor in Washington (DC). Throughout Alex’s legal and professional career, he has focused primarily on procurement, contracting and dispute resolution which has served him well as Procurement Ombud.

Alex graduated from Carleton University in Ottawa with a Bachelor of Arts (Law), with a concentration in Business Law, in 2000. In 2001, he completed the Cornell Law School Paris Summer Institute program in international and comparative law and in 2003 completed a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in Chicago, Illinois with a certificate in International Law.

Alex has also taught procurement law at Carleton University for several years. Alex and his wife Shelley have four children, Xavier, Gabriella, Julianna and Oliver.

Mario Baril, Ombud for Mental Health

Mario Baril took on the role of Ombud for Mental Health at PSPC in November 2022. He previously held the role of Ombud for Mental Health and Employee Well-Being at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada for 4 years.

During his career in the Government of Canada, Mario has occupied several executive positions, including here at PSPC, as Executive Director of Strategic and Business Communications.

Mario has an Ombud certification from York University, an accreditation as Mediator from the Institut de médiation et d'arbitrage du Québec (IMAQ), and a Third-Party Neutral course from Saint Paul University. He hopes to continue to launch initiatives aimed at promoting organizational health, offering a range of confidential professional services, and ensuring that employees are equipped to solve the issues and challenges that come their way in the workplace.

As Ombud, Mario brings to PSPC extensive experience in developing strategic partnerships and initiatives to foster psychologically safe workplaces, including:

• the expansion of the Canadian Innovation Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace as a government-wide initiative
• the delivery of the Workplace Mental Health Leadership Certification Program
• as a member of the advisory board for the Centre of Expertise on Mental Health in the Workplace at the Treasury Board Secretariat

Mario holds a master's degree in public administration from l'École nationale d'administration publique (ENAP), a bachelor's degree in economics and public administration from the University of Ottawa, and a college diploma in journalism.

In his spare time, Mario practises many outdoor sports, including downhill skiing, swimming, canoeing, cycling and trekking. His passion for travel has brought him to several countries, allowing him and his family to encounter amazing people and diverse cultures from around the world.