News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Prime Minister announces changes in the senior ranks of the Public Service

May 5, 2006
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was pleased to announce today the following changes in the senior ranks of the Public Service, effective May 23, 2006:

Samy Watson, currently Deputy Minister of the Environment, becomes Special Advisor to the Privy Council Office, pending his next assignment.

Michael Horgan, currently Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, becomes Deputy Minister of the Environment.

Michael Wernick, currently Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Plans and Consultations), becomes Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

Margaret Biggs, currently Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Priorities and Planning), Privy Council Office, becomes, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Plans and Consultations), Privy Council Office.

Biographical notes attached.

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SAMY WATSON

Date of Birth:
February 1958

Education:

Ph.D. (Leadership Studies), Andrews University, Michigan
B.A. (Political Science), Andrews University, Michigan
M.A. (Political Science), University of Toronto
M.P.A., Dalhousie University

Professional Experience

Since May 2004
Deputy Minister of the Environment

2000 - 2004
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

1997 - 2000
Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Plans and Consultations), Privy Council Office

1996 - 1997
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Priorities and Planning), Privy Council Office

1995 - 1996
General Director, Tax Policy Branch, Department of Finance

1993 - 1995
Director, Personal Income Tax and Sales Tax Divisions, Tax Policy Branch,
Department of Finance

1992 - 1993
Director, Personal Income Tax, Tax Policy Branch, Department of Finance

1991 - 1992
Project Director, Indian Tax Policy Group, Tax Policy Branch, Department of Finance

1990 - 1991
Chief, Strategic Planning, Sales Tax Division, Tax Policy Branch, Department of Finance

1987 - 1990
Policy Advisor to the Deputy Minister, Transport Canada

1982 - 1987
Various assignments and Senior Advisor positions at Transport Canada

1980 - 1982
Joined the Federal Public Service under the Administrative Trainee Program and subsequently assumed the position of Senior Project Manager, Revenue Canada, Customs and Excise

MICHAEL HORGAN

Date of Birth:
December 1955

Education:

Bachelor of Arts (Economics), Concordia University
Master (Economics), Queen=s University
Master (Economics), Princeton University, New Jersey, USA

Professional Experience

Since December 2003
Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

2001 - 2003
Senior Associate Deputy Minister of Finance

1999 - 2001
President of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

1998 - 1999
Executive Vice-President and Associate Deputy Minister, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

1996 - 1998
Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Intergovernmental Policy and Communications), Privy Council Office

1992 - 1996
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Priorities and Planning), Privy Council Office

1991 - 1992
Director, International Economic Analysis Division, International Trade and Finance Branch, Department of Finance

1990 - 1991
Director, Economic and Policy Analysis, Environment Canada

1987 - 1990
Tax Policy Officer; Chief, Strategic Planning; and then Assistant Director, Sales and Excise Tax Division, Department of Finance

1983 - 1987
Energy Economist, Energy and Resource Programs Division, Department of Finance, then Senior Economist, Economic Development Division, Department of Finance

1981 - 1982
Executive Assistant to the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister (Energy), Energy, Mines and Resources Canada

1978 - 1981
Energy Economist, Energy and Resource Programs Division, Department of Finance

MICHAEL WERNICK

Date of Birth:
September 1957

Education:

Bachelor, Economics, University of Toronto
Masters, Economics, University of Toronto

Professional Experience

Since July 2003
Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Plans and Consultation), Privy Council Office

2002 - 2003
Associate Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage

1998 - 2002
Assistant Deputy Minister, Cultural Affairs, Canadian Heritage

1996 - 1998
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Management, Canadian Heritage

1993 - 1996
Assistant Secretary, Policy Development and Constitutional Affairs, Privy Council Office

1991 - 1993
Director of Operations, Constitutional Affairs, Federal-Provincial Relations Office

1990 - 1991
Director, Strategic Planning and Corporate Services, Consumer and Corporate Affairs

1987 - 1990
Officer, Economic and Regional Development Policy Secretariat, Privy Council Office

1981 - 1987
Policy Analyst, Social Policy Division, Department of Finance

MARGARET BIGGS

Education:

Masters, International Affairs, Carleton University
Bachelor, Political Science, University of British Columbia

Professional Experience

Since December 2002
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Priorities and Planning, Privy Council Office

2000 - 2002
Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Investment Programs, Human Resources Development Canada

1998 - 1999
Associate Executive Head, Strategic Policy, Human Resources Development Canada

1996 - 1998
Special Advisor to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, Human Resources Development Canada

1995- 1996
Research Fellow, Canadian Policy Research Networks

1991 - 1994
Director General, Social Policy (previously with National Health and Welfare), Human Resources Development Canada

1989 - 1991
Special Advisor to the Executive Director, Immigration Policy, Department of
Employment and Immigration

1986 - 1987
Privy Council Officer, Privy Council Office

1976 - 1985
Director of Research / Research Officer, North South Institute

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The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications
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