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 29, 2006
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was pleased to announce today the following changes in the senior ranks of the Public Service:

Ian Bennett, currently Deputy Minister of Finance, becomes Master of the Mint, effective June 12, 2006;

Robert A. Wright, currently President of Export Development Canada, becomes Deputy Minister of Finance, effective June 12, 2006;

Mario Dion, currently Executive Director and Deputy Head, Office of Indian Residential Schools Resolution of Canada, becomes Chairperson of the National Parole Board, effective May 29, 2006;

Suzanne Tining, currently Associate Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, takes on the additional responsibility of Executive Director and Deputy Head, Office of Indian Residential Schools Resolution of Canada, effective May 29, 2006; and

Stephen Rigby, currently Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Security and Intelligence and Acting National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, becomes Executive Vice-President, Canada Border Services Agency, effective June 5, 2006.


The Prime Minister also took this opportunity to announce that William Baker, formerly Commissioner of Firearms, was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Revenue, on
May 17, 2006.

Biographical notes attached.

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IAN E. BENNETT

Date of Birth:
June 1948

Education:
B.A. (First Class Honours - Economics/Commerce), Simon Fraser University
M.A. (Economics), University of Toronto

Professional Experience

Since 2004
Deputy Minister of Finance

2001 - 2004
Executive Director, International Monetary Fund representing Canada, Ireland and the Carribean countries

1996 - 2001
Associate Deputy Minister of Finance and G7 Deputy for Canada

1994 - 1996
Associate Deputy Minister of Revenue Canada

1993 - 1994
Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Operations), Privy Council Office

1984 - 1993
Number of senior positions within the Department of Finance: Assistant Secretary, Crown Corporation Directorate, Department of Finance and Treasury Board Secretariat, then General Director, Economic Development Policy, then Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic Development Policy and Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Tax Policy

ROBERT A. WRIGHT

Date of Birth:
October 1951

Education:
B.A. (Economics), University of Western Ontario
M.A. (Economics), University of Manitoba

Mr. Wright was presented with the Outstanding Achievement Award of the Public Service of Canada on June 30, 2005 by the Prime Minister of Canada

Professional Experience

Since April 2005
President and Chief Executive Officer, Export Development Canada

2003 - 2005
Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, and National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, Privy Council Office

2003 - 2003
Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, Deputy Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister and Security and Intelligence Coordinator, Privy Council Office

1999 - 2003
Commissioner of Customs and Revenue

1997 - 1999
Deputy Minister of National Revenue

1994 - 1997
High Commissioner for Canada to New Zealand

1992 - 1994
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

1987 - 1992
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Priorities and Planning), then Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Plans), Privy Council Office

1986 - 1987
Director, Economic Development Division, Department of Finance

1983 - 1986
Director General, Energy Strategy Branch, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources

1979 - 1983
Senior Economist; Chief, Economic Analysis Division and then Director, Energy Policy Planning, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources

1977 - 1979
Senior Economist, Economics Branch, National Energy Board

1975 - 1977
Economic Analyst, Department of External Affairs

MARIO DION

Date of Birth:
October 1956

Education:
LL.L., University of Ottawa

Professional Experience

Since April 2003
Executive Director and Deputy Head, Office of Indian Residential Schools Resolution of Canada

1997 to 2003
Associate Deputy Minister of Justice (Civil Law and Corporate Management)

1996 - 1997
Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Counsel

1995 - 1996
Associate Deputy Minister of Justice

1993 to 1995
Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management, Policy and Programs Sector,
Department of Justice

1992 - 1993
Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management, Department of Justice

1990 - 1992
Deputy Commissioner, Correctional Programs and Operations, Correctional Service of Canada

1988 - 1990
Assistant Commissioner, Communications and Corporate Development, Correctional Service of Canada

1987 - 1988
Senior Counsel, National Parole Board

1980 - 1987
Legal Counsel and Senior Counsel, Correctional Service of Canada

1980
Articling Student, Legal Services, Department of Justice

SUZANNE TINING

Education
Business Administration, Université du Québec

Professional experience

Since June 2004
Associate Deputy Minister, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

2003 - 2004
Visiting Executive, EnCana Corporation (Private-Public sector Executive Exchange)

2002 - 2003
Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, Canada Economic Development

1999 - 2002
Assistant Deputy Minister, Planning and Research, Communication Canada

1998 - 1999
Director of Operations, Economic and Regional Development Policy, Privy Council Office

1997 - 1998
Director of Operations, Social Development Policy, Privy Council Office

1996 - 1997
Regional Director General, Transport Canada

1995 - 1996
Director General, National Airports Policy Implementation, Transport Canada

1990 - 1995
Director General, Commercial and Marketing Development, Transport Canada

1989 - 1990
Regional Director, Airports Operations, Transport Canada

1987 - 1989
National Director, Airports issue management, Transport Canada

1982 - 1987
Airport Manager, Transport Canada

1981 - 1982
Superintendent, Commercial Services, Transport Canada

1980 - 1981
Regional Manager, Contract Airports, Transport Canada

1977 - 1980
Property Management Analyst, Transport Canada

1976 - 1977
Coordinator, Technical and Clerical Support, Transport Canada

STEPHEN RIGBY

Date of Birth:
September 10, 1956

Education:
B.A. Honours, Public Administration

Professional Experience:

Since 2006
Acting National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, Privy Council Office

2005 - 2006
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Security and Intelligence, Privy Council Office

2003 - 2005
Assistant Commissioner, Policy and Planning Branch, Canada Revenue Agency

2001 - 2003
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Finance and Administration Branch, Canada Customs and Revenue Agency

1999 - 2001
Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Affairs Branch, Canada Customs and Revenue Agency

1997 - 1999
Director General, Corporate Affairs Branch, Revenue Canada

1995 - 1996
Director, Corporate Development, Corporate Affairs, Revenue Canada

1992 - 1995
Director General, Corporate Planning, Revenue Canada

1990 - 1992
Director, Program Resource Analysis, Corporate Planning, Customs and Excise

1988 - 1990
Manager, Chemicals and Plastics Investigations, Assessment Programs, Customs and Excise

1987 - 1988
Manager, Planning and Analysis, Management Systems and Services, Customs and Excise.

WILLIAM VICTOR BAKER

Date of Birth :
November 1954

Education :
Master of Arts, Public Administration, Carleton University
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Psychology,
Carleton University

Professional Experience

Since May 2003
Commissioner of Firearms, Canada Firearms Centre

1999 - 2003
Assistant Commissioner, Compliance Programs Branch, Canada Customs and Revenue Agency

1997 - 1999
Assistant Deputy Minister, Appeals Branch, Revenue Canada

1995 - 1997
Director General, Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs Directorate, Policy and Legislation Branch, Revenue Canada

1994 - 1995
Director, Administrative Consolidation Task Force, Revenue Canada

1990 - 1994
Director, Corporate Development Division, Corporate Affairs Branch, National Revenue (Taxation)

1987 - 1990
Director, Program Evaluation, Internal Audit and Evaluation Directorate, Communications and Corporate Development Branch, National Revenue (Taxation)

1979 - 1987
Analyst / Senior Analyst, Treasury Board Division, Saskatchewan Finance, then Director, Program Review Group, Treasury Board Division, Saskatchewan Finance, Government of Saskatchewan, Regina

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