Prime minister Harper announces consultations on the Air India bombing investigation

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today that he has asked retired Supreme Court Justice John Major to meet with the families of the victims of Air India Flight 182. Mr. Major will consult with the families on what they believe would be the most expeditious process to address both their concerns and the outstanding questions.

Mr. Major and the Honourable Bob Rae have already discussed the outstanding questions he posed in his report Lessons to be Learned which was submitted last fall on the 1985 Air India bombing investigation.

Biographical notes follow.


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The Honourable Mr. Justice John C. Major
Biographical Notes

Mr. Justice Major, B.Com., LL.B. Born in Mattawa, Ontario, 1931. Son of William and Elsie Major. Married to Hélène Provencher, 1959. Children: Suzan, Peter, Paul and Steven. Educated at Loyola College (now Concordia University), Montréal, and University of Toronto. Hon. LL.D., Concordia University, 2003. Called to the Alberta Bar, 1958. Practised law with Bennett, Jones, Verchere at Calgary and became senior partner in 1967. Appointed Q.C., 1972. Elected Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, 1980. Member of the Canadian Superior Courts Judges Association. Counsel for the Canadian Medical Protective Association (Alberta), 1971-91. Senior Counsel for the City of Calgary Police Service, 1975-85; Counsel at the McDonald Commission re RCMP, 1978-82; Counsel, Royal Commission into the collapse of the CCB and Northland Bank (Estey Commission); Senior Counsel for the Province of Alberta at the Code Inquiry into the collapse of the Principal Group of Companies, 1987. Appointed to the Alberta Court of Appeal, July 11, 1991. Appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada, November 13, 1992. Justice Major retired on December 25, 2005.

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The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications

Prime Minister announces diplomatic nomination of former Clerk of the Privy Council

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the nomination of
Mr. Alexander Himelfarb, former Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, as Ambassador of Canada to the Italian Republic with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Albania and the Republic of San Marino, and as High Commissioner for Canada to the Republic of Malta.

"During his tenure as the 19th Clerk of the Privy Council, Mr. Himelfarb has provided guidance through two transitions and advice to three Prime Ministers. I thank him for his wise counsel and assistance. He has served his country with great distinction," Prime Minister Harper said.

"I have every confidence that Mr. Himelfarb will represent Canada's interests abroad in an outstanding fashion and further enhance Canada's solid reputation on the international scene when he undertakes his new and important assignment," Prime Minister Harper said.

Mr. Himelfarb's assignment is expected to start in August 2006.

Biographical notes follow.


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ALEXANDER HIMELFARB
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Date of Birth: July 1947

Education:
Bachelor, Sociology, University of Toronto
Masters, Sociology, University of Toronto
Doctorate, Sociology, University of Toronto

Professional Experience:

May 2002 - March 2006
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet
June 1999 to May 2002
Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage

October 1998 May 1999
Associate Secretary of the Treasury Board; Head, Social Union Task Force

July 1997 October 1998
Deputy Secretary, Treasury Board Secretariat

February 1995 July 1997
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Social Development Policy, Privy Council Office

August 1994 February 1995
Executive Director, Planning, Review and Renewal, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

December 1993 August 1994
Executive Director, Information Management and Renewal, Department of Justice

November 1989 December 1993
Various positions with the National Parole Board which culminated in the position of Executive Director

July 1986 November 1989
Director General, Planning and Systems Group and Planning and Management Branch, Department of Solicitor General

December 1981 July 1986
Chief, Victimization Research, then Director, Statistics Division, Program Branch, Department of Solicitor General

July 1972 to December 1981
Professor, Sociology, University of New Brunswick and then Chief of Evaluation, Unified Family Courts, Department of Justice (Executive Interchange)

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The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications

Prime Minister to meet with Quebec Premier

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will meet with Quebec Premier Jean Charest tomorrow in Quebec City.

When:
March 8, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. (EST)

Where:
Office of the Premier of Quebec
Honore-Mercier Building
835 Rene-Levesque Boulevard East
3rd floor
Québec, QC.

There will be a photo opportunity at the beginning of the meeting, with a media availability afterwards at 1:30 pm (EST) in the foyer of the Honore-Mercier Building.

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The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications