Backgrounder

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

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PM announces changes in the senior ranks of the Public Service

November 9, 2010
Ottawa, Ontario

STEPHEN RIGBY

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts and Public Administration (Honours), Carleton University

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Since August 2008
President, Canada Border Services Agency

2008
Associate Deputy Minister, Foreign Affairs

2006 - 2008
Executive Vice-President, Canada Border Services Agency

2005 - 2006
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Security and Intelligence, Privy Council Office, and then Acting National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, 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

1980 - 1990
Various positions, Customs and Excise

LUC PORTELANCE

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Since August 2008
Executive Vice-President, Canada Border Services Agency

2007 - 2008
Deputy Director, Operations, Canadian Security Intelligence Service

2005 - 2007
Assistant Director, Operations, Canadian Security Intelligence Service

2004 - 2005
Assistant Director, Corporate Services, Canadian Security Intelligence Service

1998 - 2004
Deputy Director General, Operations, Quebec Region then Director General, Quebec Region, Canadian Security Intelligence Service

1996 - 1998
Deputy Director General, Counter Intelligence Branch, Canadian Security Intelligence Service

1995 - 1996
Section Chief, Counter Intelligence Branch, Canadian Security Intelligence Service

1994 - 1995
Deputy Director General, Operations Support Branch, Canadian Security Intelligence Service

1984 - 1994
Intelligence Officer, Canadian Security Intelligence Service

1979 - 1984
General duties, New Brunswick, then Security Service, Quebec Region, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

LOUISE LEVONIAN

EDUCATION

Master of Arts (Economics), Queen's University
Bachelor of Economics, Carleton University

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Since 2008
Assistant Deputy Minister, Tax Policy Branch, Finance Canada

2007 - 2008
General Director, Tax Policy Branch, Finance Canada

2007
Special Advisor, Tax Policy Branch, Finance Canada

2006 - 2007
Director of Operations, Priorities and Planning, Privy Council Office

2003 - 2006
Director, Business Income Tax Division, Finance Canada

2002 - 2003
Departmental Secretary, Deputy Minister's Office, Finance Canada

1998 - 2002
Senior Chief, Strategic, Structural and Quantitative Analysis, Personal Income Tax Division, Finance Canada

2001
Tax Consultant, Barents Group, KPMG

1995 - 1998
Senior Economist, Federal-Provincial Relations Division, Finance Canada

1993 - 1995
Economic Analyst, Expenditure Analysis Division, Treasury Board Secretariat

1990 – 1993
Senior Economic Analyst, Economic Evaluation Branch, Transport Canada

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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News Release

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

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PM announces changes in the senior ranks of the Public Service

November 9, 2010
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today the following changes in the senior ranks of the Public Service.

Stephen Rigby, currently President of the Canada Border Services Agency, becomes National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, effective November 15.

Luc Portelance, currently Executive Vice-President of the Canada Border Services Agency, becomes President of the Canada Border Services Agency, effective November 15.

Louise Levonian, currently Assistant Deputy Minister of Finance Canada, becomes Associate Deputy Minister of Finance, effective November 15.

The Prime Minister took the opportunity to thank Stephen Richardson, who recently retired from the Public Service as Associate Deputy Minister of Finance, for his dedication and excellence in serving Canadians.

Biographical notes attached.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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News Release

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

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PM announces the launch of economic consultations

November 9, 2010
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today launched economic consultations to seek Canadians' views on the next phase of Canada's Economic Action Plan. He was accompanied by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, Ted Menzies. The Prime Minister made the announcement in Winnipeg during a meeting with small business owners and hard working families to discuss economic opportunities and ways to build Canada's economic future.

"The economic recovery remains fragile and Canadians remain concerned about the economy, jobs and their household budgets," the Prime Minister noted. "That is why our government's number one priority remains the economy and we continue to be focused on creating jobs and supporting families."

Launched in 2009, the Economic Action Plan has so far contributed to creating over 420,000 new jobs since July 2009 and helped the country emerge from the global economic crisis faster and stronger than most other major industrial countries around the world. The Prime Minister noted that both the International Monetary Fund and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development had projected that Canada will lead the G-7 in growth over the next two years.

"We will continue delivering the stability needed for the economic well being of hard working families, small business owners and entrepreneurs by controlling spending, cutting the deficit, eliminating waste and keeping taxes low," said Prime Minister Harper. "That's why were here today. We want to hear from Canadians on the next phase of our Economic Action Plan. Our Government shares your values and belief in hard work to get the job done – your priorities are our priorities and our Government is listening to you."

Over the coming months, the Prime Minister, his Cabinet and caucus will travel to small towns, communities and cities across the country to listen to and seek the views of Canadians on our long term Economic Action Plan.

"Turning our fragile economic recovery into an enduring and robust performance over the longer term will also mean taking further steps to hone our competitive edge. This means building on our efforts to attract foreign investment, opening up new markets and opportunities for Canadian businesses and laying the foundation for long-term sustainable jobs," the Prime Minister added.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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