Appointments of Deputy Ministers

Premier Russell MacLellan announced today the appointment of four new deputy ministers and new assignments for several others. These appointments are necessary because of recent, or pending, retirements of three deputies and the departure for the Far North of a fourth.

"For the most part the new deputies come from the ranks of the provincial public service," said the premier. "That is in keeping with the government's commitment to promote from within, and is consistent with our belief that Nova Scotia's public service is second to none."

The new deputies are: Dan Graham at Natural Resources; Judy Sullivan-Corney, Human Resources; Kevin McNamara, Labour; and Bernie Smith, Finance.

In addition, a number of deputies have been given new assignments.

New deputies can bring a fresh perspective to the challenges departments face, said Premier MacLellan, adding that senior executives, like everyone else, need a change and new challenges from time to time.

"There is also a continuity at the senior level of government, because we take a team approach to problem-solving and policy-making. Therefore, deputies have a good understanding of the major challenges right across government."

The new assignments are:

• Mildred Royer to Health, from Human Resources;

• Ed Cramm to Economic Development and Tourism, from Health;

• Bill Hogg to Transportation and Public Works, from Natural Resources;

• Peter Underwood to Fisheries and Aquaculture, from Environment;

• George Fox to Environment, from Labour;

• Alan Steel to Agriculture and Marketing, from Fisheries and Aquaculture.

The premier paid tribute to those senior civil servants who are retiring or moving to other challenges.

Bob Moody recently left the Department of Finance for a secondment in Nunavut, where he will help establish the new territory's first Education Department. "We know Bob will do a great job there, as he always did here," said Premier MacLellan.

Les Haley retired this week. Dr. Haley had a long and distinguished career, most recently as deputy minister of Agriculture and Marketing and, prior to that, as principal of the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. "We thank Les for his outstanding service to the province, and wish him the very best." the premier said.

Bert Loveless, deputy minister of Economic Development and Tourism, will be retiring this summer.

"Bert's long career in the Nova Scotia public service is marked by uncommon accomplishment," said the premier. "As deputy minister of Finance, Bert was the driving force behind our province's successful effort to balance the books. He also served as deputy minister at Transportation and Public Works. Bert will be around for a few more months, working on special assignments, prior to his retirement."

Several months ago, Bruce Atwell retired as deputy minister of Transportation and Public Works following a long and distinguished public career. The premier said the government is grateful to Martin Delaney who agreed to take on the deputy's duties at Transportation on an interim basis. Mr. Delaney is returning to his job as a senior engineer in the department.

DANIEL GRAHAM, Natural Resources
Mr. Graham was most recently executive director, Regional Services, with the department and has been with the Nova Scotia public service for 16 years. A forester by training, Mr. Graham spent a decade working in the resource sector in the Northwest Territories before settling in Nova Scotia.

JUDITH SULLIVAN-CORNEY, Human Resources
Ms. Sullivan-Corney has been with the provincial government for more than 10 years, most recently as director of client services at Human Resources. She has also worked at the Economic Renewal Agency and the Department of Tourism and Culture.

KEVIN McNAMARA, Labour
Mr. McNamara has spent the past couple of years as a labour relations specialist with the Department of Human Resources. Prior to joining the provincial government, he was vice-president of human resources at the QEII Health Sciences Centre.

BERNARD SMITH, Finance
Mr. Smith was Halifax city treasurer for many years and recently financial adviser to the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities. A chartered accountant and management consultant, he brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new post.

MILDRED ROYER, Health
Ms. Royer moves to Health after serving four years as deputy minister of Human Resources. Ms. Royer is former legal counsel and labour relations officer with the Nova Scotia Nurses Union and former director of human resources with the City of Halifax.

ED CRAMM, Economic Development and Tourism
Mr. Cramm heads to Economic Development and Tourism after two years as deputy minister of Health. Prior to that, he was deputy minister of Municipal Affairs.

WILLIAM HOGG, Transportation and Public Works
Mr. Hogg was most recently deputy minister of Natural Resources, and before that, deputy minister of Supply and Services.

PETER UNDERWOOD, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Mr. Underwood, leaving Environment, previously served as deputy minister of Fisheries from 1994 to 1996.

GEORGE FOX, Environment
Mr. Fox was most recently deputy minister of Labour, a post he assumed in 1996. He has been with the province for more than 25 years.

ALAN STEEL, Agriculture and Marketing
Mr. Steel spent the past two years as deputy minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, and prior to that was acting deputy minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.