Senior Appointments in Finance

The Department of Finance is strengthening its budget planning and monitoring process. Deputy Minister of Finance Bernard Smith today announced the appointment of Ramsay Duff as Assistant Deputy Minister. Smith said Duff will lead development of the annual budget and long range fiscal plan for the province. He will coordinate fiscal issues with other areas of the government including the government-wide Senior Financial Executives Forum and Policy Circle.

Duff joined the provincial government in 1994 with the Priorities and Planning Secretariat. He later became director of customer service with the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Duff is currently executive director of policy and business development at the Department of Business and Consumer Services. Prior to joining the government he was with KPMG Management Consultants.

"This new position will allow the department to better co-ordinate the budget planning process throughout government," said Mr. Smith. "It also allows us to focus more attention on long-term financial planning."

Smith also announced that the director of government accounting, Maureen Gillis, will become acting controller when the current controller, Sean O'Connor, leaves the public service on April 6. Gillis will have the lead responsibility for implementing the department's plans to improve financial accounting as outlined in the 1998-99 budget document, Financial Accountability, A Blueprint for Success.

Gillis came to the Department of Finance in 1997, after serving as director of financial services with the Business and Consumer Services' Corporate Services Unit. In that position she served the departments of Business and Consumer Services, Economic Development and Tourism, and Housing and Municipal Affairs. Gillis also served as Director of Finance and Administration with the Department of Housing and Consumer Services. Prior to joining the government in 1992, Gillis was a manager with the accounting firm Doane Raymond.