New Deputy Minister for Energy

Longtime public servant Alison Scott has been named deputy minister of the Department of Energy.

She succeeds Dan McFadyen, who is returning to his native Western Canada for an executive position in the private sector.

"While I am sorry to see a public servant with such experience in the energy sector leave Nova Scotia, it will certainly serve our province well to have somebody like Dan McFadyen with a strong knowledge of Nova Scotia issues working in the industry," said Premier John Hamm. "Meanwhile, Alison Scott's in-depth legal expertise and broad understanding of federal-provincial fiscal and regulatory issues will be a tremendous asset to our government's plan to increase offshore exploration and maximize benefits to the people of Nova Scotia."

A graduate of St. Francis Xavier University and Dalhousie Law School, Ms. Scott joined the Nova Scotia Department of Justice in 1982. For 13 years, she worked in a variety of senior legal roles and served as clerk of the executive council from 1992 to 1994. Following two years in private practice, Ms. Scott rejoined the provincial government in 1999, serving first as secretary to the executive council, then as clerk. She has served as deputy minister of Intergovernmental Affairs for the last three years.

"One of the most important issues facing our offshore oil and gas industry is working with the federal government and other governments to reduce red tape," added the premier. "Few public servants have as much experience dealing successfully with Ottawa and other provincial governments as Alison Scott."

Ms. Scott's appointment takes effect May 31. A new deputy minister of Intergovernmental Affairs will be named within the next several weeks.