Deputy Minister Appointed

Premier Rodney MacDonald announced today, Aug. 31, the appointment of Robert Fowler to the most senior position in the Nova Scotia civil service.

Mr. Fowler will be deputy minister to the premier, deputy minister of Treasury and Policy Board and Communications Nova Scotia, effective Friday, Sept. 1. He succeeds Howard Windsor, who retires today following a 28-year civil service career.

"I am very pleased that Bob Fowler has accepted this important position," Premier MacDonald said. "Throughout his career he has earned the respect of his colleagues and demonstrated the skills and leadership required for this position. His experience will serve government and the province well as we move forward on the issues that are important to Nova Scotians."

Raised in Windsor and a graduate of Saint Mary's University, Mr. Fowler has been a public servant for more than 30 years, the majority of that time in the Nova Scotia civil service. He is most recently deputy minister of Health Promotion and Protection and Intergovernmental Affairs. Prior to this he served as a regional director general for Health Canada for almost two years. He also served as the first chief executive officer of the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency, and before that served in a number of progressively senior positions within the Nova Scotia civil service.

Premier MacDonald also paid tribute to Mr. Windsor. "Howard was the deputy minister at Tourism and Culture when I was first appointed there in 1999. He is a tremendous civil servant and I am fortunate to have known and worked with him," the premier said. "I wish him and his family the very best in the years ahead."