New Deputy Ministers for Community Services and Justice

Premier Rodney MacDonald announced today, March 8, new deputy ministers for the departments of Community Services and Justice.

Marian Tyson, deputy minister of Community Services, will become deputy minister of Justice. Judith Ferguson, assistant deputy minister of Community Services, will move into the role of deputy minister.

"Maintaining top talent in our senior government positions is critical," said Premier MacDonald. "It has a direct impact on our ability to ensure the quality of government programs and services, and that excellence in the senior civil service continues."

Ms. Tyson has worked for the province of Nova Scotia for 30 years. She became deputy minister of Community Services and president and chief executive officer of the Nova Scotia Housing Development Corporation in 2002. Prior to that she served as the executive director of court services at the Department of Justice and was also a lawyer providing advice to government departments.

Ms. Ferguson was appointed assistant deputy minister July, 2004. Previously, she served with the Department of Justice and was legal advisor to the Public Service Commission and Department of Justice. Ms. Ferguson has also been responsible for the government's legislative agenda, worked on the implementation of the new family violence legislation, and was one of the architects of the new Justice of the Peace system.

Appointments take effect Monday, March 19, 2007.