Wayne G. Wouters
Honorific prefixThe Honourable
OfficeClerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet
Term startJuly 1, 2009
Term endOctober 3, 2014
Prime ministerStephen Harper
PredecessorKevin G. Lynch
SuccessorJanice Charette
Office 2Secretary of the Treasury Board
Term start 2December 20, 2004
Term end 2June 30, 2009
Minister 2Reg Alcock
John Baird
Vic Toews
Predecessor 2Jim Judd
Successor 2Michelle d'Auray
Office 3Deputy Minister of Human Resources Development
Term start 3May 13, 2002
Term end 319 December 2004
Minister 3Jane Stewart
Predecessor 3Claire Morris
Successor 3Nicole Jauvin (as Deputy Minister of Social Development)
Office 4Deputy Minister of Labour
Term start 4May 13, 2002
Term end 4December 11, 2003
Minister 4Claudette Bradshaw
Predecessor 4Claire Morris
Successor 4Maryantonett Flumian
Office 5Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Term start 5September 2, 1997
Term end 5May 12, 2002
Minister 5David Anderson
Herb Dhaliwal
Robert Thibault
Predecessor 5Bill Rowat
Successor 5Peter Harrison
Birth dateApril 1951 (age 75–76)
Birth placeEdam, Saskatchewan
Alma materUniversity of Saskatchewan
Queen's University

Wayne G. Wouters, (born April 1951) is a Canadian former public servant and past Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet.[1] He retired as Clerk on October 3, 2014, and was replaced by Janice Charette.

Life and career

Wouters was born in Edam, Saskatchewan. He received his Bachelor of Commerce degree in economics from the University of Saskatchewan and his Master of Arts in economics from Queen's University.

Formerly a lecturer in political science and economics at the University of Saskatchewan, in 1977 he joined the Government of Saskatchewan rising to the position of Director of Energy Policy Branch, Department of Mineral Resources.

In 1982 he joined the Federal government and held various positions in the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources and the Department of Finance. By 1994, he had been appointed to senior positions within the Privy Council Office including, Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Program Review), and Head, Task Force on the Newfoundland Economy and Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Plans and Consultation).

In 1997, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and in 2002 became Deputy Minister of Human Resources Development and Deputy Minister of Labour. In 2003 he was also given the added responsibility of chairperson, Canada Employment Insurance Commission. In 2004, he was appointed Secretary of the Treasury Board.

On May 7, 2009, it was announced that he would be appointed Clerk of the Privy Council and secretary to the Cabinet to replace the retiring Kevin Lynch. His appointment became effective July 1, 2009.

Wouters was one of thirteen Canadians banned from traveling to Russia under retaliatory sanctions imposed by Russian president Vladimir Putin in March 2014.[2]

Retirement

On August 19, 2014, Wouters announced that he would be retiring from the public service after a 37-year career. The next day, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that Janice Charette would replace him on October 6, 2014.[3]

He was sworn in as a Member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada on December 10, 2014.[4]

On October 13, 2015, BlackBerry announced that Wouters has been added to its board of directors.[5]

In June 2017, he was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada.[6]

References

  1. ^ May, Kathryn (May 1, 2012). "PSAC OKs dues increase to bail out pension, fight Tories". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  2. ^ Susana Mas (March 24, 2013). "Russian sanctions against Canadians a 'badge of honour'". CBC News. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  3. ^ MacCharles, Tonda (20 August 2014). "Stephen Harper names Janice Charette new top civil servant". Toronto Star. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  4. ^ Current Alphabetical List of Members of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Privy Council Office | http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/index.asp?lang=eng&page=information&sub=council-conseil&doc=members-membres/alphabet-eng.htm#W Archived 2017-10-21 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Blackberry Appoints the Honourable Wayne G. Wouters to the Board of Directors | http://press.blackberry.com/en/financial/2015/blackberry-appoints-the-honourable-wayne-g-wouters-to-the-board-of-directors.html
  6. ^ Malyk, Lauren (30 June 2017). "Nine Ottawans appointed to the Order of Canada". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 23 September 2017.