Department of Justice Canada Minister's Transition Book
Front-line Support to the Minister of Justice and the Minister’s Office
DEPUTY MINISTER’S OFFICE
Chief of Staff
Stéphanie Poliquin
948-8981
[Information was severed in accordance with the Access to Information Act. s.19(1)]
Senior Counsels
Sarah Geh, 952-0627
Scott Nesbitt, 957-1524
Eric Lafleur, 992-6519
Personal Assistant to the Deputy Minister
Suzanne Désormeaux, 957-4998
ASSOCIATE DEPUTY MINISTER’S OFFICE
Chief of Staff & Senior Counsel
Alexia Taschereau, 957-3270
Counsel
Adam Garskey, 957-4918
Executive Assistant
Sonia Rousselle, 941-4072
Administrative Assistant and Briefings and Correspondence Coordinator
Michelle Diotte, 954-1200
Front-line Services
KEY WEEKLY MEETINGS
Meetings with the Minister
MIN/DM
The MIN/DM is a weekly opportunity for the Deputy Minister and the Associate Deputy Minister to meet with the Minister. This essential meeting serves two purposes. First, it provides a forum for the constructive exchange of information and in-depth discussions on sensitive and emerging issues; as well as providing advice on the strategic management of files. Second, it facilitates the decision- making process. The meeting ends with a discussion on policy development and possible strategies to ensure that relevant information is brought to the Minister’s attention in a timely manner in order to advance the legislative forward agenda; which involves the presence of key Justice officials to provide in-depth briefings on files or issues.
Weekly Meetings
MO Week Ahead
The MO Week Ahead is a weekly meeting between the Minister’s staff and identified key members of the Deputy Minister’s Office to plan the week ahead. This meeting is held early Monday morning and is chaired by the Director of the Ministerial Secretariat. It provides an opportunity to identify and discuss Cabinet and parliamentary activities and files, as well as briefing requirements, correspondence and communications-related events. It also provides an opportunity to provide strategic advice, share timely information and confirm horizontal linkages.
DMO Week Ahead
The DMO Week Ahead is a weekly meeting chaired by the Deputy Minister where senior departmental officials meet to discuss and plan the week ahead, share strategic information and identify possible legal risks. This meeting is held on Monday morning after the MO Week Ahead meeting in order to be in a position to confirm the Minister’s briefing needs for the upcoming week and to facilitate a continuous and effective flow of information allowing the Department to meet its objectives.
Ministerial Secretariat
Ministerial Support
The Ministerial Secretariat plays a key role in supporting the Minister, Deputy Minister and senior departmental officials by providing strategic advice and operational services in support of their Cabinet and Parliamentary responsibilities as well as correspondence and briefing needs. The Ministerial Secretariat enhances coordination and horizontal information sharing across the Department and also establishes and manages horizontal linkages between the executive offices, the Department and external parties.
The Ministerial Secretariat consists of three units: the Ministerial Liaison Unit, the Cabinet and Parliamentary Affairs Unit and the Ministerial Correspondence Unit
Director, Ministerial Secretariat
Yanike Legault, 952-8354
Ministerial Liaison
The Ministerial Liaison Unit (MLU) serves as the primary link for information going to and coming from the Minister’s Office and the Department by:
- working with the Minister’s Office to anticipate and define the scope, content and timing of the Minister’s briefing needs;
- working with the Department to ensure that ministerial documents meet identified needs;
- cooperating with the Minister’s Office to ensure that the Minister’s decisions are communicated to the Department in a timely manner and that the Department is advised of new information or follow-up needed as a result of briefings provided; and
- collaborating with all parts of the Department to ensure the information flow supports effective issues management and decision making.
The MLU is also responsible for coordinating, reviewing and editing all briefing material for the Minister; organizing oral briefings with or for the Minister and the Minister’s staff (e.g., technical briefings for members of Parliament, briefing prior to a parliamentary committee appearance); and responding to invitations addressed to the Minister.
Manager, Ministerial Liaison Unit
Julie Gauthier, 948-2998
Cabinet & Parliamentary Responsibilities
The Cabinet and Parliamentary Affairs Unit (CPAU) supports the Minister in the Cabinet decision-making process and in his legislative and parliamentary responsibilities by providing timely comprehensive briefing materials and strategic advice and expertise to the Minister’s Office, the Deputy Minister’s Office and senior departmental officials. CPAU also establishes and maintains a network of contacts with Central Agencies and other government departments to monitor and advise on Cabinet, parliamentary and legislative business of a horizontal nature.
The support provided by the CPAU is achieved by:
- coordinating and managing the Department’s Parliamentary and Cabinet agenda;
- coordinating and managing Parliamentary Returns;
- coordinating the tabling of annual reports and other special reports;
- preparing, coordinating and reviewing all briefing materials, including speeches and talking points, for the Minister’s use at Cabinet and before Parliament;
- monitoring all Parliamentary and Cabinet activities and acting as the primary liaison between the Minister’s Office and the Department on these matters;
- providing strategic advice on proposals that are led by the Department and those of interest led by other government departments; and
- developing strategies and approaches to advance the legislative agenda.
Acting/Chief, Cabinet and Parliamentary Affairs Unit
Michael Assad, 954-3232
Ministerial Correspondence
The Ministerial Correspondence Unit (MCU) manages the process and protocol for all correspondence addressed to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
Ministerial Correspondence staff prepare replies to approximately 95 percent of the incoming mail. The remaining 5 percent is sent to various departmental sectors for specific input from a policy or legal perspective.
Manager, Ministerial Correspondence Unit
Louise Bisson, 957-2950
Communications Branch
Communications
The Communications Branch provides strategic advice and planning services in media relations, internal and external communications, digital and social media, speech strategy and writing, as well as media monitoring and analysis.
Director General, Communications Branch
Tracie Noftle, 957-9596
Director, Creative Services, New Media and Electronic Communications
Jennifer Buffam, 957-4216
Media Relations
The Media Relations Issues Management and Litigation unit of the Communications Branch liaises closely with the Minister’s Office to respond to media requests, provide journalists with necessary background information, prepare press lines for the Minister, coordinate media interviews, and provide operational and organizational support for press conferences, announcements and media events.
In addition, the Media Relations group works with media to explain departmental positions on justice issues, provide a detect-and-correct function, and to promote the activities and policies of the Department and the Minister. The unit also organizes technical briefings for media, in coordination with Policy Sector, as required.
Manager, Media Relations, Issues Management and Litigation Communications
Christian Girouard, 613-858-0182
Daily Press Clippings—Media Monitoring
The Media Relations unit provides an electronic clippings package daily for the Minister, the Minister’s Office, and departmental officials. The press clippings are sent by email daily by 6:30 a.m. The unit monitors media in real time throughout the day and circulates relevant news stories as they become available.
Communications Officer (Media Monitoring)
Angela Savard, 613-617-4334
Speeches
The Speech Unit provides strategic advice, planning, and guidance in ministerial speech strategy and delivery. It manages the preparation and coordination of speeches and researches, writes, edits, translates, and evaluates the presentation of speeches.
Contact for Speech Requests Manager, Creative Services and Social Media
Susan Fisher-Clement, 957-4620
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