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
Catherine Rudick, 948-8981
Senior Counsel
Marie-Claude Filion, 952-0627
Julie Adair, 946-3868
Chelsea Clogg, 946-3869
Guillaume Bousquet, 957-1524
Toby Hoffman, 992-4621
Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister
Julie Legros, 957-4998.
Executive Assistant to the Associate Deputy Minister
Shawn Béchamp, 941-4072
Office Manager
Suzanne Désormeaux, 946-7027
Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff
[Redacted]
Briefing Note and Correspondence Coordinator
Charlene Hymers, 957-4993
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 and advice on the strategic management of files. Second, it facilitates the decision-making process. Justice officials participate by invitation to provide in-depth briefings on files or issues.
Weekly Meetings:
- Two-Week Look Ahead
- The Two-Week Look Ahead is a weekly meeting between the Minister’s staff, the Deputy Minister, and the DM’s direct reports to plan the upcoming two weeks. This meeting is held Friday afternoons and is chaired by the Deputy Minister. It provides an opportunity to identify and discuss Cabinet and parliamentary activities and files, as well as briefing requirements and communications-related events. It also provides an opportunity to discuss strategic initiatives, share timely information and confirm horizontal linkages.
- DM Week Ahead
- The DM Week Ahead is a weekly meeting chaired by the Deputy Minister and Associate Deputy Minister where senior departmental officials meet to discuss and plan the week ahead, share strategic information and identify possible legal risks. It facilitates a continuous and effective flow of information allowing the Department to meet its objectives.
- DMO Weekly Meeting
- The DMO Weekly meeting is a weekly meeting chaired by the Deputy Minister and the Associate Deputy Minister with key members of the DMO team, including the Chief of Staff, Counsel, the Office Manager, and the Executive Assistant to the DM. It also includes the Director General of Communications, Director of Cabinet and Parliamentary Affairs, and the Departmental Advisor. The meeting looks at the issues for the week prior to DM Week Ahead and provides a means for key status updates on various current issues.
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 Cabinet and Parliamentary Affairs Unit, the Ministerial Correspondence Unit and the Ministerial Liaison Unit.
Senior Director, Ministerial Secretariat
Yanike Legault, 952-8354
Cabinet & Parliamentary Responsibilities
The Cabinet and Parliamentary Affairs Unit (CPAU) supports the Minister in the Cabinet decision-making process and in her 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;
- supporting the Minister’s office in the appointments process;
- coordinating and managing Regulatory initiatives;
- 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 to advance the legislative agenda.
Director, Cabinet and Parliamentary Affairs Unit
Michael Assad, 957-4994
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
Julie Gauthier, 948-2205
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, briefings prior to a parliamentary committee appearance); and responding to invitations addressed to the Minister.
Manager, Ministerial Liaison Unit
Julie Gauthier, 948-2205
Communications Branch
Communications
The Communications Branch provides strategic advice and planning services in media relations, Ministerial event support, internal and external communications, digital and social media, speech strategy and writing, as well as media monitoring and analysis. The Branch also manages a calendar of upcoming Ministerial events and opportunities, working to assure alignment with priorities and coordination of communications products and activities. The Branch works with various parts of the department (Litigation, ATIP, Evaluation, Research and Statistics) and other federal organizations to coordinate issues management. The Branch is also responsible for advertising, consultation and engagement reporting, and publishing.
The Branch’s work is primarily governed by the Government of Canada Communications Policy and informed by Annex J of the Government’s Open and Accountable Government: Use of Social Media.
Director General, Communications Branch
Shirley Anne Off
Office: 613-957-9596; Cell: [Redacted]
shirleyanne.off@justice.gc.ca
Deputy Director General, Strategic Communications
Kirstan Gagnon
Office: 613-954-6327; Cell: [Redacted]
kirstan.gagnon@justice.gc.ca
Director, Corporate and Digital Communications
Charles Stanfield
Office: 613-948-1334; Cell: [Redacted]
charles.stanfield@justice.gc.ca
Media Relations
The Media Relations and Litigation Communications 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, media technical briefings, and provide operational and organizational support for press conferences, announcements and media events. This unit also provides support on the coordination of judicial appointments news releases.
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 the Policy Sector, as required.
Manager, Media Relations and Litigation Communications
Christian Girouard
christian.girouard@justice.gc.ca
Daily Press Clippings—Media Monitoring
The Media Relations unit also provides a daily electronic clippings package 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.
Senior Communications Advisor (Media Relations)
Ian McLeod
ianw.mcleod@justice.gc.ca
Angela Savard
angela.savard@justice.gc.ca
Policy Communications
The Policy Communications unit of the Communications Branch provides strategic communications advice on policy, program, and legislative initiatives. It plays a lead role in coordinating communications on departmental and Ministerial priorities. Advisors in the unit develop communication plans, media lines, Qs and As, news releases/statements, social media and web content, and play a coordinating role for announcements. The unit liaises closely with various departmental policy sections, as well as the Minister’s Office.
Deputy Director General, Strategic Communications
Kirstan Gagnon
Office: 613-954-6327; Cell: [Redacted]
kirstan.gagnon@justice.gc.ca
Manager, Policy Communications (Reconciliation and Human Rights)
Pierre Collin
pierre.collin@justice.gc.ca
A/Manager, Policy Communications (Criminal Law Policy)
Christian Girouard
613-858-0182
Digital Communications
The Digital Communications unit manages and coordinates the Department’s website content, as well Justice’s official social media accounts. These include Justice Twitter, Justice Facebook and Official Ministerial Twitter. The division works with branch colleagues as well as the Minister’s Office to ensure effective coordination of social and digital media, as well as compliance with official languages, accessibility and TB guidelines. The team also includes in-house designers, photographers and videographers for content development and support at Ministerial events.
Director, Digital and Corporate Communications
Charles Stanfield
Office: 613-948-1334; Cell: [Redacted]
charles.stanfield@justice.gc.ca
Manager Digital Communications
Toban Morrison
toban.morrison@justice.gc.ca
Speeches
The Speechwriting team, part of the Corporate Communications 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 for the Minister or his official delegate.
Director, Digital and Corporate Communications
Charles Stanfield
Office: 613-948-1334; Cell: [Redacted]
charles.stanfield@justice.gc.ca
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