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Ottawa Citizen
2 days ago
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Will Michael Sabia really 'kick ass' in the public service?
'No man should be viceroy of India for whom the position is an honour,' the early Victorian historian and politician Thomas Macaulay reportedly said. A rough contemporary translation might be that really big jobs require impressive CVs. Article content Like the prime minister he will support, Canada's soon-to-be clerk of the Privy Council, Michael Sabia, can boast an awe-inspiring résumé of senior public and private sector jobs between which he is usually said to have moved 'seamlessly.' Common adjectives for Sabia include 'smart' and 'disruptive' (which in the private sector often means willing to cut jobs). Sabia's appointment from outside the ranks of the senior public service has been perceived as a bold (though not unprecedented) departure for a system that typically turns to the usual suspects. In the words of one supporter, the new clerk's mission in Ottawa will be to push the public service to advance Carney's priorities and 'kick its ass.' Article content Article content Article content Not every commentator has been as gleeful. Journalist Paul Wells notably declared himself a 'rare Cassandra' on Sabia, suggesting that his big-bang beginnings have sometimes ended in a dubious fizzle. Sabia's private sector work is beyond my ken, though I will note that perhaps his most celebrated success, the turnaround of the Caisse de Depot's fortunes following the financial debacle of 2008, was arguably consistent with the broad trends of the market,though he did steer that fund towards more international investment. Article content Of more immediate relevance were Sabia's recent and conspicuously brief stints as head of the Canada Infrastructure Bank (2020-2021) and as deputy minister of Finance (2021-2023) where he helped establish the Canada Growth Fund. Both the infrastructure bank and the growth fund involved leveraging private sector investment in ways Carney appears to favour, but neither has been a triumph. Sabia was reportedly frustrated at Finance, where he can hardly be blamed for the ballooning deficits of the COVID era, especially given the priorities of the then-prime minister and minister of Finance. But the experience is a reminder that no one walks on water. Article content Article content In full disclosure, Sabia was my first director at Finance Canada and one of two people who interviewed me for the job. Based on that experience (however much he may have regretted it) and personal observation, I lean heavily towards assessing him as very smart. And there can be little doubt that he is committed to helping Carney advance his priorities, including spending less on government operations. I'm also told that they are on good personal terms. But how will these two work together? Both are used to being the smartest guy in the room (or thus perceived) and neither seems prostrate with modesty or undue gentleness. Article content
STV News
2 days ago
- STV News
Rare letters signed by Mary Queen of Scots up for sale
Rare letters signed by Mary Queen of Scots are to go under the hammer in Edinburgh on Wednesday. The letters, which could fetch between £10,000 and £15,000, were part of appeals made by the Queen to a Highland family urging them to keep the peace in and around Inverness, during a period where rival families and clans were vying for control of land across Scotland. Written almost 500 years ago, the documents are part of a collection of papers from Kilravock Castle, near Croy, that are being sold by auctioneers Lyon and Turnbull. Five letters in the auction are signed by Mary Queen of Scots, who visited the castle in 1562 when, as a 20-year-old, the Queen was received by Hugh Rose, the tenth Laird of Kilravock and an influential figure in the area, as she tried to garner support during her first trip north. The letters, jointly signed by Mary's husband Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, are dated between September and October 1565, and came shortly before Darnley conspired with Protestant lords to murder his wife's trusted secretary, before he was murdered the following year. It was the scandal around his murder that eventually led to Mary's arrest and eventual forced abdication in favour of infant son James VI. The six letters he wrote which feature in the auction demonstrate his relationship with the Roses of Kilravock. One of them, valued at between £2,000 and £3,000, excuses Hugh Rose from travelling to court and grant his eldest son's attendance instead and was signed by the young king when he was only 13. In another, dated August 24, 1603, he signs a special warrant to the Privy Council, liberating the 11th Baron of Kilravock and his son from prison in Edinburgh where they had been interred for failing to apprehend rebel kinsmen. Four documents signed by James V are also in the auction, including one just months before his death. Cathy Tait, head of books and manuscripts at Lyon & Turnbull said: 'This in an unprecedented sale of historical of Scottish historical manuscripts. 'As an auctioneer you tend to come across a letter signed by Mary Queen of Scots every once in a while. 'To find five of her letters in the same collection, alongside others by members of her family, makes this a truly unique and amazing find. 'This series of documents and manuscripts, penned during a tumultuous time in Scottish and English history, gives a fascinating insight into both ordinary, and extraordinary, events during the times in which the writers lived. 'As you can imagine I'm really looking forward to being the rostrum for this particular auction – we expect it will generate a great deal of interest.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Ottawa Citizen
3 days ago
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Gearey: In the federal public service, simple gender parity isn't enough
Recently, I took part in a public service workshop examining hypothetical risks to Canada. Each table of participants was provided a dozen risks that we were asked to rank in order of perceived importance. Article content One potential risk card read something akin to: 'Diminished Male Relevance.' Article content I blinked twice, unsure if I'd read it correctly. Women are still crawling out of the long shadows of exclusion in Canada, still pressing for equity, and we're already anticipating a crisis of male relevance? Article content Article content That moment stayed with me. Perhaps it offered a glimpse into how some people perceive change: as erosion, not evolution. As someone losing versus the creation of a new partnership. Article content What was really on my mind was what's happening south of the border. In the United States, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs in government and elsewhere are being dismantled. Furthermore, a man found liable for sexual assault, ordered to pay more than $83 million in damages, is president. That kind of backslide doesn't stay confined to politics; it seeps into culture, rewiring progress. Article content Canada leads other countries Article content In contrast, Canada's federal public service has something to be proud of. It has surpassed gender parity: women now represent 56.8 per cent of its workforce and 52.5 per cent of its executive roles. We've seen women serve as Clerk of the Privy Council, and also in top defence, foreign affairs and finance roles. The government also mandates Gender-Based Analysis-Plus across all departments. Furthermore, the OECD's Government at a Glance 2023 report places Canada among the top tier for women in public leadership, outpacing most G20 peers. Article content Article content Canada's public service didn't evolve this way by accident; it arrived here through litigation, legislation, years of sustained pressure and conscious strategy. Article content Article content In March, the federal government eliminated the position of minister for Women and Gender Equality, sparking intense criticism. Within weeks, the role was reinstated. The public response made it clear that gender equity is still a priority for Canadians. Article content Culture is the operating system that's unseen but runs everything. I've known women in the public service being told they were 'too assertive' or 'not collaborative enough.' Their leadership styles are questioned. Their confidence mistaken for abrasiveness. This is feedback that men are far less likely to receive. These aren't isolated events, they're patterns.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Who is Michael Sabia and why did Mark Carney bring him back into government?
Michael Sabia will add Clerk of the Privy Council to his resumé of senior corporate and government posts after the chief executive of Hydro Quebec was tapped by Prime Minister Mark Carney to lead Canada's civil service starting July 7, 2025. The one-time CEO of BCE Inc., Sabia has transitioned seamlessly back and forth between the public and private sectors during his extensive career. His latest job description will see him provide advice to the prime minister and senior elected officials from an objective, non-partisan, public policy perspective. Here's a look at Sabia's career and why Carney likely sought him out for his new role. Born in St. Catharines, Ont., about a 90-minute drive from Toronto, Sabia has spent his career moving between public and private roles, with much of his time spent with Quebec-based companies and institutions. His grandparents immigrated to Canada from Italy and his first language is English. But his command of French is very strong, which led to senior roles in Quebec. He has led organizations in several sectors including asset management, telecommunications, transportation and utilities. His government work has included senior roles in the finance department and the privy council office. His education includes earning a bachelor of arts degree in economics and politics from the University of Toronto and graduate degrees in the same areas of study from Yale University. Most recently, Sabia was CEO of Hydro-Quebec, which he joined in 2023. Prior to that he was the first native-English speaker to run the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, the province's multi-billion pension manager, a job he held from March 2009 to January 2020. His run as chief executive of the Caisse was widely considered a success despite some early concerns that he might be considered an outsider. Prior to that, he spent several years at Montreal-based Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE Inc.), joining in 1999 and rising through the ranks to become president and chief executive in 2002 after serving as chief operating office and CEO of Bell Canada International. From 1993 to 1999, he worked at Canadian National Railway, with roles including chief financial officer. Sabia was instrumental in the privatization of CN in 1995. Sabia was Canada's deputy minister of finance from 2020 to 2023. He was also a member of the Canadian government's Advisory Council on Economic Growth, which was created in 2016, and served as chair of the Canada Infrastructure Bank from 2020 to 2021. He spent much of his early career in government before moving to the private sector. In the 1980s and early 1990s, he worked at the department of finance where he was director general of tax policy and one of the architects of a comprehensive reform of Canada's tax system, and at the Privy Council Office, where he was deputy secretary to the cabinet. His boss there, clerk of the Privy Council Paul Tellier, left to run Canadian National Railway in the early 1990s and Sabia followed. Sabia won praise for stabilizing the Caisse de depot after it sustained a deep loss during the financial in 2008. During his tenure, assets nearly tripled, reaching $326.7 billion, and the pension posted five and 10-year annualized returns of 8.3 and 9.9 per cent. However, assessments of his earlier tenure at BCE were mixed. A sluggish share price led to shareholder unrest and a contentious takeover battle by a consortium that included the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, which intended to privatize the telecom company in what would have been the biggest corporate takeover in Canadian history. The planned deal ultimately did not take place, and some blamed Sabia for the tumultuous period marked by court battles. Sabia was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2016 in recognition of his leadership across business, finance and public service. In receiving the honour, he was credited by governor general Mary Simon with 'helping to rejuvenate Canada's fiscal infrastructure as the country's general director of tax policy before lending his business acumen to a number of iconic Canadian enterprises.' Hydro-Québec's new boss: What you should know about the man and the job Why turning Canada's new defence spending into economic growth may be 'easier said than done' Sabia's close association with Quebec is seen as a strength for the minority Liberal government that may need support from the Bloc Québécois party to remain in power and get key legislation passed. Carney already reached into the Caisse de depot, where Sabia also worked, for his chief of staff: former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations Marc-André Blanchard. Sabia also brings a deep understanding of Canadian pensions funds, which will be brought to bear as the government seeks to 'catalyze' billions of dollars in private investment. 'Canada's exemplary public service — with Mr. Sabia at the helm — will advance nation-building projects, catalyze enormous private investment to drive growth, and deliver the change Canadians want and deserve,' the government said in a statement announcing his appointment. • Email: bshecter@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Global News
12-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
Energy talks ‘full steam ahead' despite Hydro‑Québec chief's new gig: N.L. Hydro
The upcoming departure of the CEO of Quebec's hydro utility won't interfere in final negotiations on a new energy deal with Newfoundland and Labrador. That's according to Jennifer Williams, chief executive of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. Williams says the major agreement between the two utilities is moving 'full steam ahead' despite Michael Sabia's plans to leave Hydro‑Québec in July and become clerk of the Privy Council in Ottawa. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Sabia and Williams led teams who negotiated an end to a 1969 contract that allowed Hydro‑Québec to buy the bulk of the power from the Churchill Falls generating station in Labrador for rock-bottom prices. Under a new draft agreement Hydro‑Québec will pay far more for power and develop new projects on the Churchill River alongside Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. Hydro-Québec says Sabia established a 'genuine partnership' with Newfoundland and Labrador, and its 'seasoned executive team' will continue to carry out the utility's plans.
