Dispatch Box: A Classic Public Service Career Path to the Top
The current clerk of the Privy Council is Janice Charette the 24th person to hold this exalted position. Charette received this promotion on May 28, 2022, when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau re-appointed her to replace Ian Shugart.
Take a look at Janice Charette’s career path. Ms. Charette attended Carleton University where she received a Bachelor of Commerce degree. She then entered the federal public service and by the early 2000s she entered its senior ranks:
| 2003-04 | Associate Deputy Minister for Health Canada |
| 2004-06 | Deputy Minister for Citizenship and Immigration Canada |
| 2006-10 | Deputy Minister for Human Resources and Skills Development Canada |
| 2010-13 | Associate Secretary to the Cabinet and Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs |
| 2013-14 | Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Associate Secretary to Cabinet |
| 2014-16 | Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet |
| 2017-2021 | High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2021-22 | Interim Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to Cabinet |
| 2022- | Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to Cabinet |
Note that Charette has
- university education (specialization in Commerce)
- experience in middle management
- experience in program administration
- experience in program administration
- experience in policy development
- widespread knowledge of line departments
- experience in central agencies
- experience at the rank of deputy minister
- fluent bilingualism
- service in governments of various political stripes and senior appointments from both Liberal and Conservative prime ministers
It’s not hard to see why Janice Charette was appointed, and re-appointed as clerk.
Note that between 2017-2021 the then clerk of the Privy Council was Ian Shugart. In 2021, Mr. Shugart was on medical leave at which point Prime Minister Trudeau asked Ms. Charette to return to Ottawa from London and serve as interim clerk. In 2022, she reclaimed her position as clerk.
Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/privy-council/corporate/clerk/role.html.
