A New Deputy Minister: Peter Harder
 

Industry Canada recently welcomed its new Deputy Minister, Peter Harder. Mr. Harder continues his distinguished career in the civil service with our Department after having spent five years as Secretary of Treasury Board and Comptroller General of Canada.

"It is a distinct pleasure to join an organization with such an important mandate and a reputation for excellence," says Mr. Harder. "The products, the analysis, everything I've seen is first rate."

Mr. Harder was born in 1952 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and was raised in Vineland, Ontario, best known for its fine Niagara wines. He received a Bachelor of Arts (honours) in Political Science from Waterloo University and a Master of Arts from Queen's University.

In 1977, Mr. Harder began his career in the Public Service, joining the Department of External Affairs as a foreign service officer. Fourteen years later in 1991, after having held a variety of positions in the private and public sectors, he was appointed Associate Deputy Minister (Immigration). In 1993, he was named Deputy Solicitor General of Canada. A year later, he moved on to Citizenship and Immigration Canada as Deputy Minister, a position he held until 1995, when he was appointed Secretary of Treasury Board and Comptroller General of Canada.

"In my view, being part of the Public Service is a privilege," says Mr. Harder. "It is also a being part of a whole group that helps us to be better at what we do."

Mr. Harder is also a member of the Board of Governors for the Canada Centre for Management Development, the Canadian Comprehensive Auditing Foundation and the Public Policy Forum. In addition, he is the Public Service champion of German investment in Canada. In 1998, he was the Royal Bank's visiting Chair on Women and Work.

"I would like to thank all of you who have prepared material to ease my transition to Industry Canada," says Mr. Harder. "Already I can see the standard of professionalism in the Department is impressive."

Argus April 2000