News Release

FREDERICTON (CNB) - One new appointment, five changes of assignment, and three retirements of provincial deputy ministers were announced today by Premier Shawn Graham.

"These changes will streamline senior management within our provincial government, and ensure that we continue to maintain the depth of experience, knowledge and talent at the senior level of our public service," Graham said. "I'd like to thank these six deputies for agreeing to take on the challenge of new assignments. They have all demonstrated their talent and their great professionalism throughout their careers, and I know they will bring their skill and enthusiasm to bear as they take on new departments and responsibilities."

The new deputy minister appointment is:

Edith Doucet, appointed deputy minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, effective Sept. 22.

Doucet previously was acting deputy minister of Family and Community Services, and is currently assistant deputy minister of program development and monitoring for Social Development. She served previously as director of family and prevention services and childhood services for the department.

Five deputy ministers will receive new assignments. Graham said that these assignments will reduce the number of deputy ministers, since two current deputy ministers will be assuming a second portfolio. They include:

Ellen Barry, deputy minister of Tourism and Parks, who also becomes deputy minister of Wellness, Culture and Sport, effective Sept. 22.

A bilingual career public servant, Barry has extensive experience throughout government, and worked previously as assistant deputy minister for the minerals, policy and planning division at Natural Resources. A graduate of the University of New Brunswick, Barry also worked in the departments of Health, Finance and Natural Resources during her public service career.

Bonny Hoyt-Hallet, deputy minister of Local Government, also becomes deputy minister of Environment, effective Jan. 1, 2009.

Hoyt-Hallet previously served as acting deputy minister of Local Government before being named deputy minister. She joined the public service in 1984 with the former Department of Health and Community Services, where she worked until 1998. Since then she has worked in various departments involving the municipal sector. She was previously assistant deputy minister of the local governance and regional services division with Environment and Local Government. Prior to joining the public service she was executive director of the Nurses Association of New Brunswick, and taught nursing at the University of New Brunswick.

Byron James, currently deputy minister of Fisheries and deputy minister of Agriculture and Aquaculture, becomes deputy minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, effective Sept. 22.

A public servant for 35 years, James began working with the federal government as an economist in 1973, moving to the provincial government in 1987. He has served as assistant deputy minister for educational services with the Department of Advanced Education and Training and the Department of Education, as assistant secretary to the cabinet committee on policy and priorities, and deputy minister of Municipalities and Housing.

Jim McKay, currently deputy minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, becomes deputy minister of Fisheries and deputy minister of Agriculture and Aquaculture, effective Sept. 22.

A longtime public servant, McKay previously served with Intergovernmental Affairs as assistant deputy minister for federal/provincial/territorial relations, and was responsible for Atlantic Canada/New England regional co-operation. He was director of investment and immigration with Business New Brunswick. He also held a variety of positions with Economic Development and Tourism; Commerce and Technology; and Tourism, Parks and Recreation.

Sylvie Levesque-Finn, currently deputy minister of Wellness, Culture and Sport, becomes president of Service New Brunswick, effective Sept. 22.

Levesque-Finn has been acting deputy minister for the department, and was formerly executive director of the Culture and Sport Secretariat. She joined the public service in 1987, and held several positions in the Department of Environment and Local Government; the Department of Municipalities, Culture and Housing; the New Brunswick Housing Corp.; and the Restigouche Hospital Centre.

The three deputy ministers retiring from public service are:

Rachel Bard, deputy minister of Environment, retires Dec. 31 after 37 years of public service. Bard previously served as deputy minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour; assistant deputy minister for public health and medical services with Health and Wellness; as assistant deputy minister and CEO of New Brunswick community colleges with Training and Employment Development; and assistant deputy minister of post-secondary education with Education. She worked for many years in senior management of the mental-health-care system, and began her career as a psychiatric nurse.

Nora Kelly, deputy minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour. Kelly has accepted a position as executive-in-residence with the University of New Brunswick. She will work on major projects on behalf of UNB, and report to President John McLaughlin.

Kelly previously served as deputy minister of Health and as deputy minister of Training and Employment Development. She served as assistant deputy minister of corrections and community services with the Department of the Solicitor General, and as vice-president of operations for the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission.

Michael McKendy, president of Service New Brunswick, retired Aug. 29. McKendy joined the public service in 1976, and held a number of positions responsible for municipal affairs within the department, including director of local government, executive director of corporate services, assistant deputy minister of housing and community services, and assistant deputy minister of municipal services, as well as vice-president of operations for Service New Brunswick.

"I'd like to thank Rachel Bard, Nora Kelly, and Michael McKendy for their leadership, their experience and the energy they brought to the departments and agencies they served over the course of their careers in the public service," Graham said. "Their leadership has been critical to the advancement of our self-sufficiency plan, and they have made an important contribution to the betterment of our province. I wish them all the best."

EDITOR'S NOTE: Graham will be available to media to answer questions on the deputy minister changes at 9:30 a.m., TODAY, Sept. 18, outside the Premier's Office, 2nd floor, Centennial Building. Following is the complete list of deputy ministers, deputy heads, presidents and chairs of Crown corporations (*denotes a change or addition).