Biography

In May 2004, the Prime Minister appointed Leonard J. Edwards as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, effective May 10, 2004.

Mr. Edwards was Deputy Minister for International Trade from June 2001 to May 2004. In this capacity, Mr. Edwards was also a Director of the Export Development Canada and the Commissioner of the Northern Pipeline Agency. Mr. Edwards joined the Department of External Affairs in 1969.

From 1998-2001, Mr. Edwards was Canada’s Ambassador to Japan. He also served as Ambassador to the Republic of Korea from 1991-1994. Within the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Mr. Edwards has held the positions of Assistant Deputy Minister for Trade and Economic Policy and Assistant Deputy Minister, Asia Pacific. He also served as Executive Director, Summits Management Office with responsibility for the organization of the 1988 and 1995 Economic Summits and the 1987 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

His overseas assignments have included Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), Hanoi, Ankara, Brussels/NATO and the Canadian Mission to the United Nations at Geneva.

Mr. Edwards was born in Saskatchewan and received a BA and MA from the University of Saskatchewan. Mr. Edwards is married to Margaret Edwards and they have two children.