Prime Minister announces diplomatic nomination of former Clerk of the Privy Council

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the nomination of
Mr. Alexander Himelfarb, former Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, as Ambassador of Canada to the Italian Republic with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Albania and the Republic of San Marino, and as High Commissioner for Canada to the Republic of Malta.

"During his tenure as the 19th Clerk of the Privy Council, Mr. Himelfarb has provided guidance through two transitions and advice to three Prime Ministers. I thank him for his wise counsel and assistance. He has served his country with great distinction," Prime Minister Harper said.

"I have every confidence that Mr. Himelfarb will represent Canada's interests abroad in an outstanding fashion and further enhance Canada's solid reputation on the international scene when he undertakes his new and important assignment," Prime Minister Harper said.

Mr. Himelfarb's assignment is expected to start in August 2006.

Biographical notes follow.


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ALEXANDER HIMELFARB
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES 

Date of Birth: July 1947

Education:
Bachelor, Sociology, University of Toronto
Masters, Sociology, University of Toronto
Doctorate, Sociology, University of Toronto

Professional Experience:

May 2002 - March 2006
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet
June 1999 to May 2002
Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage

October 1998  May 1999
Associate Secretary of the Treasury Board; Head, Social Union Task Force

July 1997  October 1998
Deputy Secretary, Treasury Board Secretariat

February 1995  July 1997
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Social Development Policy, Privy Council Office

August 1994  February 1995
Executive Director, Planning, Review and Renewal, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

December 1993  August 1994
Executive Director, Information Management and Renewal, Department of Justice

November 1989  December 1993
Various positions with the National Parole Board which culminated in the position of Executive Director

July 1986  November 1989
Director General, Planning and Systems Group and Planning and Management Branch, Department of Solicitor General

December 1981  July 1986
Chief, Victimization Research, then Director, Statistics Division, Program Branch, Department of Solicitor General

July 1972 to December 1981
Professor, Sociology, University of New Brunswick and then Chief of Evaluation, Unified Family Courts, Department of Justice (Executive Interchange)