Acting Deputy Minister of
Health Promotion and Protection

Robert (Bob) Fowler

Mr. Fowler was appointed Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs for the Province of Nova Scotia on June 14, 2004. On February 23, 2006, Mr. Fowler was also named Acting Deputy Minister for the new and expanded Department of Health Promotion and Protection where he will oversee the transition that will bring together the province's health promotion, prevention and protection resources.

From January 2005 to February 2006, Mr. Fowler served as the first Deputy Minister of the newly created Office of Immigration.

Mr. Fowler has spent more than 30 years in public service, the majority in the Nova Scotia Civil Service. Immediately prior to his appointment as Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Fowler was in the middle of a three-year Executive Interchange with the Federal Public Service as Regional Director General, Health Canada Atlantic Region, responsible for program delivery and Pan Atlantic liaison for the four Atlantic Provinces.

Prior to his assignment to Health Canada, Mr. Fowler spent more than 27 years in a variety of positions and departments in the Nova Scotia Civil Service.

From September 2001 until February 2003, Mr. Fowler was the CEO/Deputy Head of the Provincial Agency responsible for organizing and leading the Province's partnership and community engagement activities related to the clean-up of the Sydney Tar Ponds Coke Ovens.

From September 1994 to September 2001, Mr. Fowler had assignments as Assistant Deputy Minister in the Departments of Economic Development and Tourism followed by the Department of Community Services as well as Senior Executive Director of Operations and Regional Support in the Department of Health at the time of the implementation of the Regional Health Boards.

Mr. Fowler began his career in the Nova Scotia Public Service in December 1975 as a Rent Review Officer and subsequently held progressively more senior management positions in the Departments of Consumer Affairs and the Management Board/Treasury Board.

Mr. Fowler graduated with a Bachelor of Art (cum laude) in Sociology and English from St. Mary's University in 1972. Mr. Fowler has been happily married for 34 years. He and his wife, Paulette are the proud parents of two adult children, both graduates of Saint Mary's University. Bob and Paulette are long time residents of Halifax.

Mr. Fowler is a passionate believer in the values and ethics of a professional Public Service which strives for excellence in its service to Nova Scotians and respect and development of its greatest assets our employees.