Resumé

Biography

Mr. Yves Côté was appointed the second Ombudsman for the Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces in July 2005. He officially took office on August 2, 2005.

Mr. Côté brings almost 30 years of public service experience to this Office. His most recent position was that of Counsel to the Clerk of the Privy Council from 2003–2005. He also served as Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet – Legislation and House Planning until August 2004.

Prior to joining the Privy Council Office, Mr. Côté was with the Department of Justice where he held a variety of positions and worked extensively in areas dealing with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as human rights. He worked for more than eight years in the Human Rights Law Section, eventually becoming its director. During that period, he also acted as government coordinator for the Somalia Inquiry. One of his main functions, under this part-time assignment, consisted in facilitating at various levels the relationship between the Commission and the government.

Later, as Assistant Deputy Minister in the Department of Justice, he headed the Business and Regulatory Law Portfolio and worked actively as co-champion for visible minorities and persons with disabilities within the Department.

Mr. Côté is familiar with the Department of National Defence and the military as he started his career there as a military legal officer in 1977. Until he left the military in September 1981, he provided opinions and advice on a wide range of issues concerning military law and discipline. In 1998, while continuing to belong to the Department of Justice, he became the first civilian Legal Advisor for the Department and the Canadian Forces. In that position, he was responsible for the provision of legal advice to his clients in all areas, except those relating to military law and military discipline. He held that position for two years, until 2000.

In 1976, Mr. Côté earned his Bachelor of Civil Law from Université Laval. He later earned his Bachelor of Psychology from the University of Ottawa in 1992. Mr. Côté was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1992 and has received numerous awards for his public service. He has been a member of the Barreau du Québec since 1977.

Mr. Côté and his wife Carole have two adult daughters.