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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.
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