Deputy Heads

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Michael Wernick - Deputy Minister

Michael Wernick was appointed Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development in May 2006. His previous position was Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, Plans and Consultations, at the Privy Council Office.

Since joining the federal public service in 1981, Mr. Wernick has worked at the Social Policy Division of the Department of Finance, Consumer and Corporate Affairs Canada, the Economic and Regional Development Policy Secretariat of the Privy Council Office, and the Constitutional Affairs Secretariat of the Federal-Provincial Relations Office. From 1996 to 2003 he served as Assistant Deputy Minister and then as Associate Deputy Minister at the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Mr. Wernick received B.A. and M.A. degrees in Economics from the University of Toronto.

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Peter Harrison - Senior Associate Deputy Minister

Peter Harrison was appointed to the position of Senior Associate Deputy Minister, effective January 22, 2007. He holds three degrees in Geography: a B.A. (1st Class Honours) from the London School of Economics, an M.A. from the University of Victoria and a PhD. from the University of Washington.

Dr. Harrison has previously served as Executive Director of the Public Appointments Commission Secretariat; as a Senior Research Fellow at the National Research Council; as DM of both Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Natural Resources Canada; as Head of both the Leadership Network and the La Relève Task Force; as Associate DM of Human Resources Development and Vice-Chairperson of the Canada Employment Insurance Commission; as ADM of Human Resources at Revenue Canada; as Deputy Principal of the Canadian Centre for Management Development; as Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet for Priorities and Planning at the Privy Council Office; as ADM of Economic Development at INAC; and as DG of Economic Development Policy, Director of Social Policy, and Assistant Director of Minerals, Northern Development and Special Projects at the Department of Finance.

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Neil Yeates – Associate Deputy Minister

Neil Yeates was appointed to the position of Associate Deputy Minister at Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), effective July 16, 2007. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Yeates served as the Assistant Deputy Minister at Health Canada, Health Products and Food Branch, since 2006.

Previously, Mr. Yeates was Assistant Deputy Minister, Industry Sector with Industry Canada. He joined the Government of Canada from the Government of Saskatchewan in August 2004. In his 20-year career with the Government of Saskatchewan, Mr. Yeates held a variety of Deputy Minister positions, including with the Department of Learning, the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Learning and Skills Training, and the Department of Corrections and Public Safety. As well, he has held Assistant Deputy Minister positions in the departments of Health, Social Services, and Finance.

Mr. Yeates holds a B.A. (Honours) in political science and history from Queen's University and a M.A. in Political Science from the University of Regina.