Patricia Blackstaffe Commissioner for Workers

Biographical Notes

Patricia Blackstaffe was born in London, England and emigrated to Canada as a young woman. She has served in senior executive and policy positions in the Canadian labour movement for over 25 years. Before her career led her to the labour movement, Ms. Blackstaffe worked in research and administrative capacities in Britain, France and Canada.

Prior to becoming Commissioner for Workers, she was Executive Assistant to the President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). Before this, she worked as Executive Assistant to the President of the Communications Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP), one of Canada's largest private sector unions, as well as Research Director of the Communications Workers of Canada (CWC).

As a senior advisor to the Presidents of the CLC and the CEP, Ms. Blackstaffe has spent the past several years dealing with a wide range of employment and human rights related issues. She has also been active in a number of policy areas affecting workers.

She has been a Board member of the Canadian Council for International Co-operation and was a founding Board member of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

In addition to a Secretarial Certificate from the West London College of Commerce, Ms. Blackstaffe has an Honours degree in Economics from the University of Toronto, which she acquired as an adult student after several years in the workforce.