Press Releases and Media Advisories

Chief Electoral Officer Appoints New Commissioner of Canada Elections

OTTAWA, Monday, September 18, 2006 — The Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Jean-Pierre Kingsley, is pleased to announce the appointment of William Corbett as Commissioner of Canada Elections. Mr. Corbett's tenure begins today.

Under the general direction of the Chief Electoral Officer, the Commissioner of Canada Elections is an independent non-partisan officer whose duty it is to ensure that the Canada Elections Act and the Referendum Act are complied with and enforced.

Mr. Corbett, who received his LLB from Queen's University in 1969, has an extensive background in criminal, constitutional and administrative law, and in alternate modes of dispute resolution. Mr. Corbett has been a practising lawyer and litigator for 35 years.

As Senior General Counsel in charge of the criminal law section of the Federal Prosecution Service at the Department of Justice, Mr. Corbett gained broad expertise in all aspects of federal prosecution and criminal law matters.

He began his career as a federal prosecutor in the Northwest Territories, followed by an assignment as crown attorney in Yukon.

He appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada on numerous appeals and interventions, and has been involved in negotiating treaties on extradition and mutual international legal assistance with many countries and jurisdictions. He has also participated in the development of federal legislation.

"I welcome Mr. Corbett as the new Commissioner of Canada Elections," said Mr. Kingsley. "I am certain that his leadership skills and dedication to democratic values will ensure the integrity of the electoral process, and result in effective compliance and enforcement measures that will maintain public confidence in the oversight of electoral administration in Canada."

For more on the role of the Commissioner of Canada Elections, see www.elections.ca > General Information > Backgrounders > "Enforcing the Canada Elections Act."

Elections Canada is an independent body set up by Parliament.

Information:
Elections Canada Media Relations
1-877-877-9515
or at www.elections.ca