Mary Dawson (Canadian civil servant)
Encyclopedia
Mary Elizabeth Dawson is the current Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
of Canada
. She was appointed by the minority Conservative government of Prime Minister
Stephen Harper
on July 9, 2007 as the Conflict of Interest Act came into force.
Democracy Watch
filed an application in in Federal Court
challenging the ruling issued on January 7, 2008 by Dawson which concluded that, even when the government's own actions and those of one of their close associates are in question, they are allowed to choose whether a judicial inquiry will take place, to set the scope of the inquiry, to choose the inquiry commissioner(s) who will judge them, and to control a legal proceeding against another person who has made allegations about them. This discretion was demonstrated on April 13, 2010 when she decided not to investigate Helena Guergis
amid allegations of misconduct.
Dawson had a long career with the Government of Canada
and oversaw a wide variety of legal issues from within the Department of Justice
. She retired in 2005 as Associate Deputy Minister
, a position she was appointed to by the Conservative government of Prime Minister
Brian Mulroney
in 1988.
Dawson played an important role in relation to constitutional matters. She was the final drafter for the patriation package (Constitution Act, 1982
) and, until her retirement, drafted, and was the principal legal adviser for, all Constitutional amendments, including the Meech Lake Accord
and the Charlottetown Accord
. She led the legal team for the Government of Canada
on the Quebec Secession
Reference and was responsible for the legal advice on, and drafting of, the Clarity Act
. Dawson also managed the Supreme Court
Reference on same-sex marriage
for the Government of Canada as well as the preparation of the related legislation. She advised extensively in the area of aboriginal rights.
Since her retirement from the Department of Justice
, Mary Dawson has acted as a consultant, both in the public and the private sectors. She often speaks to university classes and other groups and participates from time to time on panels. She was appointed in June, 2006 to the Board of Governors of the Ottawa Hospital, and serves on the Quality Committee of that Board.
From 1986 to 1995, Mary Dawson was the head of the Department of Justice
Public Law
Sector, including the traditional public law areas of constitutional law
, administrative law
and international law
as well as human rights law, native law, judicial affairs, access and privacy law and regulatory affairs.
She was Associate Chief Legislative Counsel from 1980 to 1986 and Chair of the Statute Revision Commission through most of the 1980s. She joined the Legislation Section of the Department of Justice in 1970 and drafted such laws as the Access to Information Act
, the Privacy Act, the Canada Health Act
, the Official Languages Act
, the Competition Act, the Customs Act and the Young Offenders Act
.
She has held executive positions in the International Bar Association
and was a Canadian member of the Joint Steering Committee of the Joint Canada-Russia project on Public Administration Reform in Russia
.
Mary Dawson was a Skelton-Clark Fellow at Queen’s University in 1999-2000 where she lectured in several faculties. She has also published several articles on various subjects.
where she joined the Kappa Phi Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi, an LL.B (Common Law) from Dalhousie University
and a Diplôme d’études supérieures en droit (droit public), from the University of Ottawa
. She is a member of the Nova Scotia and Ontario Bars and retained her membership in her original Bar, the Quebec Bar, until her retirement from the Department of Justice
.
Mary Dawson was made a Queen’s Counsel in 1978 and was named a Member of the Order of Canada
in 2007.
Ethics Commissioner (Canada)
The Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner of Canada is a Canadian government institution. It was created as a result of the Federal Accountability Act, also known as The Federal Accountability Act created the which came into effect on July 9, 2007.The position currently is...
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. She was appointed by the minority Conservative government of Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
on July 9, 2007 as the Conflict of Interest Act came into force.
Democracy Watch
Democracy Watch (Canada)
Democracy Watch, established in 1993, is a Canadian organization that advocates on democratic reform, government accountability and corporate responsibility issues...
filed an application in in Federal Court
Federal Court (Canada)
The Federal Court is a Canadian trial court that hears cases arising under certain areas of federal law. The Federal Court is a superior court with nationwide jurisdiction...
challenging the ruling issued on January 7, 2008 by Dawson which concluded that, even when the government's own actions and those of one of their close associates are in question, they are allowed to choose whether a judicial inquiry will take place, to set the scope of the inquiry, to choose the inquiry commissioner(s) who will judge them, and to control a legal proceeding against another person who has made allegations about them. This discretion was demonstrated on April 13, 2010 when she decided not to investigate Helena Guergis
Helena Guergis
Helena C. Guergis, PC, is a Canadian politician. She has represented Simcoe—Grey in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004, and was appointed Minister of State on October 30, 2008, following the October 14, 2008 Canadian federal election...
amid allegations of misconduct.
Dawson had a long career with the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
and oversaw a wide variety of legal issues from within the Department of Justice
Department of Justice (Canada)
The purpose of the Department of Justice is to ensure that the Canadian justice system is fair, accessible and efficient. The Department also represents the Canadian government in legal matters...
. She retired in 2005 as Associate Deputy Minister
Deputy Minister (Canada)
In Canada, a deputy minister is the senior civil servant in a government department. He or she takes political direction from an elected minister. Responsibility for the department's day-to-day operations, budget and program development lie with the deputy minister...
, a position she was appointed to by the Conservative government of Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney
Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
in 1988.
Dawson played an important role in relation to constitutional matters. She was the final drafter for the patriation package (Constitution Act, 1982
Constitution Act, 1982
The Constitution Act, 1982 is a part of the Constitution of Canada. The Act was introduced as part of Canada's process of "patriating" the constitution, introducing several amendments to the British North America Act, 1867, and changing the latter's name in Canada to the Constitution Act, 1867...
) and, until her retirement, drafted, and was the principal legal adviser for, all Constitutional amendments, including the Meech Lake Accord
Meech Lake Accord
The Meech Lake Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada negotiated in 1987 by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and ten provincial premiers. It was intended to persuade the government of the Province of Quebec to endorse the 1982 Canadian Constitution and increase...
and the Charlottetown Accord
Charlottetown Accord
The Charlottetown Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada, proposed by the Canadian federal and provincial governments in 1992. It was submitted to a public referendum on October 26 of that year, and was defeated.-Background:...
. She led the legal team for the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
on the Quebec Secession
Quebec sovereignty movement
The Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
Reference and was responsible for the legal advice on, and drafting of, the Clarity Act
Clarity Act
The Clarity Act is legislation passed by the Parliament of Canada that established the conditions under which the Government of Canada would enter into negotiations that might lead to secession following such a vote by one of the provinces. The Clarity Bill was tabled for first reading in the...
. Dawson also managed the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
Reference on same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
for the Government of Canada as well as the preparation of the related legislation. She advised extensively in the area of aboriginal rights.
Since her retirement from the Department of Justice
Department of Justice (Canada)
The purpose of the Department of Justice is to ensure that the Canadian justice system is fair, accessible and efficient. The Department also represents the Canadian government in legal matters...
, Mary Dawson has acted as a consultant, both in the public and the private sectors. She often speaks to university classes and other groups and participates from time to time on panels. She was appointed in June, 2006 to the Board of Governors of the Ottawa Hospital, and serves on the Quality Committee of that Board.
From 1986 to 1995, Mary Dawson was the head of the Department of Justice
Department of Justice (Canada)
The purpose of the Department of Justice is to ensure that the Canadian justice system is fair, accessible and efficient. The Department also represents the Canadian government in legal matters...
Public Law
Public law
Public law is a theory of law governing the relationship between individuals and the state. Under this theory, constitutional law, administrative law and criminal law are sub-divisions of public law...
Sector, including the traditional public law areas of constitutional law
Constitutional law
Constitutional law is the body of law which defines the relationship of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary....
, administrative law
Administrative law
Administrative law is the body of law that governs the activities of administrative agencies of government. Government agency action can include rulemaking, adjudication, or the enforcement of a specific regulatory agenda. Administrative law is considered a branch of public law...
and international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
as well as human rights law, native law, judicial affairs, access and privacy law and regulatory affairs.
She was Associate Chief Legislative Counsel from 1980 to 1986 and Chair of the Statute Revision Commission through most of the 1980s. She joined the Legislation Section of the Department of Justice in 1970 and drafted such laws as the Access to Information Act
Access to Information Act
Access to Information Act or Information Act is a Canadian act providing the right of access to information under the control of a government institution...
, the Privacy Act, the Canada Health Act
Canada Health Act
The Canada Health Act is a piece of Canadian federal legislation, adopted in 1984, which specifies the conditions and criteria with which the provincial and territorial health insurance programs must conform in order to receive federal transfer payments under the Canada Health Transfer...
, the Official Languages Act
Official Languages Act (Canada)
The Official Languages Act is a Canadian law that came into force on September 9, 1969, which gives English and French equal status in the government of Canada. This makes them "official" languages, having preferred status in law over all other languages...
, the Competition Act, the Customs Act and the Young Offenders Act
Young Offenders Act
The Young Offenders Act was an act of the Parliament of Canada, granted Royal Assent in 1984, that regulated the criminal prosecution of Canadian youths...
.
She has held executive positions in the International Bar Association
International Bar Association
The International Bar Association is an international association of lawyers and lawyers' associations. The IBA's stated purpose is to promote an exchange of information between legal associations worldwide, support the independence of the judiciary and the right of lawyers to practice their...
and was a Canadian member of the Joint Steering Committee of the Joint Canada-Russia project on Public Administration Reform in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
Mary Dawson was a Skelton-Clark Fellow at Queen’s University in 1999-2000 where she lectured in several faculties. She has also published several articles on various subjects.
Education
Mary Dawson holds a BA (Honours Philosophy) and a BCL (Civil Law) from McGill UniversityMcGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
where she joined the Kappa Phi Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi, an LL.B (Common Law) from Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
and a Diplôme d’études supérieures en droit (droit public), from the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
. She is a member of the Nova Scotia and Ontario Bars and retained her membership in her original Bar, the Quebec Bar, until her retirement from the Department of Justice
Department of Justice (Canada)
The purpose of the Department of Justice is to ensure that the Canadian justice system is fair, accessible and efficient. The Department also represents the Canadian government in legal matters...
.
Mary Dawson was made a Queen’s Counsel in 1978 and was named a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 2007.