Red Tape Reduction Summit Biographies

About

Agenda

Biographies

FRANÇAIS

Keynote

The Honourable Shafqat Ali President of the Treasury Board

The Honourable Shafqat Ali is the President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament for Brampton–Chinguacousy Park. A dedicated community leader and successful entrepreneur, he brings years of experience working with families, local organizations, and small businesses. Before entering federal politics, President Ali spent more than a decade volunteering in his community as a youth mentor and organizer of local programs and initiatives. His work has always focused on supporting people and strengthening community life. As President of the Treasury Board, he leads the government’s efforts to improve public services, strengthen accountability, modernize operations, and reduce administrative burden across departments. He is committed to making government work better for Canadians and to supporting public servants in delivering results.

Speaker

Candace Laing, President and CEO Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Candace Laing is an executive leader with progressive leadership experience in multiple sectors, including mining, manufacturing, agriculture, education, and healthcare. Candace’s career spans over two decades, encompassing roles in both private and public sector organizations. She also has a strong entrepreneurial background with a focus on strategic business initiatives that foster long-term value and high-performance cultures. Most notably, Candace worked for more than ten years with Nutrien, leading both the Sustainability and Human Resources functions and serving as a member of the Executive Leadership Team. She played a pivotal role in launching Nutrien’s environment, social, and governance (ESG) efforts and, through her most recent role as the organization’s Chief Human Resources Officer, focused on ensuring people strategies and inclusion initiatives were aligned with business strategy. She first joined the Canadian Chamber’s Board of Directors in 2019 and served as Vice-Chair from 2021 to 2022, assuming the role of Chair of the Board of Directors in 2022. She was on the Board when the Chamber developed its Chamber 2025 Strategic Plan—a transformational mandate to create a reimagined and renewed Canadian Chamber. Candace is passionate about ensuring healthy organizations support a strong economy that can serve societal needs. She is proud to have grown up in Saskatchewan, where her family maintains a longstanding farming operation. Candace is a Fellow of Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (FCPHR). She holds a Bachelor of Commerce with Distinction and a Graduate Certificate in Public Policy Analysis from the University of Saskatchewan. Additionally, she has a Graduate Certificate in Corporate Sustainability and Innovation from Harvard University and a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University.

Panelists

Jennifer Church, Deputy Minister & Chief Executive Officer Office of Service Efficiency, Government of Nova Scotia

Jennifer Church is Deputy Minister and Chief Executive Officer for the Province of Nova Scotia’s Office of Service Efficiency. She has previously held positions as the Deputy Minister of the Office of Priorities and Planning, CEO of Communications Nova Scotia, and Associate Deputy Minister for Inclusive Economic Growth. She has also held senior roles with the Halifax Regional Municipality and the Halifax Chamber of Commerce.   Amongst her ongoing academic accomplishments is her foundation as a graduate of Dalhousie University’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, as well as certificates in Behavioral Insights and Public Policy (Harvard Kennedy School) and Leading Complex Systems (Royal Roads University). Ms. Church has served as a board member for the Canadian Center for Ethics in Public Affairs, Community Leadership Advisory Council to the Admiral, Alice Housing, and Research Nova Scotia.

Michael DeJong, Assistant Secretary, Regulatory Affairs Sector Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Michael DeJong was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Regulatory Affairs Sector at Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat in June 2024. In his current role, Mike exercises leadership on regulatory policy, modernization and cooperation on behalf of the federal system as well as oversees the challenge and support functions for regulatory proposals requiring Governor in Council approval. Mike previously served as Vice-President and Chief Communications Officer in the Regulatory Affairs Branch of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commissions (CNSC). In this role, he was responsible for maintaining an effective and flexible regulatory framework for nuclear safety, leading strategic planning and engagement, and delivering modernized communications services. Before joining the CNSC, he held various leadership positions across the federal government, including Director General, Rail Safety, at Transport Canada. Michael has also held positions at Public Safety Canada, the Department of Finance Canada, the Privy Council Office (Regulatory Affairs and Orders in Council; Social Development Policy) and TBS (Program Sector).

Rakhi Lad, Assistant Deputy Minister Ministry of Red Tape Reduction, Government of Ontario

Rakhi Lad was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister in October 2022. Previously, she held various roles in the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade the including Director of Strategic Industry Intelligence Branch, Director of Trade and Investment Branch, and Director of Trade Strategy, Analytics and Partnership Branch. Across these leadership roles, she led strategic policy development, trade and investment initiatives, and industry intelligence efforts.

Aaron Wirth, ADM, Strategic Policy and Competitiveness Ministry of Trade and Export Development, Government of Saskatchewan

Aaron Wirth is the Assistant Deputy Minister of Strategic Policy and Competitiveness at Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Trade and Export Development. With over 15 years of senior leadership across multiple line departments and central agencies, he is known for pragmatic problem-solving and strong cross-government and industry collaboration. Aaron is focused on supporting investment and growth, driving competitiveness, reducing regulatory burden and modernizing policy frameworks across the Government of Saskatchewan and provincial economy. He holds an MPA from the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy.

Moderator

Theo Argitis, Senior Vice President, Policy Business Council of Canada

As Senior Vice President, Policy, Theo leads the Council’s policy team and provides analysis and insights on a wide range of issues related to the economy and public policy. Theo has studied and written on global economic and political affairs for three decades. His journalism career began in the mid-1990s, where he reported on the developing economies of Eastern Europe as managing editor of current affairs weekly New Europe. He joined Bloomberg in 1999 to open a bureau in Athens, before moving to Ottawa six years later. Since 2005, Theo has written on just about every major story at the nexus of power and money in Canada.

Facilitators

Kelly Acton, VP, Strategic Policy Branch Canada Border Services Agency

Kelly Acton joined the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in February 2023 as Vice-President of the Strategic Policy Branch. Her previous role was as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Digital Policy and Performance in the Office of the Chief Information Officer of Canada at the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), providing enterprise level guidance on instruments and performance linked to the digital agenda, in the fields of service, security and access to information. She was previously Assistant Secretary of Strategic Communications and Ministerial Affairs at TBS. Prior to her arrival at TBS, Kelly held executive positions in communications, in IM/IT, strategic policy and regulatory affairs at Innovation, Science and Industry, as well as various leadership positions at what was then Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. Kelly works in an engaging, multidisciplinary way, with a broad perspective informed by work in both the public and not-for-profit sectors on a range of public policy issues. Kelly holds a degree in Journalism and Political Science from Carleton University, and an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Robert Ianiro, VP, Policy and Programs Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Robert Ianiro was appointed Vice-President of the Policy and Programs Branch at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on October 16, 2023. He brings extensive leadership experience from senior roles at CFIA, Shared Services Canada, and Health Canada, where he spent over two decades in executive positions. These included Assistant Deputy Minister of the Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch and Director General of Human Resources. Robert has led major initiatives such as the development and Royal Assent of the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, the renewal of Canada’s Tobacco Strategy, and efforts to maintain a safe and secure food supply during COVID-19. He has represented Canada internationally at the United Nations, OECD, and APEC, and is recognised for his expertise in regulatory development, strategic policy, compliance programs, human resources management, and stakeholder engagement. Born and raised in Ottawa, Robert holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours, Biochemistry) from the University of Ottawa. Outside of work, he enjoys travelling, cycling, cooking, and spending time with his family. He is a proud husband and an active hockey and ringette dad.

Linsey Hollett, ADM, Regulatory Operations and Enforcement Branch Health Canada

Linsey Hollett is the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM), Regulatory Operations and Enforcement Branch at Health Canada. She is responsible for overseeing a national scientific and regulatory function, including laboratory analysis and compliance and enforcement programs for drugs and natural health products, medical devices, clinical trials, cannabis, pesticides, tobacco and vaping products, controlled substances, and consumer products; oversees national engagement and outreach programs related to environmental health; is responsible for coordination of the regulatory agenda for Health Canada and, leads the Government of Canada’s initiatives to prevent and alleviate critical, national drug and medical device shortages. She is also the ADM Champion for the Community of Federal Regulators and Health Canada’s Gender and Sexual Diversity Network. Linsey has been with Health Canada for 21 years, always within regulatory organizations, working on files related to healthy environments, consumer product safety and health product compliance and enforcement. Linsey holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Memorial University and a Master of Public Administration from Dalhousie University.

Judy Meltzer, AADM, Environmental Protection Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada

Judy Meltzer is the Associate Assistant Deputy Minister of the Environmental Protection Branch at ECCC. Previously, she was Director General of the Carbon Markets Bureau at ECCC. Prior to joining the federal government in 2009 she worked in various policy and research institutions, including the Canadian Foundation for the Americas and the International Development Research Centre. Judy holds a PhD in Political Science and a Master of Arts in International Affairs.

Kasi McMicking, ADM, Strategic Policy Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Kassandra (Kasi) McMicking is the Associate Assistant Deputy Minister for the Strategic Policy Sector (SPS) at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). Prior to joining ISED as ADM SPS in April 2023, Kasi held various senior roles across the Government of Canada, including as ISED’s Director General, Aerospace, Defence and Marine, and as Executive Director, Industrial Division, Treasury Board Secretariat. She has also held senior roles at the Treasury Board Secretariat Regulatory Affairs, the Privy Council Office, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Health Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada. In these roles she has spanned a wide variety of fields, including policy, program, regulation, communications, federal-provincial-territorial and Indigenous relations, and departmental liaison. Kasi hails from rural New Brunswick, and earned her BA (Honours) in Political Science from St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. She is the proud spouse of a CAF member (retired), stepmother of a York University student, and serves at the pleasure of her three rescued pets. She volunteers time mentoring public servants, and on various animal welfare causes.

Megan Nichols, ADM, Environmental Protection Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada

Megan Nichols was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister of the Environmental Protection Branch (EPB) as of July 22, 2024, and previously, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister as of January 10, 2023. She joined ECCC from Transport Canada, where she spent four years, first as the Director General of Environmental Policy, and then as Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy. Prior to her time at Transport Canada, Megan was Director General in the Lands and Minerals Sector at Natural Resources Canada, with responsibility for the leadership of Canada’s mining policy. From 2012-2017, Megan held a number of positions at Public Safety Canada, focused mainly on international and Canada-U.S. border and security issues. Megan spent six years designing and managing public infrastructure funding programs at Infrastructure Canada. From 1999 to 2004, she worked in the Canadian Heritage portfolio, where she developed international cultural policy initiatives, delivered programming for the Canada Council of the Arts, and supported the department’s portfolio management and corporate secretariat functions. Megan holds a master’s degree in history from Queen’s University. She lives in Chelsea, Quebec with her family and is an avid hiker, canoeist and cross-country skier.

Jenelle Power, Executive Director, Red Tape Reduction Office, Regulatory Affairs Sector Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Jenelle Power is currently the Director General responsible for the Red Tape Reduction Office at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. In this role, she leads efforts to modernize Canada’s regulatory system, promote regulatory cooperation, and support the federal regulator community and partner departments. Before taking on her current position, Jenelle held several senior leadership roles at Service Canada, including Chief of Staff to the Chief Operating Officer, Director General of Program Operations in the Atlantic Region, and Director General for Employment Insurance (EI). Earlier in her career, she worked across the safety and security portfolio at Correctional Service of Canada, Public Safety Canada, Transport Canada, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, gaining extensive experience in research, policy, regulations, and operations, as well as serving in senior advisory capacities. Jenelle is originally from Newfoundland and Labrador and holds a PhD in Psychology from Carleton University.

Deborah Quaicoe, Director of Regulatory Efficiency Major Projects Office

Deborah Quaicoe is the Director of Regulatory Efficiency at the Major Projects Office (MPO), where she leads the Government of Canada’s commitment to complete federal reviews and decision-making for major projects within a two-year timeframe. Prior to joining MPO, Deborah was a Director in the Clean Growth Office at the Privy Council Office, where she advanced implementation of the Cabinet Directive on Regulatory and Permitting Efficiencies for Clean Growth Projects. She also led Indigenous consultations for Bill C-5 (Building Canada Act) and played a key role in establishing the Major Projects Office. Deborah is originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Memorial University of Newfoundland and a diploma in Paralegal Studies from Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario. Since joining the federal public service in 2007, she has held progressively senior roles, including paralegal at the Department of Justice, negotiator with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, and Director of Indigenous Partnerships at the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, before moving to the Privy Council Office.