Yellowknife — May 10, 2021
Premier Caroline Cochrane today announced the following changes to the senior management in the Northwest Territories public service:
- Eleanor Young is appointed as President and CEO of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation (NWTHC).
Ms. Young moves to the NWTHC from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) where she served for sixteen years in progressively more senior management roles, including most recently as Deputy Minister since 2016.
- Laura Gareau is appointed as Deputy Minister of MACA.
Ms. Gareau has almost twenty years of progressive senior management experience with the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), including roles in the Departments of MACA, Finance, Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), most recently serving as the Deputy Secretary to Cabinet with the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs (EIA).
- Jamie Koe is appointed as Deputy Minister of Lands.
Mr. Koe has over eighteen years of progressive senior management experience with the GNWT in the Department of Finance, including most recently two years as Deputy Secretary to the Financial Management Board with the Department of Finance.
- James Fulford is appointed as Associate Deputy Minister of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Mr. Fulford has more than nineteen years of progressive senior management experience with the GNWT, including roles in the Departments of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Justice, the Office of the Regulator of Oil and Gas Operations, and most recently two years as Chief Negotiator in the Office of Devolution Initiatives in the Department of EIA.
Premier Cochrane would like to thank Mr. Tom Williams and Ms. Sylvia Haener for their many years of commitment to the Northwest Territories public service.
Ms. Haener is retiring from the GNWT in July with 32 years of public service. She has served in a variety of senior roles, including CEO of Stanton Territorial Hospital, Assistant Deputy Minister for the Departments of Health and Social Services and Executive, both Assistant Deputy Minister (Solicitor General) and Deputy Minister with the Department of Justice, Deputy Minister of the Department of ECE, and most recently, Deputy Minister of the Department of Lands.
Mr. Williams joined the GNWT in 2008 from the Gwich’in Tribal Council. Since that time, he served as the Deputy Minister of the Departments of Human Resources from 2008 to 2011, MACA from 2011 to 2016 and as the President and CEO of the NWTHC from 2016 to 2021. In addition to his public service, Mr. Williams was recognized as Coach of the Year by the Aboriginal Sport Circle in 2018 and spent 48 years minding the net for hockey teams across the north before his retirement from the game in 2020.
All appointments take effect on May 17, 2021, except for the appointment of Mr. Koe, which will take effect on July 31, 2021.
Quote:
I am pleased to welcome Ms. Young, Ms. Gareau, Mr. Koe and Mr. Fulford to their new positions. Their individual experience, combined with their commitment to the people of the Northwest Territories, will ensure they will all be well suited to their new roles. I would like to thank both Ms. Haener and Mr. Williams for their time with the Government of the Northwest Territories. Their dedication and loyal service to the people of the Northwest Territories is appreciated and I wish them the best.
-Caroline Cochrane, Premier of the Northwest Territories
Quick Facts
- Deputy Ministers are the non-elected head of a GNWT Department.
- The Commissioner in the Executive Council appoints Deputy Ministers on the advice of the Premier.
- Deputy Ministers serve at pleasure and are accountable to the Premier for their performance of their duties.
Media Requests:
Cabinet Communications
Government of the Northwest Territories