Carney reshuffles senior public service as Ottawa heads into new year

Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a series of senior public service appointments, reorganizing key deputy minister roles as the federal government prepares for a busy policy agenda in the new year.

Among the most prominent changes, Quebec Court of Appeal Justice Marie-Josée Hogue has been named deputy minister of justice and deputy attorney general of Canada. Hogue previously led the federal public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian elections, which concluded earlier this year that there was limited evidence of successful interference affecting election outcomes.

At the Department of Finance, longtime deputy minister Chris Forbes will move to the Privy Council Office, where he is expected to take on a senior coordinating role supporting cabinet and central agencies. Forbes’ departure comes as Ottawa continues to navigate economic uncertainty, inflation pressures, and major fiscal commitments.

Carney has selected Nick Leswick, currently a policy director at the Bank of Canada, to succeed Forbes as deputy minister of finance. Leswick brings central bank experience to the role at a time when coordination between fiscal and monetary policy remains closely watched.

National defence will also see new leadership, with Christiane Fox appointed as deputy minister. Fox has held several senior positions supporting cabinet decision-making and will now oversee defence operations as the government moves to accelerate military spending to meet Canada’s NATO commitments.

The changes signal Carney’s effort to align senior public servants with key government priorities, including democratic resilience, economic management, and defence modernization.