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Chairperson, Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal,

Appointment Opportunity

We know that our country is stronger — and our government more effective — when decision-makers reflect Canada’s diversity. Moving forward, the Government of Canada will use an appointment process that is transparent and merit-based, strives for gender parity, and ensures that Indigenous Canadians and minority groups are properly represented in positions of leadership. We will continue to search for Canadians who reflect the values that we all embrace: inclusion, honesty, fiscal prudence, and generosity of spirit. Together, we will build a government as diverse as Canada.

The overarching goal of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food is to support the agricultural sector in a way that allows it to be a leader in job creation and innovation.

The Government of Canada is currently seeking applications from diverse and talented Canadians from across the country who are interested in the following position:

Chairperson (full-time position)

Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal

The Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal is a quasi-judicial body that gives the public the opportunity to request reviews of certain administrative decisions or penalties imposed under various agriculture and agri-food Acts of Parliament. The Tribunal’s main focus of work is reviewing Notices of Violation under the Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act for violations of the Health of Animals Act and the Plant Protection Act. It also reviews decisions and notices by other agencies such as the Canada Border Services Agency and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency.

The Tribunal plays a key role in ensuring a fair and efficient administrative monetary penalty system. The Tribunal’s vision is to safeguard the integrity of the administrative monetary penalties system used by federal agencies to ensure compliance with agriculture and agri-food statutes. It seeks to balance the rights of Canadians receiving a notice of violation with the responsibilities of federal regulators who issue the penalties to protect human, animal and plant health so as to enhance the vibrancy and sustainability of Canadian agriculture.

Further details about the organization and its activities can be found on the Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal's website.

Candidates must apply online by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 21, 2017, via the Governor in Council Appointments website. Your cover letter should be addressed to the Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Senior Personnel), Privy Council Office, and should be sent only through the online application.

Salary Range: $142,800 - $168,000 (GCQ-5)

Position Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Official Languages and Diversity

The Government of Canada will consider bilingual proficiency and diversity in assessing candidates for this position. You are therefore encouraged to include in your online profile your ability to speak and understand your second official language. Preference may be given to candidates who are members of one or more of the following groups: women, Indigenous Canadians, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities.

To be considered for this position, please provide examples from your career that clearly demonstrate how you meet the following requirements in your application:

Education and Experience

• A barrister or advocate of at least ten years standing at the bar of any province, or a notary of at least ten years standing at the Chambre des notaires du Québec, and demonstrated professional experience related to the agriculture and agri-food sector;
• Experience in the interpretation and application of legislation, government policies and directives;
• Experience in dealing with the federal government, preferably with senior government officials, as well as a variety of stakeholders and the public;
• Executive level management experience in a private or public sector organization, including managing human and financial resources; and
• Experience in the operation and conduct of a quasi-judicial tribunal, agency or equivalent would be considered an asset.

If you are selected for an interview, the following criteria will be assessed:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the agriculture and agri-food sector;
• Knowledge of the legislation and rules of procedure related to the Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal’s practice and mandate, including the Health of Animals Act, the Plant Protection Act, the Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act and the Canada Agricultural Products Act;
• Knowledge of the theories, practices and procedures related to administrative justice, especially related to quasi-judicial bodies;
• Knowledge of the operations of the federal government, including those related to sound management principles, accountability and transparency;
• Sound abilities to provide vision and leadership;
• Ability to analyze all aspects of a case, interpret and apply the relevant criteria with a view to making lawful, fair, timely and equitable decisions;
• Ability to conduct fair, timely and efficient quasi-judicial hearings;
• Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders; and
• Superior communication skills, both written and oral, and ability to manage communications with a variety of stakeholders.

Language Requirements

Proficiency in both official languages would be preferred.

If you move on to the next stage of the selection process, we will contact your references to verify how you have demonstrated the Experience requirements and the following Personal Attributes in your current and recently held positions:

• Impartiality
• Sound judgment and integrity
• High ethical standards and fairness
• Superior interpersonal skills
• Tact and diplomacy

Eligibility Factors and Conditions of Employment

In your application, it will be important that you confirm you meet the following requirements:

• A person is not eligible to be appointed a member of the Tribunal unless the person is knowledgeable about or has experience related to agriculture or agri-food (statutory).
• The Chairperson of the Tribunal must be a barrister or advocate of at least ten years standing at the bar of any province or a notary of at least ten years standing at the Chambre des notaires du Québec (statutory).
• A Chairperson of the Tribunal may not be a person employed in the federal public administration (statutory).
• A member of the Tribunal shall not accept or hold any office or employment that is inconsistent with the member’s duties or take part in any matter before the Tribunal in which the member has an interest (statutory).
• The Chairperson must reside in or be willing to relocate to the National Capital Region, or to a location within a reasonable commuting distance.
• The successful candidate must be willing to travel across Canada for appeal hearings.

If you are appointed to this position:

You must comply with the Ethical and Political Activity Guidelines for Public Office Holders throughout your appointment as a term and condition of employment. The guidelines are available on the Governor in Council Appointments website, under Forms and reference material.

You will be subject to the Conflict of Interest Act. Public office holders appointed on a full-time basis must submit to the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, within 60 days of appointment, a confidential report in which they disclose all of their assets, liabilities and outside activities. For more information, please visit the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner’s website.

A link to this notice will be placed in the Canada Gazette to assist the Governor in Council in identifying qualified candidates for this position. It is not, however, intended to be the sole means of recruitment.

A roster of qualified candidates may be established and may be used for similar opportunities.