William J. S. Elliott

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other persons named William Elliott, see William Elliott (disambiguation).

William J. S. Elliott, COM is the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He was appointed the Associate Deputy Minister of Public Safety by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on 1 May 2006 and then to the RCMP in 6 July 2007. Formerly he was appointed the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada by the former prime minister, Paul Martin.

[edit] Career

Elliott received a B.A. and an LL.B. in Common Law from the University of Ottawa and called to the bar of Ontario in 1981. He worked in private law practice until 1988 when he joined the civil service. He rose rapidly within the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada's office first as Legal Advisor and Special Assistant, then in 1989, he was named Executive Assistant. He then became chief of staff to Deputy Prime Minister Don Mazankowski in the Mulroney government.

From 1992 to 1998, he was with the Department of Justice as Senior General Counsel and Head of Legal Services for the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. He also held the position of Senior Counsel Manager, Comprehensive Claims and Northern Affairs in the Department of Justice.

In 1998, Elliott became Deputy Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard and from 2000 to 2003 was the Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety and Security, for the Department of Transport.

Before becoming National Security Advisor in 2005, he was an Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, responsible for the Security and Intelligence Secretariat at the Privy Council Office.

[edit] RCMP appointment

Elliott was appointed the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on 6 July 2007 making him the first civilian ever named to the post. His appointment came after the resignation of Giuliano Zaccardelli, who left the force rocked by scandal and in crisis. Reaction to Elliott's appointment was mixed. Public perceptions are that the force's problems are rooted in its institutional culture and many felt that someone from outside the Canadian policing milieu and "free of loyalties" was necessary to effect necessary change. Many on the force, however, believe that one of their own, someone "who understands the force's unique culture and structure was needed to clean up the organization."^[1]