Prime Minister Stephen Harper Announces Appointments to the Security Intelligence Review Committee

OTTAWA, June 23, 2010 – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the appointments of the Hon. Dr. Arthur Thomas Porter as Chairperson, and the Hon. Carol Skelton and the Hon. Dr. Philippe Couillard as members of the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC).

Dr. Porter, from Montréal, Quebec, is the President of Réseau Universitaire Intégré de Santé (RUIS) and Director General and CEO of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) in Montréal. He was first appointed as a member of the SIRC on September 3, 2008.

Ms. Skelton, from Harris, Saskatchewan, is a former Minister of National Revenue.

Dr. Couillard, from St-Félicien, Quebec, joined Persistence Capital Partners LP as a partner. He is also a Director of Amorfix Life Sciences.

In accordance with the requirements of the Canadian Security Intelligence Act, Dr. Couillard was sworn into the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada.

Established in 1984, the SIRC provides an external review of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service’s performance of its duties and functions, and examines complaints by individuals or reports by ministers relating to the security clearances and the national security of Canada.

These appointments are effective June 24, 2010.

Biographical notes are attached.

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