FREDERICTON (CNB) - The appointment of a new deputy minister of strategic priorities within the Executive Council Office was announced today by Premier Shawn Graham.
Doug Tyler, former cabinet minister and MLA for Grand Lake and Queens North, replaces Chris Baker, who resigned as deputy minister and secretary for the policy and priorities committee of cabinet in order to pursue other interests.
A native of Chipman, Tyler was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1987, and was re-elected in 1991. He served as minister of state for mines and energy from September 1991 to April 1994, when he was named minister of agriculture and rural development. Re-elected in 1995, he remained minister of agriculture and rural development, and became deputy house leader. He was named house leader in October 1997, and became minister of natural resources and deputy premier in May 1998. As natural resources minister he was responsible for negotiations establishing logging agreements with First Nations communities.
After leaving politics, Tyler ran his own consulting firm, served as chief of staff to former federal minister Andy Scott, and was vice-president of public affairs for a New Brunswick communications firm. Tyler will begin his duties as deputy minister beginning Jan. 5, 2009.
19-12-08