The Honourable John Baird

Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

Riding: Ottawa West–Nepean (Ontario)

John Baird was first elected to the House of Commons in 2006 and re-elected in 2008. In February 2006, Mr. Baird was sworn in as President of the Treasury Board. In this role, he championed accountability and anti-corruption in government with the enactment of the new Federal Accountability Act. In January 2007 he was named Minister of the Environment.

Prior to entering federal politics, Mr. Baird was a Member of Ontario's provincial legislature, where he served the constituency of Nepean - Carleton from 1995 to 2005. During that time, he was Minister of Community and Social Services, Minister of Francophone Affairs, Minister Responsible for Children and Government House Leader.

Mr. Baird is a long-time member of the Royal Canadian Legion, an honorary member of the Nepean Kiwanis and a lifetime member of Canada's largest Association for Community Living.

He is a graduate of Queen's University.

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Brian Jean, MP

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

Riding: FortMcMurray - Athabasca (Alberta)

Brian Jean was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 and re-elected in 2006 and 2008. He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in February 2006.

Prior to entering federal politics, he practiced law and was an instructor at Keyano College, a business owner and a publisher.

He was Chair of the Alberta Summer Games and President of the Fort McMurray Downtown Business Association as well as a director of the local chamber of commerce and honorary Chair of the Children's Health Foundation.

He has a master's in business administration and a law degree.

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Yaprak Baltacıoğlu

Deputy Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

Yaprak Baltacıoğlu was appointed Deputy Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities on July 1, 2009.

Previously, Mrs. Baltacıoğlu was Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri Food Canada from March 2007 to June 2009. She spent over four years at the Privy Council Office, first as Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Social Development Policy) and then as Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Operations). In these roles, she provided advice and support to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on the full range of government operations and domestic policy issues.

Mrs. Baltacıoğlu has occupied a number of positions in Agriculture and Agri Food Canada, culminating in the position of Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy. In this capacity, she was instrumental in the successful negotiation of the federal Agricultural Policy Framework.

Since joining the public service in 1989, Mrs. Baltacıoğlu has also worked at the Public Service Commission of Canada and Environment Canada, the latter as both Director General for Strategic Policy and International Relations.

Mrs. Baltacıoğlu graduated from Carleton University's School of Public Administration, where she received a Master of Arts, as well as from Istanbul University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Law degree.

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John Forster

Associate Deputy Minister of Infrastructure

John Forster is the Associate Deputy Minister of Infrastructure. In 2006, he joined Infrastructure Canada as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy and Communications, where he was responsible for policy development, communications and research.

He has held numerous positions in the federal government. He joined Transport Canada in January 1998 as Director General, Environmental Affairs, moved on to Director General, Surface Programs, in 2001, and was appointed the Associate Assistant Deputy Minister for Safety and Security in 2004.

He has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto and a Master of Business Administration from York University. He has completed studies in environmental economics at Harvard, and in 2001 received a medal for outstanding achievement at Transport Canada from the Minister.

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Contact the Minister

The Honourable John Baird
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Tower C - 330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1A 0N5

Telephone: 613-991-0700
Fax: 613-995-0327
E-mail: mintc@tc.gc.ca