Daniel Watson

Deputy Minister
Western Economic Diversification Canada

Daniel Watson was appointed Deputy Minister for Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) on July 16, 2009.

Before this appointment, Daniel was Associate Deputy Minister at WD. Prior to this, he held appointments as Senior Assistant Deputy Minister at Indian and Northern Affairs Canada; Assistant Deputy Minister at WD for the Saskatchewan Region; and Director General at the Department of Justice. Daniel began his career in the federal public service as a program officer in Vancouver's East Side.

Daniel has extensive experience leading public policy development, legislative initiatives, land claims negotiations, litigation management, economic development programs, and intergovernmental relations. Daniel has represented Canada before United Nations panels and at other international bodies and events to advance and protect Canada's interests. He is also frequently asked to speak at public service learning and leadership events.

Prior to joining the federal public service, Daniel worked for both the governments of British Columbia and Saskatchewan working on land claims and labour market and postsecondary education issues.

A graduate of the University of British Columbia and a former student at Université Laval, Mr. Watson has spent his career based at different times in Western Canada, in the Northwest Territories and in the National Capital Region. Currently, he is based at WD's headquarters in Edmonton, Alberta.

WD promotes the development and diversification of the western Canadian economy. To achieve this, WD works to strengthen western Canadian innovation, entrepreneurship and community economic development activities in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia in order to build a stronger West and a stronger Canada. Another key part of WD's mandate is to ensure that western Canadian perspectives play an effective role in shaping key national public policy decisions.