Richard Fadden

Richard B. Fadden, also known as Dick Fadden, was the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada and an Associate Secretary to the Cabinet. He retired March 31, 2016. He had previously served as the Deputy Minister of National Defence from 2013 to 2015. From June 2009 to mid-May 2013, he was Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). He was previously the Deputy Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, from 2006 to 2009.

Early life and education

Born in September 1951, Fadden attended the University of Ottawa (Graduate Diploma), Law University of Montréal (Bachelor of Laws) and McGill University (Bachelor, Political Science).^[1]

Career

Fadden is a career civil servant, beginning in 1978 as a Foreign Service Officer in the Department of External Affairs.^[2] He moved to the Security and Intelligence Secretariat of the Privy Council Office in 1983. Fadden was Principal officer with the Auditor General from 1988 and promoted as legal advisor and assistant Auditor General in the Office of the Auditor General of Canada from 1990 to 1996.

Other postings include:

• Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Natural Resources 1996-1998
• Assistant Secretary to the Treasury Board for Government Operations 1998-2000
• Deputy Clerk, Counsel and Security and Intelligence Coordinator, Privy Council Office 2000-2002
• President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency 2002-2005

He was the Deputy Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, from 2006 to 2009, and Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) from June 2009, when he replaced Jim Judd, until his abrupt resignation in mid-May 2013.

Fadden made headlines in June 2010 by announcing that foreign countries were both performing industrial esponiage against Canada, and trying to influence Canadian politicians. Fadden went on to say that Cabinet Ministers in two Provinces, and several municipal politicians were influenced by a foreign government when making policy decisions.^[3]

Several other have criticized Fadden for his remarks, especially since they were in a CBC National interview released just before the G8 and G20 summits in Ontario; the interview was conducted earlier in the year after the CBC approached Fadden to repeat statements he had made in a private (albeit videotaped) speech at the Royal Canadian Military Institute.^[4] Although no countries were named the National Post, Globe and Mail, CBC, CTV, and several other Canadian media outlets have speculated that Mr. Fadden is referring to China.^[5]

In April 2013, it was announced that Fadden would step down from his position on May 13 to become Deputy Minister of National Defence. Deputy Director of Operations Michel Coulombe was designated as Fadden's replacement, in an interim role until a new director is appointed.^[6]

References