Maxime Guénette was appointed the Assistant Commissioner of the Public Affairs Branch and Chief Privacy Officer at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) in August 2016. He joins the CRA from Finance Canada, where he held the position of General Director, Communications and Consultations, serving as the senior communications and consultations advisor to the Assistant Deputy Minister, the Deputy Ministers, the Minister and departmental officials on financial policy issues, including the development, tabling and implementation of the annual Federal Budget.
Previously, Max was Director General of Communications at Environment and Climate Change Canada, where he spent 3 years. As the departmental Head of Communications, he was responsible for all aspects of delivering strategic communications planning and advice for both internal and external audiences, as well as for managing public affairs and issues management, and ensuring departmental compliance with Government of Canada policy requirements. He was also the Senior Departmental Official for Web Renewal and Lead for Canada.ca’s Environment and Natural Resources Theme, and Departmental Champion for the 2014 edition of the Public Service Employee Survey.
From 2005 to 2013, Max was at the Treasury Board Secretariat, where he was Chief of Strategic Communications before being appointed Director of Corporate Communications, a position he held for 6 years.
Max has held several senior positions at Communication Canada and the Privy Council Office, including Chief of Staff to Communication Canada’s Deputy Head from 2003 to 2004.
He holds a Bachelors of Social Sciences, with a Specialization in Political Science, from the University of Ottawa, and is a graduate of the Canada School of Public Service’s Living Leadership: The Executive Excellence Program.