ARCHIVED - Special Advisor on Human Smuggling and Illegal Migration

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In October 2010, the Prime Minister appointed Mr. Ward P.D. Elcock as Special Advisor on Human Smuggling and Illegal Migration.

The overall mandate of the Special Advisor is to coordinate a whole-of-government response to human smuggling. Mr. Elcock provides advice and recommendations to Ministers and the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister in terms of advancing Canada’s strategy to combat human smuggling and illegal migration.

In addition to working with partners here at home, Mr. Elcock also works with key international partners to promote international cooperation on this serious issue – putting a particular focus on human smuggling operations that occur by sea.

The appointment is part of the Government’s efforts to strengthen Canada’s ability to detect and prevent human smuggling from reaching Canada.  The Special Advisor advances Canada’s engagement with governments in source and transit countries, as well as attends regional and/or international fora which address migrant smuggling.

Mr. Elcock, a career public servant, most recently served as the federal Coordinator of Olympic and G8/G20 Security (2010), where he was responsible for providing an integrated federal approach to security for the Vancouver 2010 Games as well as the back-to-back G8 and G20 summits. He is a former Deputy Minister of National Defence and has also served as Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

Reporting to the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, the Special Advisor is supported by a small office housed within the Privy Council Office.

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