Chair, Procurement Oversight Board
Munir Sheikh is a research professor at Carleton University and was the Chief Statistician of Canada before resigning in 2010 over census issues.
He was an Executive Fellow at the School of Public Policy, University of Calgary, and a seasoned public servant with a distinguished career across multiple senior roles in the Canadian government. He served as co-Commissioner for Ontario's Social Assistance Review and has held prestigious fellowships at Queen's University and Carleton University.
Dr. Sheikh began his public service career as an economist with the Economic Council of Canada from 1972 to 1976. Following a brief period with the National Energy Board, he joined the Department of Finance, where he steadily advanced, eventually becoming Associate Deputy Minister. Over his career, he held senior positions in several key agencies, including Health Canada, the Privy Council Office, and Labour Canada where he was a Deputy Minister. In his role as Chief Statistician of Canada (2008-2010), he led the development of Statistics Canada's first Corporate Business Plan, solidifying the agency's international reputation.
A major achievement came in 2000, when he directed Canada's largest federal tax reduction, a $100 billion package that also introduced personal income tax indexation to prevent automatic tax increases. Dr. Sheikh also played a pivotal role in reforming the Canada Pension Plan, ensuring its long-term viability. His work on expenditure review, as Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet at the Privy Council Office, was instrumental in shaping the 2005 Budget and establishing Service Canada.
Dr. Sheikh holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Western Ontario and a Master's degree from McMaster University. A highly regarded economist, he has published extensively in international economics, macroeconomics, and public finance. Alongside his government service, he has taught economics at Queens University, the University of Ottawa and Carleton University, mentoring countless students and emerging economists.
His latest venture has been to write a novel titled Islamabad: A Tale of War and Love, published by Mascot Press, USA.