Serge Dupont

Senior Advisor
Head of Public Policy

T: 613.683.2310 / E: duponts@bennettjones.com

Ottawa

Serge Dupont provides advice to clients in the public and private sectors on public policy and governance. Before joining Bennett Jones in 2018, he was a deputy minister in the Government of Canada and leader in developing economic and financial policy.

Serge served in 2016-17 as Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. In this role, he supported the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the Clerk of the Privy Council in the development and implementation of federal policy priorities, the conduct of intergovernmental relations and the stewardship of the Public Service of Canada.

While at Bennett Jones, in his personal capacity, Serge also held mandates as part-time, Senior Executive Advisor in the Privy Council Office. In 2018, he was tasked with assisting the federal decision on the TMX project, coordinating the efforts of federal departments and agencies for a response to a 2018 decision of the Federal Court of Appeal. The Government re-considered and approved the TMX project in June 2019. He was again appointed in December 2020, this time to advise the government on electrification in Atlantic Canada, negotiating a financial restructuring of the Muskrat Falls project with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador announced in July 2021, and until November 2023 leading discussions with utilities and provinces to advance the Atlantic Loop transmission project.

From 2014 to 2016, Serge served as Executive Director in the International Monetary Fund (IMF), serving on the 24-member Executive Board of the institution.

From October 2010 to June 2014, Serge was Deputy Minister, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), overseeing federal responsibilities for energy, mining, forestry and earth sciences and leading a 4000-employee, science-based organization. In this capacity, he chaired the deputy minister committee coordinating the development and application of federal regulation applying to major natural resources projects in Canada.

Serge joined NRCan in June 2008 as Associate Deputy Minister to lead the restructuring of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) and to advise on Canada’s nuclear sector. From 2001 to 2008, he held senior positions in Finance Canada, including Assistant Deputy Minister, Financial Sector Policy and General Director (Analysis), Tax Policy. In previous positions in the Government of Canada, Serge contributed to policy reforms and transactions across a range of economic and financial domains. He served as Finance counsellor in Canada’s mission in Paris (1993-96), Departmental Assistant to the Minister of Finance (1996-97), and Corporate Secretary of Industry Canada (now Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 1997-99).

Serge holds a B.Sc. (University of Ottawa, 1981) and an M.A.Sc. (University of Waterloo, 1984) in Management Sciences. He participated in the international program of the Ecole nationale d'administration (Paris, 1988-89).