Ian Shugart, Canada’s top civil servant, to take time off to seek cancer treatment

The top federal public servant will be taking some time out for cancer treatment.

Ian Shugart, clerk of the Privy Council, sent a message Monday to his colleagues asserting that he received a cancer prognosis two weeks within the past.

He says he intends to remain “totally engaged” within the rapid term.

Nonetheless as he starts treatment in about four weeks, Shugart says he’s going to doubtless have to scale abet his workload and be absent for “a period of time.”

In his absence, he says the team at the Privy Council Office will continue to attend and toughen Canadians and the authorities.

Shugart became appointed clerk of the Privy Council in April 2019 after serving in a unfold of senior positions within the federal bureaucracy, together with deputy minister of foreign affairs, atmosphere and employment and social pattern.

He took over from Michael Wernick, who retired after opposition parties accused him of being too combative and partisan in his defence of the authorities’s habits within the SNC-Lavalin affair.

Shugart has advance in for his have fragment of criticism for making what opposition parties charged had been excessive redactions to authorities paperwork referring to the WE Charity affair.

Shugart’s message Monday to his colleagues became rapid and offered tiny factor.

“I’m sorry to have to repeat you that about a weeks within the past, I received a cancer prognosis,” he wrote.

“Nothing will trade within the rapid term; I will continue to be totally engaged. As I originate treatment in about four weeks I will doubtless have to scale abet, and subsequently be absent for a period of time. I will take this as it comes, and steal you posted.

“Within the meantime our extensive PCO team will attend and toughen Canadians and the Authorities, as continuously, with enthusiasm and diligence! I’m confident of your most appealing needs, and I’m grateful.”