The deputy minister to Premier Gordon Campbell, Jessica McDonald is leaving the civil service.
“McDonald will move on to future career opportunities,” said a press release from the premier's office today, which fails to note whether she has quit or was fired.
McDonald has served in the position at the head of the civil service since 2005, it said.
Allan Seckel, who has been the deputy attorney general since 2003, will replace her.
Update, 1:30 p.m.: “She'll certainly be missed by all of us, but it was her decision,” premier Campbell said when asked about McDonald's departure. “It's something Jessica talked to me quite some time ago. We talked about it more in the spring. The decision was all hers.”
And in an e-mail to members of the public service, available on Public Eye, McDonald said it was her decision to leave. “I have no immediate plans for my future, other than to spend time with my family and consider the next phase of my career.”
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
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Van Isle
2 years ago
Are the rats starting to
Are the rats starting to leave the sinking ship?
lynn
2 years ago
To disclose..... or not to disclose
The appointment of Seckel is a very "interesting" one, especially for those of us who have been closely following the BBV - BC Rail Case/Scandal.
freebear
2 years ago
More money again for better staff!
Next Campbell will announce that salaries must be increased to attract better talent.
Obviously her raise wasn't high enough to have her stick around!
G West
2 years ago
Not really - wet work ahead.
I suspect the real reason for her departure now has more to do with the last couple of unequivocal messages she sent to her minions in the public service...to wit: That there will be no significant job losses in the public service and those that do happen will be largely a result of retirement not layoffs.
In fact, Jessica and Gordo know perfectly well that there will have to be a significant amount of blood on the floor next spring (after the Olympics) and Jessica couldn't figure out how to re-align her position on that issue with the reality of what Campbell has planned.
That's all.
Allan Seckel, whose reputation as a toady is widespread in the ministry and among lawyers who know his work will provide exactly the kind of sympathetic hearing the CEO needs for the upcoming dirty work.
For a better world
2 years ago
Will she come back as a con sultant?
You know a con sultant that could occupy the office vacated by Ken Dobell. This private/public/partnership could net her consultant fees more than double her previously proposed bureaucratic salary.
wstander
2 years ago
Or is it just bad manners?
Unless you've been fired, or for whatever reason (safety, mental health, physical health, etc.) you can't stick around any longer, you need to give appropriate notice before you leave a job.
So what is the real reason?
G West
2 years ago
wstander
Incorrect - Jessica McDonald is/was an order in council oppointment - she serves at the pleasure of the Premier...and nothing else.
Notice is neither required nor necessary...in fact, the three months she's hanging around to grease the skids for her successor merely indicate that this deal has been 'worked' out in the Premier's Office...the same place the announcement came from.
G West
2 years ago
As for the reasons....
In addition to what I pointed out above - that after all her crowing about limiting job losses - the coming crunch was too much of a disconnect even for someone as compliant to her boss's wishes as Jessica - I've also heard that she is/was having health problems and is experiencing some marital discord.
In the end, time will tell.