Wayne Smith (statistician)

Last updated
Wayne Smith
Chief Statistician of Canada
In office
2 September 2010 [lower-alpha 1]  16 September 2016
Preceded by Munir Sheikh
Succeeded by Anil Arora
Personal details
Born Chilliwack, British Columbia
Alma mater Carleton University
Occupation Civil servant, economist

Wayne R. Smith is a Canadian economist who served as the Chief Statistician of Canada from 2 September 2010 to 16 September 2016. He was appointed interim Chief Statistician on 2 September 2010, after the controversial resignation of Munir Sheikh, and appointed Chief Statistician on 19 January 2011. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts  (Honours) in Economics in 1979 and a Master's degree in Economics in 1985 from Carleton University in Ottawa. [1] He had worked for Statistics Canada since 1981. Throughout his career at the agency, Smith served as the Director of the Communications Division, the Director of the Special Surveys Division, the Director General of the Regional Operations Branch, and the Assistant Chief Statistician of the Communications and Operations Field and the Business and Trade Statistics Field. [2] [3]

Smith resigned as the Chief Statistician of Canada unexpectedly on 16 September 2016, over issues regarding the lack of independence for the organization, specifically regarding issues with Shared Services Canada and the inability to operate to the agency's full potential. [4]

Notes

  1. Interim until 19 January 2011.

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References

  1. "Wayne Smith". Carleton University Faculty of Public Affairs. September 29, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  2. "Archived – Canada's new Chief Statistician" (Press release). Ottawa: Statistics Canada. January 18, 2011. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  3. Smith, Joanna (January 19, 2011). "New head of StatsCan faces tough road ahead". Toronto Star . Ottawa. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  4. Crawford, Alison (September 19, 2016). "StatsCan chief statistician quit in 'last desperate bid' to protect agency's autonomy". CBC News . Retrieved April 20, 2023.
Government offices
Preceded by Chief Statistician of Canada
2010–16 September 2016
Succeeded by