Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I wish to thank all members of this committee for the opportunity to appear before you as you consider my nomination for the position of Parliamentary Librarian.
I am truly honoured to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
It would be for me the culmination of a nearly 25-year career dedicated to the advancement of parliamentary democracy.
Early in my career, I worked abroad to promote good governance and democratic reform. This experience gave me a unique perspective and an appreciation for the role of parliamentary librarian. I worked in countries where heritage and libraries had been completely destroyed. I also supported parliaments that lacked access to research and information. This helps me understand the privilege and responsibility of the position under consideration.
Since 2018, I've been an executive in the Library of Parliament. I'm currently an assistant deputy minister at Library and Archives Canada, or LAC, responsible for the collections sector.
At LAC, my team of about 700 employees preserves and makes accessible to Canadians one of the world's largest collections of published heritage and archival records.
During my 15 years at the Library of Parliament, I had the incredible opportunity to work in all areas of the organization and in a variety of roles to support parliamentarians. My background includes, for example, participating in programs for the public and the Teachers Institute on Canadian Parliamentary Democracy; working as an analyst for the Liaison Committee and the Joint Interparliamentary Council during its five‑year review; travelling with you as part of delegations; leading the team in charge of research and analysis for committees and associations; and managing the organization's information technology, or IT, and its collection.
I believe that the diversity and versatility of my experience give me a thorough understanding, an expertise and a network in Parliament that would serve me well at the helm of the organization.
I also had the honour of working under the leadership of three parliamentary librarians, learning from each of them and benefiting from their different approaches and visions. This wealth of experience will serve me well in my new role.
I also have a strong grasp of the environment in which the Library must operate, under the guidance of the two Speakers and with the support of this committee. I understand the mandate that we serve all parliamentarians in a partisan environment, and that our services must be neutral, non‑partisan and consistently insightful. I also understand that your needs, as senators and members of Parliament, aren't always the same and that they require personalized services.
I believe strong democracies are built on equal access to knowledge and information. In this era of mounting disinformation and misinformation, the role and mandate of the library to provide impartial, relevant and trustworthy services to parliamentarians has never been more vital. My professional experience has prepared me well to lead the organization through these rapidly evolving times to meet your needs.
My vision for the library is to continue the strong work of Dr. Lank and her team to adapt to new challenges, such as the rise in complexity of policy issues, the changes in how society absorbs and digests information, and the rapidly evolving technological environment, including AI. This requires vision, innovation and a commitment to equip our employees with the tools and data they need to rapidly analyze and synthesize vast amounts of information into comprehensive yet succinct products for you.
