Media

OTTAWA, March 21, 2011  —  The University of Ottawa can provide you with experts who can shed light on topics related to the upcoming federal budget, which will be presented March 22, 2011.

Robert Asselin, Faculty of Social Sciences, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
Professor Asselin has been assistant director of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs since October 2007. Prior to that, he held several senior positions in the federal government, such as advisor and speechwriter to the prime minister, policy advisor to the minister of intergovernmental affairs and chief of staff to the associate minister of national defence. His areas of interest are the Canadian polity, the social union, official languages, public administration and the role of media. 

Contact:
Office: 613-562-5800 ext. 4431
rasselin@uOttawa.ca

Bruce Firestone, Telfer School of Management (English only) 
Bruce Firestone advises clients on real estate, business modelling, self-financing, smart marketing, differentiated value, harnessing the Internet and other issues related to entrepreneurial companies and organizations. He advises organizations on how to own their own real estate and achieve the highest and best use for their properties, leading to the highest returns as well as to urban spaces that are more interesting, more diversified, more sustainable and also make best use of a scarce resource—land. As well, he has experience in developing land projects both large and small, such as the original plan for West Terrace and the Ottawa Palladium (now known as the Kanata West Concept Plan and Scotiabank Place), Briarbrook, Robertson Mews, Dunrobin Lake, Trails of Dunrobin and many others.

Contact: 
bruce.firestone@century21.ca

Marcel Mérette, Faculty of Social sciences
Marcel Mérette started his career at the Department of Finance before joining the University of Ottawa’s Department of Economics in 1999. His research focuses mainly on the development of simulation models called “computable general equilibrium models” with overlapping generations structures. In his own research and work, he has applied this analytical tool to topics ranging from international trade to population ageing. After holding a number of administrative positions within the Department of Economics, Marcel Mérette became vice-dean of research in the Faculty of Social Sciences in 2005. He served as acting vice-dean of graduate studies, prior to becoming dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences in February 2010.

Contact:
613-562-5800 ext. 5903
doyenfssdean@uOttawa.ca

Claude Denis, School of Political Studies
Professor Denis’ research deals primarily with Canadian and Mexican politics. His work on Canada looks at aboriginal rights and politics, and federal politics. His research on Mexico looks at democratic transition, aboriginal rights and human rights. Professor Denis often focuses on the relationship between law and politics, and media and politics.

Contact: 
613-562-5800 ext. 1653
Claude.Denis@uOttawa.ca

David Zussman, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
Throughout his career, Professor Zussman held several positions related to public affairs. In recent years, he has been President of the Public Policy Forum and he served as Executive Vice President and COO of EKOS Research Associates Inc, a leading public opinion and public policy research firm. In the public sector, he was Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet for Program Review and Machinery of Government in the Privy Council. He was also asked by Jean Chrétien to help in the transition of his newly elected government in 1993 and 1997. He also currently serves as a part-time Commissioner of the Public Service Commission and writes a monthly column for the Ottawa Citizen newspaper.

Contact:
613-562-5800 ext. 4704
dzussman@uOttawa.ca