Cathy Hawara

Canada

Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Machinery of Government and Democratic Institutions

Description

Cathy was named the Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Machinery of Government and Democratic Institutions, at the Privy Council Office (PCO) effective July 3, 2025, after spending the past 16 years with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Cathy joined the CRA in September 2009, when she became the Director General of the Charities Directorate. In that role, she was responsible for the overall management of the federal regulation of registered charities under the Income Tax Act. In June 2016, Cathy was appointed as the Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Legislative Policy and Regulatory Affairs Branch (LPRAB). During that time, Cathy was active in the development and implementation of a number of priority files for the CRA, and coordinated the CRA's response to the tax implications resulting from the implementation of the Phoenix pay system. In September 2018, Cathy was named Assistant Commissioner of the Appeals Branch, where she was responsible for overseeing the delivery of the Agency's recourse programs and for leading the risk management function related to tax litigation. In her last role at the CRA, Cathy was the Assistant Commissioner of the Compliance Programs Branch, responsible for all tax audit programs, criminal investigations and business tax incentive programs; she held that position since October 2021. From 2018 to 2022, Cathy had the great privilege to serve as the National Champion of the CRA’s Young Professionals Network. From 2006 to 2009, prior to joining the CRA, Cathy served as the Director of Appointments with the Senior Personnel Secretariat at PCO, where she was responsible for providing advice and support to the Clerk of the Privy Council, the Prime Minister and his Office on all matters related to selection processes and appointments to Governor in Council positions, including Deputy Ministers and heads of agencies. Previous to that, from 2004 to 2006, Cathy was Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister of Social Development, where she supported and advised the Deputy on all issues related to the portfolio and acted as the principal liaison with the Minister's office. Cathy also worked as an officer in the Machinery of Government Secretariat at the Privy Council Office. Cathy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Law, both from the University of Ottawa. Cathy clerked for Mr. Justice Ian Binnie at the Supreme Court of Canada and was called to the Ontario bar in 2000. Cathy carried on a general litigation practice with McCarthy Tétrault in Toronto, specializing primarily in medical malpractice, before joining the public service in 2002.