Professional Experiences
Thomas Dastous, LL. B., D. D. N., N.C.A.
Lawyer in Private Practice & Consultant
2004 to date
Consulting (Access to Information, Privacy) and Legal services as described herein.
Member of l'Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Ontario (AJEFO), of l’Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA), and of the Ethics Practitioners’ Association of Canada .
Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC)
Senior Counsel and Manager
ATIP Coordinator,
2000 to 2004
Responsible for managing the Legal Services team and ensuring both the effective management of the Complaints process (Sections 41 and 42 of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act and section 45 of the Canadian Human Rights Act) and of the Access to Information and Privacy programs.
Liaison with the ATIP community, the Privacy Commissioner Office, the Access to Information Commissioner Office and ATIP requesters.
Management of highly sensitive files. Provided strategic and legal advices.
Conduct of files for pre-hearings and hearings. Conduct of legal researches in relation to judicial issues.
Prepared the Access to Information and the Privacy Annual Reports to be signed and tabled by the Prime Minister. Contributed to the SIRC Annual Report to be tabled by the Solicitor General of Canada. Provided ATIP training. Experienced with ATIPflow and ATIPimage (in-house training).
Supplied expert advice on and/or assisted in the development of work description redefinition; job competency/classification profiles; employee relations and conflict management tools; recruitment.
Participated in Senate and House of Commons committees.
Department of Justice Canada,
1995 to 2000
HRDC Legal Services, ISP Team,
Legal Counsel and Gender Equality Specialist,
1997 to 2000
Legal Counsel
Provided litigation services, with an above-average success rate, before the Canada Pension Appeals Board and the Federal Court of Canada.
Provided strategic and legal advices opinions to ISP Senior managers regarding policy interpretation and of legislation (Access to Information, Privacy Act, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security Act, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, etc.). Conduct of legal researches in relation to judicial issues.
Office of Conflict Resolution and Harassment in the Workplace,
1996 to 1997
Legal Counsel
Provided legal and strategic advices regarding the Department of Justice and the Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada policies on Harassment in the Workplace and on Access to Information and Privacy issues. Conduct of legal researches in relation to judicial issues.
Supplied expert advice on and/or assisting in the development of employee relations and conflict management tools. Workplace assessments.
Organized the national Symposium on Conflict Resolution and Harassment in the Workplace (1997). Merit Award (1998).
Civil Litigation and Real Property (Quebec) Section,
1995 to 1996
Legal Counsel
Provided legal and strategic advices to various client departments, as well as to Senior and General Counsel, on complex and sensitive issues. Conduct of legal researches in relation to judicial issues.
Managed a large caseload dealing with business and real property laws involving the Crown.
Revenue Canada, Taxation, Collection Division,
1993 to 1995
President of the Union of Taxation Employees, Local Section 10 008
Montreal
Management of labour relations for 1,200 employees in a staff reduction context. Grievance, mediation and, negotiation.
Supplied expert advice on and/or assisting in the development of work description redefinition; job competency/classification profiles; employee relations and conflict management tools; recruitment. Workplace assessments.
Management of human and financial resources; improved the Local’s finances and set up a self-financed bimonthly newspaper.
Yves Bérard, Solicitors,
1991 to 1993
Legal Counsel and Manager
Negotiation with various provincial and federal bodies; provided representation during parliamentary committee hearings. Provided legal advices to various clients, as well as to General Counsel, on complex and sensitive issues, including on Access to Information and Privacy issues. Conduct of legal researches in relation to judicial issues.
Thomas Dastous, Barrister and Solicitor
1984 to 1990
Civil, family law, administrative and criminal litigation. Provided legal advices on complex and sensitive issues, including on Access to Information and Privacy issues. Conduct of legal researches in relation to judicial issues.
Additional Information
Current professional affiliation: Law Society of Upper Canada.
Citizenship: Canadian.
Languages abilities: Fully bilingual (English & French).
