Gary O'Toole

Biography

Gary has more than 20 years of public service experience, including operational planning for government’s pandemic response and improving occupational health and safety legislation and safe work programs. He has a background in improving population health and helping make programs more accessible and efficient.

Gary has experience leading legislative and regulatory change initiatives and working with partners to develop new, and more modernized legislation.

Before joining the Government of Nova Scotia, Gary worked for the Government of New Brunswick. Gary has a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University, as well as a Bachelor of Technology in Public Health and a Bachelor of Technology in Environmental Studies from the University College of Cape Breton.

Current role

Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Service Nova Scotia

The associate deputy minister is responsible for streamlining regulation and making it easier for people and businesses to interact with government while also protecting public interest.

Responsibilities include:

• operating the registries of land, personal property, vital statistics, joint stock companies and lobbyists
• overseeing business and consumer services, like licensing regulated businesses, inspecting regulated businesses and protecting consumers
• overseeing alcohol, gaming, fuel and tobacco licensing, enforcement and auditing

Previous roles

• Senior Executive Director, Safety, Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration
• Senior Director, Population and Public Health, Nova Scotia Health Authority
• Director, Environmental Health, Department of Health and Wellness
• Provincial Program Coordinator, Public Health, Department of Health, Government of New Brunswick