Kennedy will take the new role on September 3 following a 29-year career with the government, most recently as deputy minister of health. Stephen Lucas, current environment deputy minister, will take over from Kennedy. Christine Hogan will become deputy environment minister; she is currently the executive director for Canada, Ireland and the Caribbean at the World Bank. (The Logic)

Talking point: Knubley was one of the most influential deputy ministers. Given the position in 2012, he played a key role in three of the government’s economic strategy tables: digital industries, cleantech and agrifood. He was the second-most lobbied deputy minister and one of only four department heads to have remained in place throughout the Liberal ministry. Kennedy has worked at the department previously. From 2010-2012 he served as senior associate deputy minister, where he “was also the Director of Investments, responsible for administering Canada’s foreign investment review process,” according to his LinkedIn profile. That’s not Kennedy’s only international experience. He’s also served as G20 sherpa and deputy minister of international trade during the conclusion of negotiations for major trade deals with both Europe and Korea.