Margaret Dritsas, LL.L., NCA
Email: margaret.dritsas@gmail.com | Mobile: (613) 899-2888 (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Profile
Highly experienced legal and public policy professional with over 23 years in the Canadian Federal Public Service. Specialized in legislative and regulatory change, strategic advising, and stakeholder relations across various levels of government. Fluent in English, French, and Greek, with a proven track record in complex, multilingual negotiations and policy development.
Education
• Licentiate in Civil Law (LL.L.), University of Ottawa, Faculty of Civil Law, 1998
• Executive Certificate in Conflict Management, Stitt Feld Handy and the Faculty of Law, University of Windsor, 2014
• Certificate of Qualification, Federation of Law Societies, NCA 2015
• Certificate in Regulatory Analysis and Decision Making, Penn Law Program on Regulation, 2021
• LPP Ryerson, August 2021- May 2022
Professional Skills
• Expertise in legislative and regulatory analysis and development
• Advanced skills in policy formulation, stakeholder engagement, and strategic advisory
• Proficient in high-level negotiation and public speaking
• Experienced in managing diverse and cross-functional teams
• Expert in building coalitions with industry peers and government stakeholders.
• Proven ability to communicate complex policy matters to diverse audiences.
• Experienced in advancing corporate priorities through strategic advocacy.
Languages
• Fluent in English, French, and Greek
Professional Experience
DG Group, Founder and CEO, July 2024 to present, Toronto, Ontario
Pooled a group of lawyers and consultants in Canada, the USA, and Europe to work on different areas of the law from business to immigration, to regulatory policy.
Rye Law Firm, Partner, Toronto, Ontario, February 2022 – June 2024
• Met and interviewed clients
• Prepared Immigration applications and submissions (TRP, PR, study, and work permits, refugee claims)
• Responsible for LMIA (50 positions) for a corporate agricultural company & was the point of contact
• Managed the office, and the employees ensured the business was thriving and growing
Chief of Office of Regulatory Expertise and Operations, Transport Canada
March 2018 – August 2021
• Spearheaded policy initiatives related to transportation innovation and regulatory policies that align with international standards and Agile Nations Network frameworks.
• Managed intergovernmental relations, providing strategic alignment on policy harmonization, which will be pivotal in advancing Netflix Canada’s interests with government stakeholders.
• Directed a policy group focused on enhancing competitiveness through Pan-Canadian Trade Corridors, directly influencing legislative and regulatory frameworks beneficial to business operations.
• Collaborated closely with economic stimulus and industry restart teams during COVID-19, ensuring effective stakeholder engagement and rapid response to evolving government policies.
• Crafted key briefing materials for ministerial use, facilitating informed decision-making and alignment with business objectives under high-stakes conditions.
• Oversaw regulatory initiatives across multiple transportation sectors, enhancing policy frameworks to support business operations and compliance.
• Developed strategic responses to regulatory submissions, ensuring adherence to government directives while promoting business-friendly regulatory environments.
Senior Policy Analyst/Advisor, Treasury Board Secretariat, Regulatory Affairs Sector, Ottawa, Ontario
August 2008 – March 2018
• Provided expert advice on regulatory policies and governance, crucial for navigating complex legislative environments in Canada—directly applicable to managing Netflix’s policy strategy.
• Managed relationships with key governmental and regulatory bodies, ensuring compliance and strategic alignment with public policy developments.
• Provided expert guidance and strategic advice on regulatory policy interpretation and application for high-profile clients, including the Canadian Radio-television
• and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), Heritage Canada, and Global Affairs Canada.
• Collaborated with the Privy Council Office and other government departments to ensure Governor in Council submissions adhered to policy and program approval standards.
• Acted as a challenge function to improve regulatory proposals, facilitating informed decision-making for Treasury Board Ministers and the Governor General.
• Regularly engaged with departments like Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Department of Justice, and Employment and Social Development Canada to address multi-sector policy challenges and legislative changes.
A/Senior Regulatory Policy Analyst, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Strategic Policy, Cabinet Briefings and Regulatory Policy, Ottawa, Ontario, (October 2007 to August 2008)
• Provided strategic advice and expertise concerning the planning andmanagement of regulatory initiatives
• Analyzed the interface between policy and regulation and the impact ofregulatory options on the development of policy
• Coordinated the strategy and planning of regulatory legal drafting
• Monitored and facilitated the progress of regulatory initiatives with projectteams, including but not limited to chairing inter-departmental meetings andconsultations
• Created a Center of Expertise for the department’s use and transferred theknowledge to the Department
Nationality Law Advisor, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Integration Branch, Citizenship Division, Ottawa, Ontario, (October 2003 – October 15, 2007)
• Researched, analyzed, and compared legislation and jurisprudence in the Canadianlegal system and foreign laws on nationality
• Experience in the Cabinet briefing process:
o Prepared documents for senior officials, such as Memoranda to Cabinet,Memoranda to the Minister, etc.
o Prepared recommendations for senior management
o Prepared decks for senior officials for presentations at StandingCommittees hearings, Ministerial briefings, and briefings of Departmentalsenior officials
• Represented departmental and government of Canada positions with othergovernments and stakeholders and in international forums:
o Participated in the Citizenship Forum involving the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The latest meeting was held in LiverpoolEngland in April 2006.
o Panelist at the Canadian Bar Association on Continuing Legal Education on Citizenship and Immigration in May 2004 and May 2006
• Collaborated in the development of strategies to manage litigation on policy issues and guided legal services on strategies and steps to be taken in citizenship cases(i.e., Taylor v. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration,2007 FCA 349)
• Designed and led stakeholder consultations and worked in federal-provincial/territorial relations
• Led the drafting of proposed legislative bills (Bills C-76 & C-77 and Bill C-14). Worked on the proposed regulations for this Bill and led consultations with stakeholders (and P/T) on Bill C-14,
• Experience leading legislative and regulatory changes:
o Bill C-14 – An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (Adoptions) andRegulations to support the Bill
o Participated in legislative changes and drafting sessions with Departmentof Justice legislative drafters
o Provided input on international issues and possible impact onCanadian citizenship law
o Presented the legal framework of the Citizenship Act to the SenateStanding Committee of the Czech Republic
o Presented at the Courtesy Call with the Chair of the Senate StandingCommittee of the Czech Republic and the Associate Deputy Minister,Diane Vincent (June 2004)
o Presented legislative Model of Citizenship issues to the Estonian delegation
• Liaised with the Department of Foreign Affairs on several issues of commoninterest and addressed issues from Missions abroad
• Delivered training to consular officers from Foreign Affairs posted overseas and tocitizenship judges
Other positions in the Department of Justice (2000-2003) & Parliament Hill (1999-2000)
Awards
• Director General’s Award in Recognition of Excellence in contributing to Canada’s response to Covid-19, July 2021
• Certificate of Recognition from Treasury Board Secretariat 2013 & 2018
• Assistant Deputy Minister’s Award for outstanding contribution to the success of the Canadian Experience Class (Citizenship and Immigration, October 2008)
• Deputy Minister’s Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of contribution to the passage of Bill C-37 (Citizenship and Immigration, April 2008)
• Deputy Minister’s Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of valuable work contribution to the department, particularly the efforts on the EU visa file (December 2007)
• Deputy Minister’s Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of valuable work contribution to the department (Citizenship and Immigration, June 2007)
• Director General’s Certificate of Appreciation for preparing Bill C-14 and supporting the Bill in Parliament (Citizenship and Immigration, October 2006)