Profile: Sonia L'Heureux

Policy advisor learns the ins and outs of private sector through Fellows Program

Public servant Sonia L’Heureux is on a work exchange with the private sector. She is learning a lot about how a private corporation does business but she is also discovering why she likes working for Canada’s Public Service.

Observing corporate life

Sonia is working at the head office of SNC-Lavalin in Montréal, thanks to the Government of Canada Fellows Program. She spends her days observing senior management, reading company reports and visiting the company’s offices in other cities.

She also attends meetings to assess bids for major projects and discuss corporate issues, which helps her understand what matters in key company decision making.

"The company executives," says Sonia, "are welcoming, interested in my views, and open about their approaches to business."

Benefits of networking

Sonia says networking is one of the great benefits of this opportunity. She interacts with the company’s senior leaders, who are innovative, open-minded and caring people.

When Sonia returns to the Public Service, she plans to use her experience at SNC-Lavalin to get a different outlook on issues she deals with when advising elected officials. She also looks forward to applying what she’s learned there to her own work.

Be proud of the Public Service

"The next time someone compares how the private and public sectors do things, I will be able to distinguish between perception and reality," says Sonia. "More importantly, I can now confidently identify good public sector practices and take pride in how the federal public service manages its affairs. We have practices that are world-class."

Her true calling

Sonia’s work for a private company has also shown her why she loves working in the Public Service. Although the private sector offers great opportunities, Sonia is motivated because her public sector work can touch the lives of millions of Canadians and shape the future of Canada. Working as a strategic policy advisor, Sonia has a direct positive impact on Canada.

For example, she worked on the initiative that gave year-long leave to Canadian parents after the arrival of a child. When she meets someone on leave, she is proud of the work she did to get funding and support for that initiative, which allows parents to spend high-quality time with their new child.

They are a reminder that her work as a public servant has an impact on real people, with real issues.

"I am proud of my work and I do it with integrity," she declares. "And I am proud of my contribution toward making Canada a better place to live."

Upon her return from her assignment in June 2008, Sonia will lead the Parliamentary Information and Research Service at the Library of Parliament.

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