About

Andrew is the author of Multiculturalism in Canada: Evidence and Anecdote, providing an integrated view of how well multiculturalism is working, and Policy Arrogance or Innocent Bias: Resetting Citizenship and Multiculturalism, describing the relationship between the bureaucratic and political levels. He regularly comments on citizenship, multiculturalism and related issues, in his blog, Multiculturalism Meanderings, as well in the media.

Andrew was formerly Director General, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration. Andrew led policy and program development to strengthen citizenship, inclusion and participation, and inter-cultural understanding.

Previous assignments include Service Canada, where he lead planning, reporting and evaluation related to citizen-centred service transformation, organizational change and priority setting and developed service strategies and offerings to orient service around the needs of Canadians; Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, where he led a government-wide review of Canada’s representation abroad and the negotiation and implementation of an interdepartmental agreement and service standards on the common services and infrastructure at Canadian offices abroad; Industry Canada, where he was responsible for coordinating trade development priorities, providing support and direction to International Trade Centres across Canada, and Industry Canada’s participation in Team Canada Inc; and Privy Council Office, where Andrew was a senior analyst responsible for industry and trade files. Other positions held in Ottawa include Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister of Trade and a member of the Policy Planning Staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

In addition to being posted to the Canadian Mission to the World Trade Organization, Geneva, where he was the lead negotiator for trade and environment and standards issues, Andrew has held trade assignments in Los Angeles, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Argentina.

His government publications include From a Trading Nation to a Nation of Traders: Toward a Second Century of Canadian Trade Development and Market Access and Environmental Protection: A Negotiator’s Point of View. He has received a number of awards for his government service, including the Public Service Award (2007, 2010), and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012).

Andrew has also written Living with Cancer: A Journey, recounting his recent experience with cancer, in addition to contributing to MD Anderson’s Cancerwise.

Andrew is a fellow of the Environics Institute.

Andrew lives in Ottawa and is married with two adult children.

For examples of his writings and media citations, see the links below:

Articles and Commentary – Andrew Griffith

Media citations – Andrew Griffith 2023

The following video outlines my research and policy interests (December 2017).

Contact Info for Andrew:

Email:  agriffith232@gmail.com

LinkedIn:  Andrew L Griffith

Twitter: @Andrew_Griffith

Blog: Multicultural Meanderings

Facebook: Andrew Griffith C&M

This blog is a working site to manage information and documents.