Michael Sabia

Early Life and Education

Michael John Sabia was born on September 11, 1953, in St. Catharines, Ontario, to parents Michael Joseph Sabia and Laura Sabia, both of Italian descent. He received his secondary education at Ridley College, a private boarding school in his hometown. For his undergraduate studies, Sabia attended the University of Toronto, where he earned a bachelor's degree. He then pursued graduate studies at Yale University in the United States, completing a master's degree, which provided the analytical foundation for his subsequent career in both public policy and corporate leadership.

Career in Federal Public Service and CN Rail

Michael Sabia began his professional career in the 1980s within Canada's federal public service, where he held several senior positions. One of his most significant early roles was as deputy secretary to the cabinet for plans within the Privy Council Office, a position that involved high-level strategic planning for the government. His work there brought him to the attention of Paul Tellier, then the clerk of the Privy Council. When Tellier left the public service in the early 1990s to become president of Canadian National Railway, then a Crown corporation, he recruited Sabia to join the company. Sabia moved to CN Rail and held a series of executive positions during a period of major change as the company was privatized, and he ultimately served as the chief financial officer, gaining crucial experience in corporate finance and large-scale organizational transformation during the 1990s.

Leadership at Bell Canada Enterprises

In 1999, Michael Sabia left Canadian National to join Bell Canada Enterprises, one of Canada's largest telecommunications conglomerates. He rose quickly within the company, succeeding Jean Monty to become chief executive officer in 2002. During his tenure, Sabia led BCE through a period of significant industry change and consolidation, including responding to competitive pressures and technological shifts. In 2007, the BCE board accepted a takeover offer from the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan to privatize the company, a deal valued at tens of billions of dollars. Sabia announced later that year that he would depart once the privatization deal was finalized, stating his intention to leave after the transaction closed, and he left his role as CEO in July 2008 and was succeeded by George Cope.

Transforming the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec

On March 13, 2009, Michael Sabia was appointed president and chief executive officer of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, succeeding Fernand Perrault. The Caisse is one of Canada's largest institutional investors, managing public pension and insurance funds for Quebec. Sabia's mandate was renewed in February 2017 to run until March 31, 2021, reflecting confidence in his leadership. Under his direction, the Caisse underwent a major strategic shift, significantly increasing its investments in international markets. By 2019, approximately 64 percent of the fund's assets were invested globally, a substantial increase from 36 percent when Sabia took over in 2009. This global diversification strategy was aimed at improving returns and managing risk for Quebec's savers by reducing reliance on domestic markets. Sabia also served on the federal government's Advisory Council on Economic Growth, which in 2016 recommended gradually increasing Canada's annual permanent immigration level to 450,000 people to support long-term sustainable growth. He announced his departure from the Caisse in November 2019, a year before his term was to end, to lead the Munk School of Global Affairs. He was succeeded by Charles Emond in January 2020, leaving behind a fund with a markedly different and more international investment profile.

During his career, Michael Sabia held key roles including Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet of the Privy Council Office in the 1980s. He later became the chief financial officer of Canadian National Railway in the 1990s. Sabia served as the chief executive officer of Bell Canada Enterprises from 2002 to 2008. He was also the president and chief executive officer of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec from 2009 to 2020.

• Appointed CEO of CDPQ on March 13, 2009.
• Mandate renewed until March 31, 2021, announced February 15, 2017.
• Oversaw increase in global investments from 36% (2009) to 64% (2019).
• Member of federal Advisory Council on Economic Growth (2016 to 2019).
• Appointed Chairperson of the Canada Infrastructure Bank in April 2020.
• Joined the board of directors of the Mastercard Foundation in June 2020.
• Advocated for increased immigration to 450,000 annually as part of economic growth strategy.
• Left CDPQ in January 2020 to become director of the Munk School of Global Affairs.

Return to Public Service: Finance and Hydro-Québec

Michael Sabia's return to full-time public service began in December 2020 when he was named deputy minister of the Department of Finance Canada, replacing Paul Rochon. Concurrently, he had been appointed chairperson of the Canada Infrastructure Bank in April 2020, a role from which he stepped down in January 2021 when Tamara Vrooman succeeded him. His next major appointment came on May 23, 2023, when he was named the next president and CEO of Hydro-Québec, Quebec's giant public electrical utility. He succeeded Sophie Brochu in this role, taking on the challenge of leading the utility through a period of major expansion and energy transition, which included plans for increased electricity exports and green energy projects. Sabia left Hydro-Québec on July 4, 2025, to assume his final appointment in the public service, having spent just over two years at the helm of one of North America's largest power producers.

Appointment as Clerk of the Privy Council

On June 11, 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Michael Sabia would become the 26th clerk of the Privy Council and secretary to the cabinet, effective July 7, 2025. The clerk is the most senior non-political official in the Government of Canada, serving as the head of the federal public service and the prime minister's top policy advisor. Sabia's appointment followed his departure from Hydro-Québec on July 4. This role represents the culmination of a career that has alternated between the highest echelons of corporate Canada and senior positions within the public sector. His extensive experience in finance, infrastructure, energy, and institutional management is viewed as critical for providing non-partisan advice and ensuring the effective operation of the government machinery. The appointment by Prime Minister Carney, a former Bank of Canada governor, signals a preference for a clerk with deep economic and corporate governance expertise at a time of complex fiscal and policy challenges.

Honours, Academic Roles, and Personal Life

In recognition of his contributions to business and public service, Michael Sabia was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2016. He is married to Hilary Pearson, who is the granddaughter of former Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson. Beyond his executive roles, Sabia has maintained an academic connection, having been announced in November 2019 as the next head of the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. He started that role in February 2020, following his departure from the Caisse, and served as its director before his appointment as deputy minister of finance later that same year. He remains associated with the school as a distinguished fellow, contributing to discussions on global policy and governance, which provided a bridge between his corporate career and his later return to senior government positions.

Career Timeline and Major Transitions

Michael Sabia's career includes senior public service roles such as deputy minister for the Department of Finance Canada from 2020 to 2023. His private sector roles include chief executive officer of Bell Canada Enterprises and chief financial officer of CN Railway. He served as the chief executive officer of Hydro-Québec from 2023 to 2025. Sabia was also the president and chief executive officer of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. In July 2025, he became the clerk of the Privy Council.

Questions about Michael Sabia

What is Michael Sabia's current role?

Michael Sabia is currently the clerk of the Privy Council, the head of Canada's federal public service. He was appointed to this role by Prime Minister Mark Carney, with his term beginning on July 7, 2025. Prior to this, he served as the president and CEO of Hydro-Québec from 2023 to 2025. As clerk, he is the prime minister's top non-political advisor and is responsible for the overall coordination and effectiveness of the government bureaucracy, providing continuity across changes in government.

What did Michael Sabia do at the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec?

Michael Sabia was the president and chief executive officer of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec from 2009 to 2020. Under his leadership, the Caisse significantly increased its international investments, with global assets rising from 36 percent of the fund in 2009 to 64 percent by 2019. His mandate was renewed in 2017 to run until 2021, but he left a year early in January 2020 to lead the Munk School of Global Affairs. He was succeeded by Charles Emond. During his tenure, he also served on the federal Advisory Council on Economic Growth.

Did Michael Sabia work for Bell Canada?

Yes, Michael Sabia worked for Bell Canada Enterprises, where he served as chief executive officer from 2002 to 2008. He joined BCE in 1999 and succeeded Jean Monty as CEO. His tenure included leading the company through a privatization offer from the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan in 2007. Sabia announced he would leave after the deal was finalized and departed in July 2008, succeeded by George Cope. This role established him as a major figure in the Canadian telecommunications industry.

What is Michael Sabia's educational background?

Michael Sabia completed his secondary education at Ridley College in St. Catharines, Ontario. He then earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Toronto. For his graduate studies, he attended Yale University in the United States, where he obtained a master's degree. This combination of Canadian and American education helped prepare him for his diverse career in both the public and private sectors, providing a strong foundation in economics and policy analysis.

What is Michael Sabia's connection to Lester B. Pearson?

Michael Sabia is connected to former Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson through marriage. His wife is Hilary Pearson, who is the granddaughter of Lester B. Pearson. This familial link connects Sabia to one of Canada's notable former leaders. The marriage is a personal detail within Sabia's biography, which also extensively covers his professional career in both the public and private sectors. This connection is part of the recorded personal life details available about Michael Sabia.

What awards has Michael Sabia received?

Michael Sabia was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2016. This appointment is a significant national honour recognizing his contributions to the country. It is a notable award within his distinguished career. The honour was conferred during a period when Sabia held the role of CEO at the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. This recognition is documented alongside his various senior leadership roles in Canadian business and public service.

Sources and further reading

• Michael Sabia (Wikipedia)
• Michael Sabia | Prime Minister of Canada (pm.gc.ca)
• Michael Sabia | The Munk School (munkschool.utoronto.ca)
• Michael Sabia (Profile) (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca)
• Michael Sabia | Max Bell School of Public Policy (mcgill.ca)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-07.