CANNABIS COUNCIL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Secretary / Canopy Growth Corporation
Job Titles:
- President
- President of the
- Vice Chair of Team Rubicon Canada
Ottawa, Ontario, April 2, 2024 - The Cannabis Council of Canada (C3) is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul McCarthy as its new President, effective immediately. McCarthy brings over two decades in public sector roles to C3, both as a public servant and senior political advisor supporting Ministries such as Labour, Housing & Homelessness, Industry, Environment and Veterans Affairs. He also held senior roles with a prominent Canadian licensed producer, focused on international market development and corporate policy compliance. McCarthy brings a profound understanding of government workings and policy to C3.
After having successfully navigated complex regulatory landscapes for decades, McCarthy brings his knowledge of highly regulated industries to C3. His extensive experience in negotiating agreements between public entities, Indigenous organizations, and various sectors, demonstrates his ability to establish strong relationships and achieve balanced interests.
Rick Savone, Chair of the Cannabis Council of Canada, expressed the Board's enthusiasm about McCarthy's appointment, stating, "We are delighted to welcome Paul McCarthy as the new President of the Cannabis Council of Canada. His wealth of experience and proven track record in policy development and stakeholder engagement make him instrumental in driving C3's annual strategic plan. We are confident that under his leadership, C3 will continue to be a leading voice in advocating for a thriving and responsible cannabis industry."
"There is great potential for the cannabis sector to flourish in Canada. It can contribute to the country's productivity and provide good-paying, sustainable jobs. That, however, can only be achieved through a reformed regulatory regime and the eradication of the illicit market," said Paul McCarthy, President of C3. "I look forward to working collaboratively with government and other stakeholders to make this industry the success story it can be."
Paul has over 20 years of experience in the public sector - splitting this time equally as a public servant and as a senior political advisor - giving him an intimate understanding of how government works.
His career has been characterized by policy development through stakeholder engagement on a range of public policy issues, including responsibility for nation-wide consultations on the creation of the first National Housing Strategy (2005).
He also has extensive negotiation and agreement management experience, having done so between public entities, Indigenous organizations, and the private and not-for-profit sectors. Such work resulted in being recognized for outstanding public service for managing the British Columbia component of the Infrastructure Stimulus program that saw a total investment of $1.2B to complete 450 projects over a two-year period.
During his time with Veterans Affairs, he led the redesign and enhancement of financial benefits for Canadian Armed Forces veterans, culminating in the Pension for Life. This provided greater financial security for a much larger number of veteran families.
In 2019, he moved into the private sector as Strategic Advisor to the CEO of Canopy Growth Corporation. He subsequently filled roles focused on international market development and corporate policy compliance, as well as heading up the company's global response to COVID.
Paul currently serves as Vice Chair of Team Rubicon Canada, a veteran-led charitable organization who mobilize responses to natural disasters and humanitarian crises, helping those who have been displaced by these events.
A native of St. John's, Newfoundland, Paul obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Memorial University in Political Science and Business. He lives in Ottawa with his wife and three children.