The Honourable Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced the appointment of Heather Jacobs, QC, as Deputy Minister (Acting) with the Department of Justice and Public Safety. She replaces Jennifer Mercer, QC, who was appointed today as judge with the Provincial Court.
Ms. Jacobs has prior experience in the role having served as Deputy Minister from 2015 to 2018. Prior to that, she worked in a number of senior positions with government including as Assistant Deputy Minister with Justice and Public Safety and Manager of the Civil Division in the department. A complete bio can be found in the backgrounder below.
Ms. Jacobs’ appointment is effective immediately.
Quote
“I welcome Ms. Jacobs back to Provincial Government as the Deputy Minister (Acting) with the Department of Justice and Public Safety. She has considerable experience and is certainly well-versed in what the position entails. I look forward to working with her. I also congratulate Ms. Mercer on her appointment as judge with the Provincial Court and thank her for her time with government.”
Honourable Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
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Media contact
Meghan McCabe
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
meghanmccabe@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Biography for Heather M. Jacobs, QC
Heather M. Jacobs, QC, served as Deputy Minister of the Department of Justice and Public Safety from September 2015 until 2018. Ms. Jacobs also served as Assistant Deputy Minister in the Department of Justice and Public Safety from June 2006 to August 2015. Ms. Jacobs managed the Government Services Unit within the Civil Division of the Department of Justice from January 2002 to June 2006, and served as a solicitor in the Civil Division from 1988 to 2001. Ms. Jacobs received her Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Memorial University in 1984 and Bachelor of Law degree from York University (Osgoode Hall) in 1987. Ms. Jacobs was appointed Queens Counsel in 2015 and has been a practicing member of the Bar of Newfoundland and Labrador since 1988. She was a member of the Nalcor Board (as government appointee) and sat independently in 2018. She was recently the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Oil and Gas Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador and a member of the Board of the RNC Foundation.