Bob Rae

August 13, 2023

I had the great pleasure of working with Richard Dicerni when he joined the government of Ontario as deputy minister of Energy in 1993. Richard had been a career public servant for 25 years, and immediately had a positive impact on the work of the government.

I remember well my first dinner with Richard and David Agnew, then Secretary of the Cabinet. Richard was completely engaged, amusing, and disarmingly candid.

Throughout our relationship, which sadly ended with Richard’s death last week, he insisted on calling me “Premier”. He was courteous to a fault, but his sardonic asides about whatever was happening or about the idiosyncrasies of public service made it clear that he was his own person with his own views.

I once joked with him that my memoir From Protest to Power should have been called No, Premier, and his only comment was “well, not all your ideas were perfect”, said with a big grin on his face.

He was courteous to a fault, but his sardonic asides about whatever was happening or about the idiosyncrasies of public service made it clear that he was his own person with his own views.

Richard served the Harris government briefly, then moved on to Ontario Power Generation, returned to the federal government as Deputy Minister of Industry, and then to the government of Alberta as Secretary to the Alberta Cabinet and head of the Alberta Public Service.

Richard’s strong relationship with Jim Prentice when Jim was Industry Minister led him to take up this last post, and he stayed on with Premier Notley until returning to Ottawa where he was a teacher, advisor and board member.

Richard was an extraordinary man. He was wise, funny, adroit and invaluable to many as a good friend. He served all parties with equal integrity and thoughtfulness, and believed strongly in the need for a strong, non-partisan public service. Few public servants have had such a varied and distinguished career.

His life is worthy of the warmest celebration.

Deepest condolences to his wife Carole Swan and his family.

Bob Rae is Canada’s permanent representative to the United Nations