About the Ministry

Deputy Minister - Community Safety

John Burke

John Burke is the Deputy Minister of Community Safety. Mr. Burke was formerly the Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources.

As a Deputy Minister of the largest ministry in the OPS delivering direct services, Mr. Burke is responsible for policing and public safety, including the OPP, the Centre of Forensic Sciences, the Office of the Chief Coroner, the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Ontario as well as the oversight of municipal police, criminal intelligence, private investigators and security guards and animal welfare.

Previously the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Ottawa, he has also been Chief Administrative Officer for the Regional Municipality of Halton, the City of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, the City of Gloucester and the City of North Bay. He has worked in municipal administration in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Halifax and the county of Richmond, Nova Scotia.

Mr. Burke has a Bachelor of Commerce from St. Mary's University, a Diploma in Public Administration from the University of Western Ontario and has studied Labour Relations at Queen's University.