By Mark Kerr, Senior Communications Officer

Ontario’s chief economist Patrick Deutscher is set to join Queen’s School of Policy Studies this fall as the Ontario Public Service (OPS) Amethyst Fellow.

Patrick Deutscher will share his public policy and economics expertise with Queen's School of Policy Studies faculty and students beginning this fall.

“Dr. Deutscher brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position that will make him an invaluable resource for faculty and students,” says Kim Nossal, Director, Queen’s School of Policy Studies. “His linkages to economic and policy networks are a tremendous asset that will support the school’s engagement with external professional public policy communities.”

Dr. Deutscher has served in his current role since 2006. He is also the assistant deputy minister in the Office of Economic Policy at the Ministry of Finance. He is responsible for industrial and finance policy, labour and demographic analysis, and macroeconomic and revenue forecasting and analysis.

"Ontario faces big economic and social challenges. There are also tremendous opportunities. I am looking forward to working with students who will be tackling these challenges and helping us seize these opportunities in their future careers," Dr. Deutscher says.

During his more than 30-year career at the federal and provincial levels, Dr. Deutscher has developed considerable expertise in the fields of economics and public policy. He holds an MA in economics from York University and a PhD in economics from the University of Toronto. He has taught macroeconomics at the university level and authored the first full study of R.G. Hawtrey, an influential figure in the development of macroeconomics in the 20th century.

The OPS Amethyst Fellowship, established in 2003, provides support for a senior OPS official to spend up to one year at Queen's School of Policy Studies. During that time, the Amethyst Fellow works with future policy leaders and raises the profile of the OPS as a centre of public policy excellence. The Amethyst Fellow teaches a course, participates as a guest speaker, and helps organize the annual Queen’s Master of Public Administration Capital Briefings program in Toronto, among other activities.

Dr. Deutscher will take over from current OPS Amethyst Fellow Nancy Austin in September.