Bennett Jones
Lori Sterling’s 30 years of leadership and experience in federal and provincial government helps clients adapt to critical legal and policy issues facing businesses in Canada—including harassment and other workplace issues, Indigenous consultations, and litigation.
Lori most recently served as Canada’s Deputy Minister of Labour and Associate Deputy Minister, Employment, Skills Development Canada. She was responsible for new federal legislation on harassment and violence in the workplace, pay equity, diversity, accessibility and employment standards. She was also responsible for labour relations and has led extensive consultations with businesses and other stakeholders across the country.
As Deputy Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Lori helped create Ontario’s first Ministry for Indigenous peoples. She was responsible for the province’s strategy in consultations with Indigenous peoples, benefit agreements, land claims and treaty negotiations. She has worked with domestic and foreign companies on how to consult and negotiate with Indigenous peoples.
Lori served as the Associate Deputy Minister of Justice for Canada and as the Assistant Deputy Minister for Legal Services in Ontario. She was responsible for government litigation and appeared as litigation counsel at all levels, including 15 cases before the Supreme Court of Canada.
As a leader in the public service, Lori understands how to run large national organizations. She held a leadership position in a department with 26,000 employees and a budget of over $60 billion.
Lori has taught constitutional law and advocacy at law schools and received the United Nations Public Service Award for Building Aboriginal Relations in 2013. Lori was named a Hill Times Top 100 Most Influential Powerful & Influential People in Government & Politics in 2018 and a nominee for top lawyer in Canada in 2014.
In 2017, Lori earned her ICD designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors at the Rotman School of Business. Her board service (past and present) includes the Public Service Management Insurance Plan, the Supreme Court of Canada Advocacy Institute and the Ryerson University Aboriginal Governance Institute.