Paul C. Bélisle

Paul C. Bélisle is a consultant and instructor specializing in the field of parliamentary corporate governance and on matters of rules, procedures and practices relevant to the effective functioning of the houses of parliaments and their committees. He has spent forty-five years working with parliaments: thirty-nine as an official in the Senate of Canada, and sixteen as a Clerk (Secretary General) of the Senate and Clerk of the Parliaments in Canada - leading a team of over 400 employees. For the past ten years, he has worked as a consultant with several organizations including WBI, UNDP, Commonwealth (CPA), and la Francophonie (ASGPF).

Paul Bélisle’s extensive leadership experience as Clerk (Secretary General) has served him well in undertaking capacity-building projects with legislatures around the world and engaging legislators and their staff from many different political environments. He has led international seminars around the world and engaging legislators and their staff from many different political environments. He has led international seminars and working groups on the provision of resources and services to Parliaments, promoting sound principles and practices to enhance democracy in many countries, including Bangladesh, Bénin, Cambodia, Fiji, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Myanmar, Nigeria and Togo.

Of his many achievements, Paul Bélisle considers his involvement in the development, implementation and his on-going teaching and mentoring of the many students in the McGill’s Professional Development Certificate in Parliamentary Management Program, a highlight of his consulting and teaching career.

He holds degrees in Civil Law, Political Science and Public Administration from the University of Ottawa.