In addition to supporting the Competition Bureau, Johnston’s team also supports the broader Department of Justice, particularly with corporate objectives, such as by litigating cases that relate to the affordability of goods and services in Canada, for example.
“One of our goals continues to be to ensure that the Competition Bureau legal services is ready to litigate responsible and evidence-based cases on behalf of the commissioner,” says Johnston. “This may include settlement negotiations or negotiating administrative penalties where appropriate, or seeking injunctions where they are warranted.”
Creating a healthy work environment for her busy team is another key priority for Johnston. She and her deputy executive director created four cornerstones of team wellbeing: employee empowerment, valuing people meaningfully, fostering a clear workplace culture, and creating an inclusive and diverse workplace.
“In the public sector, we don’t have a lot of money to spend, so I’m always looking for cost-neutral ways to show our employees how much they mean to us, to our clients, and to the Department of Justice,” says Johnston.
Debbie Johnston spoke to Canadian Lawyer in her personal capacity. Her comments are hers alone and do not represent the views of the Department of Justice or the Competition Bureau.