Jean St-Gelais is an economist by training, having completed his studies at Université Laval in Québec and Queen’s University in Ontario.
Jean St-Gelais began his career in Ottawa in 1982 as Research Assistant at the Bank of Canada. Thereafter, he held various positions within the Economic Policy, Fiscal Policy and Federal-Provincial Relations Sectors of the Québec Department of Finance.
In October 1996 he served as Secretary of the Commission on Taxation and Fiscal Policy established by the Government of Québec. Thereafter, he was Assistant Deputy Minister for Fiscal Policy and Budgetary Revenue and, in 2000, served as Associate Deputy Minister for Fiscal and Budgetary Policy and Financial Institutions.
In 2001, Jean St-Gelais was appointed to the highest position in the public administration as Secretary General and Clerk of the Conseil exécutif of the Government of Québec.
Mr. St-Gelais has been the President and Chief executive officer of the Autorité des marchés financiers since September 2003 and, as part of his functions, has been Chair of the Canadian Securities Administrators since April 2005.