VANCOUVER, BC—The Fraser Institute, one of Canada’s leading public policy think tanks, has appointed Dr. Brett J. Skinner as its new president.

The president is the chief executive officer of the Institute, responsible for all aspects of the Fraser Institute’s operations.

Since 2004, Dr. Skinner has led the Fraser Institute’s research in pharmaceutical and insurance policy as well as being one of the co-directors of the Institute’s research on health policy. He has also managed the Institute’s Toronto office since 2008.

Dr. Skinner holds a PhD in political science and public policy from the University of Western Ontario and earned his MA from the University of Windsor. He has authored or co-authored nearly 40 major original pieces of applied economics and public policy research including the recently published book, Canadian Health Policy Failures.

In 2003 Dr. Skinner was a co-winner of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation’s Sir Antony Fisher Memorial Award for innovative projects in public policy.

“Brett Skinner has the academic credentials, extensive research experience, and public policy background to lead the Fraser Institute into the next decade,” said Michael Walker, the Fraser Institute’s founding executive director.

“For 35 years the Fraser Institute has been a leader in measuring the impact of government policies on the welfare of Canadians and providing evidence-based research about better alternatives. As president, I look forward to ensuring that the Institute continues to inform Canadians about how economics and markets work, and why economic freedom is essential to maintaining and improving the quality of life in this great country,” Skinner said.