Ontario has recruited former spymaster Ray Boisvert to advise on matters of provincial security.

Starting next year, Boisvert — a 30-year veteran of Canada's spy agency — will be the provincial security adviser, a brand new position in the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

"(W)ith increased concerns with security issues both within and outside our borders, the province is taking action to strengthen our capacity," a government release said Friday.

"Mr. Boisvert will provide advice and intelligence on areas of public safety and national security that fall within provincial responsibility. He will support efforts to protect provincial assets from events that could affect services, networks and facilities that are critical to Ontario’s economy, public safety and security. He will also engage with key partners on security-related matters."

Boisvert's resume spans three decades at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, where he headed up the counter-terrorism program as director general, and later, was assistant director on the intelligence file. He has spent his retirement running his own consulting service, I-Sec Integrated Strategies, which specializes in combating cyber, "insider threats" and other emerging enterprise-related risks, according to its website.

Boisvert officially takes office on Jan. 2, 2017.

Update: MCSCS spokesman Greg Flood provided the following statement to QP Briefing:

"To further strengthen the security of our province the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services is appointing Mr. Ray Boisvert as Provincial Security Advisor. Mr. Boisvert will hold the position of Associate Deputy Minister, reporting to the Deputy Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

As Provincial Security Advisor Mr. Boisvert will engage with key security partners and leverage his 30 years of experience to provide advice to the government on areas of security. The key focus of Mr. Boisvert's work will be to support efforts that protect the government and its assets that could affect services, networks and facilities that are critical to Ontarians.

The appointment of a Provincial Security Advisor is another important step in the government and the ministry's work to further strengthen the safety and security of Ontario."

Happening: Ontario enlists former top spy Ray Boisvert as security adviser

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