Kent Howie

Kent has carved out an impressive career providing strategic business counsel to top-tier management and boards across various sectors, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, infrastructure, energy ventures, joint ventures, and corporate finance dealings.

With over two decades at BLG as a senior corporate commercial law partner, Kent transitioned to pivotal roles within the Department of Finance Canada. From 2020 to 2023, he served as a Senior Adviser to the Deputy Minister of Finance, playing a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic, and later as an Assistant Deputy Minister, where he focused on corporate finance.

During his tenure in Ottawa, Kent emerged as a key negotiator, offering strategic public policy and investment advice to the Canadian government, including pivotal equity and debt investments in commercial ventures and projects.

His contributions were vital in shaping Canada’s economic response to the COVID-19 crisis, notably in vaccine procurement strategies and the establishment of federal economic emergency measures to aid businesses. Kent spearheaded the Canada Growth Fund, a $15 billion initiative aimed at decarbonization, defining its mandate, investment strategy, and implementation.

Furthermore, his advisory role in managing the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion underscored his ability to handle complex financial arrangements and navigate the project through challenges including cost overruns and Indigenous community impacts.

Kent’s legal and financial expertise is backed by his admissions to the Alberta and Ontario bars, an LLB from the University of Victoria, a CPA, CA designation from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, and a B.Comm and Certificate in Engineering Science from Mount Allison University.