Education
McMaster University; University of Western Ontario.
McMaster University; University of Western Ontario.
He is currently a Distinguished Fellow and Adjunct Professor at Queen"s University. On November 30, 2010, the provincial government appointed Sheikh and Frances Lankin to lead the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario. Born in Pakistan in 1947, Sheikh received a Master of Arts in economics from McMaster University in 1970, and earned his doctorate in economics from the University of Western Ontario in 1973.
Sheikh began his public service career as an economist with the Economic Council of Canada from 1972 to 1976.
After a brief stint with the National Energy Board between 1976 and 1978, he joined the Department of Finance and rose to the rank of Senior Assistant Deputy Minister in 2000. Between 2001 and 2006, he held senior positions with Health Canada, the Privy Council Office and Human Resources and Social Development Canada.
He has also taught at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. Later in his career, Sheikh oversaw a $100-billion tax-reduction policy and helped craft the 2005 budget.
He was praised by a former colleague as "the best economist in the federal government.".