Secretary Spotlight: Nelson Lussier
Posted on: Feb 06, 2026
Secretary of Justice, Nelson Lussier, was born and raised in St. Louis, Saskat\chewan, a historic Métis and French community along the South Saskatchewan River, northeast of Batoche. His family roots extend to St. Boniface, Manitoba, and include Maxime Lepine, a respected Métis leader. His grandfather, Mederic Zepherin McDougall, was a founding member of the Métis Society of Saskatchewan, reflecting a long family tradition of Métis leadership and advocacy.
After relocating to Calgary in 1989, Secretary Lussier built a successful career as an entrepreneur. He operated a small business in the financial services sector before founding and leading a construction company for more than two decades. Throughout his career, he has remained deeply involved in his community, regularly volunteering in local sports and social initiatives.
Since assuming office, Secretary Lussier has focused on building strong, collaborative relationships with Métis Citizens working in the justice system, as well as in the areas of mental health and addictions. These partnerships are helping advance his mandate as Secretary of Justice by ensuring programs and initiatives are responsive, effective, and grounded in the lived experiences of Métis people. He is also working closely with the City of Calgary to advance affordable housing initiatives, recognizing safe and stable housing as a foundation for healthy Métis families and future generations.
In his role as Secretary of Justice, Secretary Lussier is advancing a community-driven justice agenda focused on fairness, accountability, and culturally grounded solutions. He supports the development of a Métis Justice Framework, incorporating traditional dispute resolution practices while addressing contemporary legal challenges facing Métis communities. The Justice Department is guiding the establishment of Community Justice Programs, including restorative justice initiatives, Elder-led mediation circles, and culturally grounded sentencing alternatives, promoting community-based responses that foster healing and accountability.
He actively combats systemic discrimination by advocating for training programs for justice system professionals and the creation of Métis-specific court support services. Strengthening legal partnerships is also a priority, with efforts to collaborate with law schools, legal aid organizations, and provincial and federal justice departments to improve access to justice. Secretary Lussier advocates for policy reforms at all levels of government to address the overrepresentation of Métis people in the criminal justice system.
Recognizing the importance of prevention and early intervention, he supports youth justice initiatives led by Administration and external partners, emphasizing diversion, rehabilitation, and culturally relevant programming. He also advances justice infrastructure by supporting Administration-led programs, including dedicated Métis court workers, community legal clinics, and public legal education resources that empower Métis Citizens with knowledge, support, and culturally grounded services.