OTTAWA, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Canada has tapped Michael Sabia, the former head of Canada’s second-biggest pension fund, to take over as its top finance ministry official as the government prepares to inject billions of dollars in stimulus into the economy, a statement said on Monday. The 67-year-old Sabia will be deputy finance minister, the most senior non-political figure working under Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. Sabia replaces Paul Rochon, who left the position last week after six years. COVID-19 lockdowns have crippled the economy, and just a week ago Freeland said she was eyeing C$100 billion ($78.2 billion) in stimulus once the virus is under control, starting probably with next year’s springtime budget. Coronavirus emergency aid has driven up Canada’s budget deficit, which is forecast to hit a historic C$381.6 billion in the fiscal year that ends in March. “It’s large-scale fiscal deficits as far as the eye can see,” said David Rosenberg, chief economist and strategist at Rosenberg Research, adding that Sabia’s presence in the ministry is not likely to change that trend. Sabia was the chief executive officer of pension fund Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) from 2009 until 2020, and has been serving as chair of the board of directors of the Canada Infrastructure Bank, which was created by Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2017. Recently, he has spearheaded a C$10 billion, three-year infrastructure plan announced by Trudeau in October, and he was named an economic advisor to the prime minister earlier this year. “(Sabia) is doing a remarkable job as president of the infrastructure bank, and I know his skills will be very valuable for us as we rebuild a strong and resilient economy,” Trudeau said at a news conference on Monday. Sabia will officially start at his new position on Dec. 14. ($1 = 1.2793 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Steve Scherer, Additional reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Fergal Smith in Toronto, Editing by Andrea Ricci)