Prime Minister Stephen Harper is poised to name a renowned taxpayers advocate and former National Post editorial writer as his new director of communications.

John Williamson, left, is seen with then Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day during a news conference in Ottawa in June 2006. (Chris Wattie/Reuters)John Williamson will be named later Thursday, sources tell CBC. He would replace Kory Teneycke, who announced earlier this month that he is leaving to pursue other opportunities.

Williamson served as federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation for six years. The non-profit group promotes lower taxes and greater accountability over government spending.

He stepped down last September to do post-graduate studies at the London School of Economics.

His editorials at the National Post from 1998 to 2001 focused on tax and social policy, government spending and parliamentary reform.

Williamson has a long history with Harper. He was part of the group that convinced the prime minister to return to politics in 2002.

Sources also said Williamson's extensive media background made him perfect to promote the government's agenda in the media.

With files from Chris Hall