Melvin Samuel "Mel" Cappe is a Canadian civil servant and diplomat. Since June, 2006 he's served as the President and CEO of the Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP) in Montreal. Immediately prior, he served Canada's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (2002-2006). He had served in Canada's government since 1975 as a deputy minister of Environment Canada, Human Resources Development and Labour, as well as Clerk of the Privy Council (the senior civil servant in Canada) and Secretary to the Federal Cabinet.

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Cappe graduated from Mackenzie in 1967. Afterwards, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1971 from New College, University of Toronto and an Master of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario.

He is married to Marni and has two grown children, Danny and Emily.

In 2009, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada "for his contributions to the federal public service, notably as a deputy minister, and as clerk of the Privy Council and as secretary to the Cabinet".