Transition Binder: Governor in Council and Ministerial Appointments
Appointees bring unique experience, skills and perspectives to the bodies that they contribute to. Their work helps support the Government of Canada's overall objectives, and they also often play a challenge function that helps improve the services and programs offered to Canadians.
Governor in Council (GIC) Appointments
GIC appointments are those made by the GIC – the Governor General acting on advice of Cabinet. An Order in Council is the legal instrument, which, when signed by the Governor General, formalizes an appointment.
In 2016, the Government implemented a new approach for GIC appointments (open, transparent, and merit-based (OTMB) selection processes). Appointments are subject to a formal, advertised selection process (GIC appointments website), and candidates are assessed against the selection criteria developed by the Department for the position. Recommendations under this process take into consideration gender parity, representation of Indigenous Peoples, linguistic, regional and employment equity representation.
The Minister and his Office, supported by the Public Safety Portfolio and the Privy Council Office (PCO), manages the process to select and recommend individuals to the GIC for the appointments for over one hundred active GIC positions in the Public Safety Portfolio. These positions are located in the following organizations:
| Body / Board | Role | Membership / Status / Action |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC) | Independent agency created by Parliament in 1988, the Commission ensures that public complaints made about the conduct of RCMP members are examined fairly and impartially. The Commission receives complaints from the public and conducts reviews when complainants are not satisfied with the RCMP's handling of their complaints. The Commission is not part of the RCMP. With the recent passage of Bill C-20, An Act establishing the Public Complaints and Review Commission and amending certain Acts and statutory instruments, the CRCC will be replaced with the Public Complaints and Review Commission (PCRC) and expand its mandate to include the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). |
Membership: Maximum of five positions (Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and up to 3 members). Status: Vice-Chairperson and member positions are vacant. Potential candidates have been identified by the previous Minister to fill the Vice-Chairperson and two member positions. Action: Ministerial Recommendations to be prepared once decisions confirmed with candidates early in 2025. |
| Office of the Correctional Investigator (OCI) | The Correctional Investigator is an independent Ombudsman for individuals under the custody or supervision of the Correctional Service of Canada. The primary function of the Office is to investigate and bring resolution to individual complaints under its jurisdiction. | Membership: One position (the Correctional Investigator). Status: Term to expire at the end of 2028. Action: none required. |
| Royal Canadian Mounted Police External Review Committee (ERC) | Independent quasi-judicial statutory tribunal established under the RCMP Act. It is separate and distinct from the RCMP. The ERC impartially reviews appeals of certain decisions made within internal RCMP labour relations processes and provides findings and recommendations to the Commissioner of the RCMP. | Membership: Maximum of five positions (Chairperson and up to 4 members, one of whom may be a Vice-Chairperson). Status: Vice-Chairperson and members positions are vacant. Action: Potential candidates to be identified in early 2025. |
| Parole Board of Canada (PBC) | Independent administrative tribunal that, as part of the Canadian criminal justice system, makes quality conditional release and record suspension decisions, and clemency recommendations. The PBC contributes to the protection of society by facilitating, as appropriate, the timely reintegration of offenders as law-abiding citizens. | Membership: Maximum of 60 full-time members (including a Chairperson, an Executive Vice-Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson (Appeal Division) and five regional Vice-Chairpersons) and approximatively 30 part-time Board members. Status: 9 full-time members and 1 part-time member positions are vacant. A total of 15 Ministerial Recommendations are pending Cabinet consideration. Action: The PBC may submit Ministerial Recommendations for signature to address future needs. |
| Management Advisory Board (MAB) for the RCMP | Established in June 2019 under the RCMP Act. The MAB provides advice and guidance to the RCMP Commissioner on key modernization and management matters. It also provides impartial advice based on its expertise, experience, and best judgement. The MAB establishes its own priorities, procedures and work plans. | Membership: Maximum of 13 part-time positions (Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and 11 members). Status: 2 members positions are vacant and one term expiring in June. Action: Potential candidates to be selected by the Minister early in new mandate. |
| Chief Advisor to Combat Human Trafficking | High-profile, anti-human trafficking expert representative to provide the Minister of Public Safety advice and recommendations on the Government of Canada's efforts to combat human trafficking, including the establishment of a Survivors Advisory Committee, as well as to increase awareness through engagement in domestic and international anti-human trafficking events, upon the request of the Minister. | Membership: One Chief Advisor. Status: The candidate recommended by the former Minister (three-year term) was approved by the Prime Minister on December 4, 2024, with the effective date of the appointment to be confirmed. |
| The Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner (FITCO) | New position created by the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act (FITAA) passed in June 2024. The Commissioner is responsible for the administration of the FITAA and the management of the Office of the FITCO. | Membership: One full time Commissioner. Status: As this is a new position, various steps have to be completed prior to the appointment of a candidate. This includes creating an Accountability profile for the position which has been completed by the Department and is with PCO for consideration. A non-OTMB appointment process has been agreed to for this position. Action: Following PCO's approval of the accountability profile, potential suitable candidates will be identified by the Department prior to providing names to the Minister early in the new mandate. |
Ministerial Appointments
Ministerial appointments are made under the authority of the Minister of Public Safety and do not require the approval of the GIC. A Minister's authority to make Ministerial appointments may come from a variety of sources, including federal and provincial legislation, federal/provincial/territorial and international agreements, and the documents (e.g., act, order in council, charter) that create, continue or establish an organization.
There are over one hundred Ministerial appointment positions in the Public Safety Portfolio, spanning across eleven bodies, and one additional body that is to be established:
| Body / Board | Role | Membership / Status / Action |
|---|---|---|
| CORCAN Advisory Board | Established pursuant to the creation of CORCAN as a Special Operating Agency in 1992; provides advice to the CORCAN Executive Management Committee on a broad range of issues including offender vocational training, employment opportunities, business activities, and partnerships with private sector and non-governmental organizations. |
Membership: Up to 12 volunteer members (with paid travel expenses). Status: 3 members positions are vacant. Action: No immediate action required. |
| Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security (CCRS) | Created in February 2005 and reports directly to the Ministers of Public Safety and Justice. The CCRS provides the Ministers and various federal departments with a forum to consult with highly engaged diverse community leaders on policy and program proposals. | Membership: Appointees include up to 15 part-time voluntary positions (Chair, Vice-Chair and up to 13 members). Status: One vacant position. Action: No immediate action required. |
| Correctional Service Canada (CSC) Independent Chairpersons | Ensure fair and impartial adjudication proceedings for inmates charged with serious disciplinary offences through: conducting disciplinary offence hearings, participating in information sessions, participating in orientation, and participating in consultation sessions with staff members and/or inmates. | Membership: Over 40 part-time positions across the country's five regions. Status: 3 Independent Chairpersons positions are vacant. Action: Potential candidates for the Bowden Institution (Prairie Region) will be submitted by CSC for consideration early in new mandate. |
| Independent External Decision-Makers | Appointed to decide cases of inmates placed in Structured Intervention Units (SIUs) and provide external and independent oversight of the new SIU approach. | Membership: Up to 12 part-time positions (2 Senior members and up to ten members). Status: 4 member positions are vacant. Action: Appointment options to be presented by the Department to the Minister once the CRCC, ERC and RCMP MAB vacancies are filled. |
| National DNA Data Bank Advisory Committee | Mandated to report and advise the Commissioner of the RCMP on all matters related to the effective and efficient operation of the National DNA Data Bank and to assist in preventing potential misuse of DNA information. | Membership: Up to 8 part-time positions (Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and 6 members). Status: Two member positions to expire at the end of 2024. Action: No immediate action required. |
| National Expert Committee on Countering Radicalization to Violence | Members provide advice for the Minister and on countering radicalization to violence (CRV), and inform Canada Centre on Community Engagement and Prevention to Violence policy, programming and research activities, including the Community Resilience Fund grants and contributions program. | Membership: Between 9 to 12 voluntary part-time positions (2 Co-chairs and up to 10 members). Status: All terms to expire in March 2025. Action: The Minister's direction on renewal/appointment will be sought early in the mandate. |
| Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Pension Advisory Committee | Oversees matters related to the administration, design and funding of the benefits provided under the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act, and make recommendations to the Minister about those matters; and review any other pension-related matters that the Minister may refer to it. | Membership: Up to 8 voluntary part-time positions (Chairperson and up to 7 members). Status: No vacant positions. Action: No immediate action required. |
| RCMP Public Sector Pension Investment Board Nominating Committee | Established by the President of the Treasury Board, the Nominating Committee establishes a list of qualified candidates for proposed appointment as directors of the Public Sector Pension Investment Board. | Membership: The nominating Committee consists of a total of 8 members, 2 members are appointed by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (voluntary part-time positions). The Committee also includes representatives from the Canadian Forces and the public service pension plans. Status: No vacant position. Action: No immediate action required. |
| Structured Intervention Unit Implementation Advisory Panel | Members have a mandate to report to the Minister on whether Structured Intervention Units are being implemented and operated in accordance with legislation. The Panel also provides non-binding recommendations and advice to the Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada. | Membership: Up to 10 positions (Chair and up to 9 members). Status: All terms to expire at the end of 2024. Mandates will not to be renewed as implementation phase is over. Action: No action required. |
| Mass Casualty Commission's Progress Monitoring Committee (PMC) | The Committee was formed by the Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia in response to the final report of the Mass Casualty Commission, which contains recommendations that call on all levels of government to improve community safety, undertake policy reforms, and address root causes of violence. The PMC will play this critical role in monitoring progress on advancing the findings of the Commission's final report, and ensuring transparency of efforts of Canada, Nova Scotia and other partners. |
Membership: A Chair and 14 part-time members. Status: No vacant positions. Action: No action required. |
| Survivor-led Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking (to be established) | As part of the new National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, PS is intending to establish a survivor-led Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking. The Committee will provide a platform for human trafficking victims and survivors from diverse backgrounds and experiences (e.g., Indigenous women and girls, LGBTQ2 persons, persons with disabilities, at-risk youth) to provide advice and recommendations to help inform the Government of Canada's anti-trafficking efforts. | Membership: to be determined. Status: Chief Advisor's official appointment is pending. Action: No immediate action required. |
Considerations
Typically, the Minister designates a senior staff member in the Minister's Office to be responsible for GIC and Ministerial appointments with which the Department can interface with.
The OTMB approach to GIC appointments also applies in principle to Ministerial Appointments – Ministers and departments should when possible implement selection processes that respects this approach.
Decisions from the Minister may be required for certain GIC and ministerial appointments early in the mandate – these have been identified in the charts above.
Latest PS GIC diversity statistics from PCO
- 52% Women – 17% Visible Minorities – 8% Indigenous – 7% Persons with a Disability – 27% Bilingualism – 24% French – 75% English
- PS GIC vacancy rate is 12% (13 out of 107) – the Government of Canada GIC population vacancy rate is ~ 13%
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