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.
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.
Decisions from the Minister may be required for certain GIC and ministerial appointments early in the mandate – this advice will be provided under separate cover.
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.
GIC appointments follow an open, transparent, and merit-based 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 / StatusFootnote * |
|---|---|---|
| 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. In 2024, Bill C-20, An Act establishing the Public Complaints and Review Commission and amending certain Acts and statutory instruments, established a process by which 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: Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and member positions are all vacant. |
| 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. |
| Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) 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. |
| 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: On April 14, 2025, 6 new terms came into effect (3 full-time and 3 part-time members). A total of 3 vacant positions remain. |
| 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. |
| 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: Chief Advisor was appointed for a term of three years on January 27, 2025. |
| The Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner (FITCO) | The position was created in 2024 under Bill C-70, the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act (FITAA). 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, including the preparation and approval of a Treasury Board submission to establish the Office, the passing of regulations and coming into force of provisions in C-70, identifying candidates and consultations with other parties prior to passage of a resolution in both the House and the Senate, prior to Cabinet approval. |
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Latest PS GIC diversity statistics from PCO
- 52% Women – 17% Visible Minorities – 8% Indigenous – 6% Persons with a Disability – 27% Bilingualism – 24% French – 76% English
- PS GIC vacancy rate is 5% (8 out of 107) – the Government of Canada GIC population vacancy rate is approximately 13%
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.
The open, transparent and merit-based approach to GIC appointments also applies in principle to Ministerial Appointments – Ministers and departments should when possible implement selection processes that respects this approach.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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: One National Senior Independent External Decision-Maker (IEDM) and up to 12 IEDMs. Status: One IEDM position is vacant. |
| 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: No vacant positions. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Survivor-led Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking (to be established) | As part of the 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. |
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