Reporting of Federal Institutions - Agents of Parliament

Office of the Auditor General

Appropriate Minister

The Honourable James Flaherty, P.C., M.P. Minister of Finance

Institutional Head 

Sheila Fraser, Auditor General

Constituent Act

Auditor General Act (R.S., 1985, c. A-17)

Financial Administration Act (R.S., 1985, c. F-11)

Year of Incorporation/Commencement

1878

Mandate

As an Agent of Parliament, The Office of the Auditor General Of Canada conducts independent audits and studies that provide objective information, advice, and assurance to Parliament, territorial legislatures, government, and Canadians.  The Auditor General Act, the Financial Administration Act, and other acts and orders-in-council set out the duties of the Auditor General.  These duties relate to legislative auditing and monitoring of federal departments and agencies, Crown corporations, territorial governments, and other entities that include international organizations.

Head Office

240 Sparks Street

Ottawa (Ontario) K1A 0G6
Telephone: 613-995-3708
Fax:  (613) 957-0474
E-mail: communications@oag-bvg.gc.ca
Website: www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

Appropriate Minister

The Honourable Peter Van Loan, MP Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform

Institutional Head

Marc Mayrand, Chief Electoral Officer of Canada

Constituent Act

Canada Elections Act

Year of Incorporation/Commencement

1920    

Mandate

Elections Canada is an independent body set up by Parliament. Its responsibilities include ensuring that all voters have access to the electoral process, providing information and education programs to citizens about the electoral system, maintaining the National Register of Electors, enforcing electoral legislation and maintaining readiness to conduct electoral events.

The agency is also responsible for registering political entities; administering the allowances and reimbursements paid to eligible political entities; monitoring compliance with the Canada Elections Act; and disclosing information on political entities, including their financial returns.

The House of Commons appoints the Chief Electoral Officer to head the agency. The Chief Electoral Officer in turn appoints the Commissioner of Canada Elections, who ensures that the Canada Elections Act is enforced, and the Broadcasting Arbitrator, who allocates paid and free broadcasting time to political parties for a general election.

Head Office

257 Slater Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0M6
Telephone: 1-800-463-6868; 613-993-2975
Fax: 1-888-524-1444; 613-954-8584
E-mail:
Web site: www.elections.ca

Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages

Appropriate Minister

The Honourable Rona Ambrose President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada

Institutional Head

Graham Fraser, Commissioner of Official Languages

Constituent Act

Official Languages Act, 1968-69, c.54 (became the Official Languages Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. O-2), now the Official Languages Act (1985, c.31 (4th Supp.))

Year of Incorporation/Commencement

1969    

Mandate

It is the duty of the Commissioner to take all actions and measures within the authority of the Commissioner with a view to ensuring recognition of the status of each of the official languages and compliance with the spirit and intent of this Act in the administration of the affairs of federal institutions, including any of their activities relating to the advancement of English and French in Canadian society.

Head Office

344 Slater Street, 3rd Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T8
Telephone: 613-996-6368
Fax: 613-993-5082
E-mail:
Website: www.ocol-clo.gc.ca

Office of the Information Commissioner

Appropriate Minister

The Honourable Robert D. Nicholson, P.C., M.P. Minister of Justice

Institutional Head

Robert Marleau, Information Commissioner

Constituent Act

Access to Information Act (R.S.C., 1985, ch. A-1, amended 1997, c. 23, s. 21)

Year of Incorporation/Commencement

1983    

Mandate

To ensure that the rights conferred by the Access to Information Act are respected; that complainants, heads of federal government institutions and all third parties affected by complaints are given a reasonable opportunity to make representations to the Information Commissioner; to persuade federal government institutions to adopt information practices consistent with the objectives of the Access to Information Act; to bring appropriate issues of interpretation of the Access to Information Act before the Federal Court.

Head Office

Place de Ville, Tower B
112 Kent Street, 22nd Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1H3 
Telephone: 613-995-2410 or 1-800-267-0441
Fax: 613-947-7294
E-mail:
Website: http://www.infocom.gc.ca/

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

Appropriate Minister

The Honourable Robert D. Nicholson, P.C., M.P. Minister of Justice

Institutional Head

Jennifer Stoddart, Privacy Commissioner

Constituent Act

The Privacy Act (1985)

The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (2000, c. 5) 

Year of Incorporation/Commencement

1982

Mandate

Our mandate is to oversee the application of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and the Privacy Act and within that context to protect and promote privacy.

Head Office

Place de Ville, Tower B
112 Kent Street, 3rd Floor
Ottawa, ON K1A 1H3 
Telephone: 613- 995-8210
Fax: 613-947-6850
E-mail:
Website: www.privcom.gc.ca