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Federal Control Summary Chart

Archived information

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Decreasing Federal Control / Presence

Federal Organizational  Types

Departments

Special Operating Agencies (SOA)

Statutory and other Agencies

Service Agencies

Departmental Corporations

Parent Crown Corporation (CC)

Shared Governance Corporations

 

 

 

 

 

Non Commercial

Commercial

 

Description

Primary vehicles through which government policy and programs are delivered. Primary role is to support Ministers in delivering their mandates.

Operating Unit in a department; TB approves Charter; results oriented  business plan and business like approach.

Agencies generally have more narrowly defined mandates than ministerial departments.

Operating entity with tailored legislation.

Specialized entity for research, supervisory, advisory or regulatory function.

Corporate entity serving the public; corporate plan.

Corporate entity serving the public; corporate plan.

Generally corp. entity without share capital; Fed. gov't appoints one or more board members; corporate plan.

Characteristics

Generally have broad mandates. Departments organized in different ways to meet various policy and administrative needs. Serve Minister directly; act only for/on behalf of Minister.

Very operational function focused on service to gov't or public; its own corporate culture.

The specific functions of Agencies vary widely but functions tend to be operational in nature - e.g. administrative, supervisory, advisory, regulatory, adjudicative.

Very operational function focused on service.

Little revenue - services not normally sold; admin. controls like a department. Must be a Corporate entity.

Public Policy objectives; private sector form; not profitable or has a monopoly.

Public Policy objectives; private sector form; profitable.

Generally operates in regulatory environment; generally not profitable.

Number of Organizations

21

17

64

3

15

43

3

144

Examples

Industry Justice Treasury Board Secretariat

Canadian Coast Guard Passport Canada

Canadian Human Rights Tribunal National Energy Board Public Health Agency of Canada

Canada Revenue Agency Canadian Food Inspection Agency Parks Canada Agency

Canada School of Public Service Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) National Research Council

Canada Mortgage
& Housing Corp. National Capital Commission VIA Rail

Canada Development Investment Corp. Canada Post Royal Canadian Mint

Canadian Energy Research Institute Vancouver Organizing
Ctee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Authority

Legislation

Required.

Not required, not separate legal entities.

Not required, separate legal entities.

Required.

Required.

Required. FAA. Sched. III Part 1.

Required. FAA
Sched. III Part II.

Required.

Degree of Autonomy

Accountable to their Minister for operations and policy.  Mandates are broad.

Negotiated flexibilities and independence within parent department within Charter.

More autonomy, distant from gov't in delivering mandate (degree of autonomy varies by organization).

Degree of  independence specified in legislation.

Generally indep. Policy function; perceived need to be distant from gov't.

Independent; arms-length from government; Gov't not directly involved in day to day management.

Independent; arms-length from government; Gov't not directly involved in day to day management.

Independent but some degree of federal influence through appointees and transfer payment agreements.

Accountability Framework

The policy direction and management of departments are the responsibility of their Minister.

Management contract and delegated authorities.

Heads of Agencies are responsible for the operations in delivery of mandate, not Ministers.

Tailored reporting framework.

Management contract and delegated authorities.

Generally FAA Part X, except the 9 CC's generally not subject to the FAA Part X.

Generally FAA Part X .

Tailored reporting framework.

Organizational Structure

Prime Minister appoints Parliamentary Secretaries, Ministers & Deputy Ministers (DM).  DM's are responsible for staff.

TB approved formal structure within a department.

Within a Ministerial portfolio-type management structure.

Within a Ministerial portfolio-type management structure.

Within a Ministerial portfolio-type management structure.

Private sector form.

Private sector form.

Tailored management structure.

Advisory/ Mgt Boards

Informal advisory boards but no Management Boards.

No management board. Advisory board to the C.E.O optional, but is recommended.

Generally, no advisory or management boards.

Advisory board, Board of Directors or Management Board.

Advisory Board or Board of Directors.

Board of Directors.

Board of Directors.

Board of Directors, but may have advisory board as well.

Roles

Minister directly accountable to Parliament.

C.E.O. generally reports to D.M.

Ministers are "answerable" or politically accountable to Parliament for all the activities of the organization, including those pertaining to day-to-day operations.

Deputy Head reports to Minister.

Deputy Head reports to Minister.

Chairman of the Board reports to Minister.

Chairman of the
Board reports to Minister.

CEO reports to Board of Directors.

Labour Code

Public Service Staff Relations Act.

Public Service Staff Relations Act (can be separate employer).

Public Service Staff Relations Act (can be separate employer).

Public Service Staff Relations Act (separate employer).

Public Service Staff Relations Act (can be separate employer).

Canada Labour Code (rarely provincial code or Public Service Staff Relations Act).

Canada Labour Code.

Canada Labour Code.

Financing

Appropriations.

Appropriations, user fees, some revolving funds. Revolving funds are usually associated with SOA's.

Appropriations.

Appropriation (currently 2 year, non lapsing); user fees.

Mainly appropriations; some fees.

Appropriations; some revenues.

Revenues.

Revenues; funding agreement.

Competition /Market Forces

No Competition.

May have competition (i.e. Consulting and Audit Canada). Stable policy framework environment.

No Competition.

No Competition.

No Competition.

Sells outputs; may require subsidy and may have indirect competitors.

Competition.

Generally subsidized; no competitors.

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