Substance Abuse Act Powers Returned to Health Minister

Summary#

This is an order (registration SI/2025-37) that moves certain powers and duties under the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse Act back to the federal cabinet post called the Minister of Health. The order was made as P.C. 2025-417 on March 14, 2025 and published in the Canada Gazette on March 26, 2025.

What it does#

• Transfers the powers, duties and functions under the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse Act from the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health to the Minister of Health.
• Says this transfer reverses or replaces an earlier transfer made by P.C. 2021-938 on October 26, 2021.
• Uses the authority of the Public Service Rearrangement and Transfer of Duties Act to make the change.
• The notice does not describe any changes to programs, staff, funding or day‑to‑day operations.

Who's affected#

• The main parties named are the Minister of Health and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health.
• The change concerns responsibilities under the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse Act, so that office and its stakeholders may see who their federal ministerial contact is.
• Federal departments, advocacy groups, researchers and service providers who interact with the Centre may notice a change in which minister receives reports, questions or formal decisions.
• The order itself does not say whether centre staff, funding or services will change.

Why it matters#

• It shifts legal responsibility and formal oversight under the Act back to the Minister of Health, which can affect who is accountable for federal decisions about the Centre.
• Practically, the switch can change where people and organizations direct inquiries, reports or advocacy at the federal level.
• The order appears to be an administrative reallocation of duties. The Gazette notice does not explain the reason for the transfer or any operational impacts.