Minister of State designated under Elections Act

Summary#

The Canada Gazette published Order Designating the Minister of State (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario) as the Minister for the Purposes of the Canada Elections Act. The order, made as P.C. 2025-86 on February 12, 2025 and registered as SI/2025-16 on February 26, 2025, replaces P.C. 2023-778 of July 26, 2023.

What it does#

• Repeals the previous designation, P.C. 2023-778 (the earlier order of July 26, 2023).
• Designates the Minister of State (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario) as "the Minister" for the purposes of the Canada Elections Act.
• The change was made by the Governor General in Council on the recommendation of the Prime Minister (as stated in the source).

Who's affected#

• Mostly federal officials and departments that work with the Canada Elections Act.
• Agencies that interact with election law, such as Elections Canada, may be affected because the order determines which minister the law refers to.
• Ordinary voters, political parties, and candidates are unlikely to see immediate, direct effects from this administrative designation.

Why it matters#

• The Canada Elections Act often uses the term "the Minister" without naming a specific cabinet post. This order says which minister holds that title for the Act.
• That can matter for which cabinet member is officially responsible for any duties, notices or decisions that the Act assigns to "the Minister."
• In practical terms, this is largely an administrative change to clarify responsibility within government rather than a change in election rules or voters' rights.