Minister of Industry Designated for NSERC

Summary#

This is the federal order SI/2019-122 that names who is officially responsible for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council. It repeals an earlier order and designates the Minister of Industry as the Minister under the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Act and as the appropriate Minister under the Financial Administration Act (order issued as P.C. 2019-1360 on November 20, 2019, registered December 11, 2019).

What it does#

• Repeals the earlier designation P.C. 2018-1011 (from July 18, 2018).
• Designates the Minister of Industry as the Minister for the purposes of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Act.
• Designates the Minister of Industry as the “appropriate Minister” for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council under the Financial Administration Act.

Who's affected#

• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (the federal research funding agency).
• Researchers, universities, colleges, and other institutions that receive NSERC funding — because the change names who is formally responsible for the agency.
• The office and staff of the Minister of Industry, who will hold the formal responsibilities and accountabilities named in the Acts.
• It is not stated whether day-to-day program rules or funding amounts change; this is mainly a change in which minister is legally assigned responsibility.

Why it matters#

• The order decides which cabinet minister officially answers for NSERC to Parliament and handles its financial accountability under the Financial Administration Act.
• That affects who signs official documents, receives reports, and is asked questions in Parliament about NSERC.
• For most researchers and institutions this is an administrative change; but it matters for governance, political oversight, and who sets higher-level priorities for the agency.