Health Department Assigned to Mental Health Minister

Summary#

This is the Order Designating the Department of Health to Provide Support to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, registered November 10, 2021 (made by P.C. October 26, 2021). It formally assigns the Department of Health to provide support to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health under the Salaries Act.

What it does#

• Designates the Department of Health as the department that will provide support to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health in carrying out that minister’s responsibilities.
• Cites subsection 5(1) of the Salaries Act as the legal basis for the designation.
• The text does not list specific services or changes to the minister’s powers. It is a formal administrative designation rather than a policy decision.

Who's affected#

• The Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health and that minister’s office.
• Staff and units within the Department of Health who will carry out support duties.
• The change is mainly internal to the federal government. It is unclear from the notice whether there will be any direct effect on members of the public or on delivery of services.

Why it matters#

• It clarifies which federal department is responsible for providing administrative and operational support to this ministerial role.
• That clarity can affect staffing, budgets, and who handles day-to-day administrative tasks for the minister’s office.
• For most Canadians this is a routine administrative step with no immediate public-service changes.