Departments to Support Housing and Diversity Minister

Summary#

This is the Order Designating (1) the Department of Canadian Heritage; (2) the Department for Women and Gender Equality; and (3) the Office of Infrastructure of Canada to Provide Support to the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion: SI/2021-76. It names which federal departments will provide support to the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion. The order was registered in the Canada Gazette on November 10, 2021 and approved by the Governor in Council on October 26, 2021 under the Salaries Act.

What it does#

• Designates the Department of Canadian Heritage to provide support to the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion for that Minister’s responsibilities related to diversity and inclusion.
• Designates the Department for Women and Gender Equality to provide support to the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion for that Minister’s responsibilities related to diversity and inclusion.
• Designates the Office of Infrastructure of Canada to provide support to the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion for all of the Minister’s other responsibilities.
• This is an administrative designation about which departments assist the Minister. The order does not itself describe operational details, budgets, or program changes.

Who's affected#

• The Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion and that minister’s office.
• Staff and teams within the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Department for Women and Gender Equality, and the Office of Infrastructure of Canada who will be asked to provide support.
• Canadians who interact with federal programs on housing, diversity and inclusion, or related infrastructure files may notice changes in which department handles their inquiries, though the order does not spell out service changes.

Why it matters#

• It clarifies which parts of the federal government will help the Minister with diversity and inclusion work and which will help with other duties.
• That clarity can affect who coordinates programs, who leads policy work, and who is the point of contact for particular files.
• The order does not by itself change laws, funding levels, or program rules; it assigns support roles. The Canada Gazette notice does not give further operational details, so practical effects may depend on how the departments implement the arrangement.