Infrastructure Minister Assigned to Property Purchase Act

Summary#

This order, SI/2023-45, names the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities as the minister responsible for the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act. The order was made by Order in Council P.C. 2023-775 on July 26, 2023 and published in the Canada Gazette on August 16, 2023. It also repeals the earlier Order in Council P.C. 2022-1104 of October 19, 2022.

What it does#

• Repeals Order in Council P.C. 2022-1104 (the earlier designation).
• Designates the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities as the minister responsible for the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act.

Who's affected#

• Federal officials and departments who deal with administering or enforcing the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act.
• People and businesses directly covered by that Act — for example, non-Canadians seeking to buy residential property — may be affected indirectly because a different federal minister will now oversee the Act.
• It is not clear from the order whether any operational rules or staff are being moved between departments.

Why it matters#

• This is mainly an administrative change that decides which federal minister and department handles the Act.
• In practice it affects who answers questions, makes public statements, and coordinates enforcement or implementation.
• It does not, by itself, change the rules in the Act.