President of Privy Council Designated Minister

Summary#

This Order (SI/2019-117), made by the Governor General in Council, names the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada as the "Minister" for the Canada Elections Act and cancels the earlier order P.C. 2018-1025 of July 18, 2018. The decision was recorded as P.C. 2019-1355 on November 20, 2019 and published in the Canada Gazette on December 11, 2019.

What it does#

• Repeals Order in Council P.C. 2018-1025 of July 18, 2018.
• Designates the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada (a member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada) to be the "Minister" for the purposes of the Canada Elections Act (the Act’s definition of "Minister" in subsection 2(1) is the basis for this designation).

Who's affected#

• Most directly: the person who holds the office of President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada.
• Anyone who needs to know which cabinet minister is the official "Minister" under the Canada Elections Act — for example, government officials, legal advisers, or parties dealing with ministerial responsibilities under the Act.
• The item does not say it changes other duties or programs, so its practical effects beyond naming the minister are not spelled out.

Why it matters#

• It clarifies which cabinet member is officially treated as "the Minister" under the Canada Elections Act, which matters for legal references, formal notices, and any powers or duties in the Act that must be carried out or authorized by "the Minister."
• In everyday terms, this is a routine administrative designation and usually has limited direct impact on the general public.