Deborah Schulte Assigned to Assist Employment Minister

Summary#

This is an order (Registration SI/2019-111) that assigns The Honourable Deborah Schulte to help the Minister responsible for employment and social programs. The order, made under the Ministries and Ministers of State Act, was issued on November 20, 2019 and published in the Canada Gazette on December 11, 2019.

What it does#

• Assigns The Honourable Deborah Schulte, who is already Minister of State (Seniors) and styled Minister of Seniors, to assist the Minister of Employment and Social Development.
• Gives her a formal role helping that minister carry out their responsibilities.
• This is an administrative assignment, not a change to law or to program rules.

Who's affected#

• Seniors and organizations that work on seniors’ issues may notice that a named minister is responsible for those files.
• The Department of Employment and Social Development and its staff, who will coordinate with the minister assigned to assist.
• The wider public: the change mainly affects who speaks publicly and coordinates government activity on seniors’ matters rather than creating new services.

Why it matters#

• It clarifies who in government is officially responsible for seniors’ issues.
• That can affect who is the public contact for seniors’ programs and who represents the government in meetings and announcements about seniors.
• Otherwise, this is a routine administrative step that does not itself create new benefits or change program rules.