Minister of State Designated for Electoral Boundaries Act

Summary#

This order, registered as SI/2025-14 and published in the Canada Gazette on February 26, 2025, designates the Minister of State (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario) as the responsible minister for the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Suspension Act, 1994. It also repeals a previous order, P.C. 2023-780 (dated July 26, 2023). The formal decision was made by the Governor General in Council on February 12, 2025.

What it does#

• Repeals P.C. 2023-780 (the earlier order dated July 26, 2023).
• Designates the Minister of State (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario) — who is described in the order as a member of the King’s Privy Council for Canada — as the minister responsible for the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Suspension Act, 1994.

Who's affected#

• The change is mainly administrative. The person or office now named as responsible is the Minister of State (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario).
• Other government offices that work with electoral boundaries or the act may notice the change in which minister they report to or deal with.
• It is unclear from the order whether this will have any direct effect on the public or on electoral processes; the notice does not explain reasons or operational steps that will follow.

Why it matters#

• The order clarifies which minister is officially responsible for a specific law. That matters when decisions or actions are required under the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Suspension Act, 1994.
• For most people, this is a routine administrative change with no immediate, visible impact. It would become more significant only if the act were used (for example, if a suspension related to electoral boundaries were proposed or implemented).