Minister of Families Named CMHC Minister

Summary#

This is an order (registration SI/2019-133) that names which cabinet minister is legally responsible for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Act. It repeals an earlier order and designates the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development as the minister for that Act. The order was made on December 2, 2019 and registered on December 25, 2019.

What it does#

• Repeals the earlier order (P.C. 2006-82, dated February 6, 2006).
• Designates the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development to be the “Minister” for the purposes of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Act.
• The change was made by the Governor General in Council on the recommendation of the Prime Minister (P.C. 2019-1384, December 2, 2019).

Who's affected#

• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) because the order names which minister is legally responsible for the Act that governs CMHC.
• The federal cabinet position now carrying that responsibility: the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.
• People and organizations that deal with CMHC (for example, housing stakeholders, provinces, and lenders) may notice who speaks for CMHC in government.
• It is unclear from the order whether any day‑to‑day programs or services are changed.

Why it matters#

• It clarifies which federal minister is politically and legally responsible for CMHC.
• That affects who answers questions in Parliament, who makes certain formal decisions, and who is the public point of contact in ministers’ offices for CMHC matters.
• For most members of the public, this is mainly an administrative change and probably won’t alter CMHC services or benefits directly.