Federal Economic Development Agency — Northern Ontario

Summary#

This is the Order Amending Schedule I.1 to the Financial Administration Act (SOR/2021-190). It adds the office that ran the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario to the list of federal departments, to be called the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, and it took effect on August 12, 2021.

What it does#

• Adds the Office of the Director General that ran the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario to Schedule I.1 of the Financial Administration Act.
• Gives that office the official departmental name Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (French name: Agence fédérale de développement économique pour le Nord de l'Ontario).
• Identifies the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages as the appropriate minister for that new department.
• The order was registered as SOR/2021-190 and came into force on August 12, 2021.

Who's affected#

• People, businesses, and community groups in Northern Ontario that deal with regional economic programs.
• Staff and managers who moved from the previous initiative to the new agency structure.
• Federal finance, auditing, and reporting bodies that track departments under the Financial Administration Act.
• The public generally, to the extent that the agency’s programs and spending are now covered by departmental financial rules.

Why it matters#

• The change formally makes this regional economic office a department for the purposes of federal financial rules under the Financial Administration Act. That usually affects budgeting, reporting, and oversight, though the order itself does not describe program funding or new powers.
• Naming the responsible minister clarifies who answers to Parliament about the agency.
• For residents and organizations in Northern Ontario, this may mean a clearer administrative home for regional economic programs and more standard federal financial oversight.