Northern Ontario Program Transferred to New Minister

Summary#

The Canada Gazette published Transfer of Duties Order: SI/2019-131 on December 11, 2019. It moves responsibility for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario from the Minister of Industry to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages. The order was made on November 20, 2019.

What it does#

• Transfers the powers, duties and functions that the Minister of Industry held for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages.
• The change is made under the Public Service Rearrangement and Transfer of Duties Act.

Who's affected#

• Organizations, businesses, community groups and others who work with the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario may notice that a different minister and ministerial office now oversee the program.
• Staff and officials who administer the program inside the federal government will be affected administratively.
• If it is unclear exactly how day-to-day contacts or decision processes will change, the government departments involved would be the place to ask for details.

Why it matters#

• Oversight of the Northern Ontario economic development program now sits with a different minister, which can change who makes high-level decisions and who is the public contact for the program.
• For people and groups using the program, the services or funding rules themselves are not described as changing in this order — it mainly shifts who is responsible for the program within the federal cabinet.