BC Regional Unit moved to Pacific Economic Development

Summary#

This is the Transfer of Duties Order: SI/2021-43 under the Public Service Rearrangement and Transfer of Duties Act. It moves the federal office in charge of the British Columbia Regional Unit from the Department of Western Economic Diversification to the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, effective August 6, 2021 (registered in the Gazette on August 18, 2021).

What it does#

• Transfers control and supervision of the portion of the federal public administration known as the British Columbia Regional Unit from the Department of Western Economic Diversification to the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada.
• States that the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages will preside over the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada.

Who's affected#

• Staff and managers who worked in the British Columbia Regional Unit inside the Department of Western Economic Diversification.
• The Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, which now oversees that regional unit.
• Organizations, businesses, and communities in British Columbia that interact with that regional federal office.
  It is not clear from the order whether day-to-day services or programs change for the public.

Why it matters#

• It changes who runs and is responsible for the federal regional office in British Columbia.
• For people and businesses who deal with regional federal programs, the point of contact and the minister responsible are now different.
• The change appears administrative and organizational rather than a change in policy, but it could affect how regional services are managed or coordinated.