Part IIOrderPublished: December 11, 2019

President of Privy Council Named Referendum Minister

Order Designating the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada as the responsible minister for the purposes of the Referendum Act: SI/2019-120

An Order in Council designates the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada as the minister responsible for the Referendum Act and repeals the prior order of July 18, 2018. The instrument is dated 2019-11-20 and was published in the Canada Gazette on 2019-12-11. The change is an administrative designation clarifying which minister handles referendum-related responsibilities.

Published
December 11, 2019
Department
Unavailable
Section
Order Designating the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada as the responsible minister for the purposes of the Referendum Act
Comment deadline
Unavailable
Effective date
November 20, 2019
Publication part
Part II

Summary

Summary#

The Canada Gazette published SI/2019-120 (an order) on December 11, 2019. It names the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada as the minister responsible for the Referendum Act and repeals a previous order from July 18, 2018.

What it does#

  • Repeals P.C. 2018-1022 (the earlier order dated July 18, 2018).
  • Designates the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada as the responsible minister for the Referendum Act.
  • The instrument appears as P.C. 2019-1358 dated November 20, 2019, and was registered in the Canada Gazette on December 11, 2019.

Who's affected#

  • The main change affects federal government organization: the minister’s office and officials now officially responsible for the Referendum Act.
  • Departments or officials who would work on a referendum will report to or coordinate with that minister.
  • The general public is only directly affected if and when a referendum is held.

Why it matters#

  • This is an administrative change that clarifies which minister is officially in charge of the Referendum Act.
  • That clarity matters if a referendum is organized, because it determines which minister answers questions, coordinates federal actions, or is accountable to Parliament and the public about referendum-related matters.
  • Outside of a referendum context, the change has little immediate effect on most Canadians.

Key topics

Referendum ActPresident of the Queen’s Privy Council for CanadaQueen’s Privy Council for CanadaOrder in CouncilGovernor General in CouncilPrime Minister of CanadaCanada Gazetteministerial designationreferendum administrationfederal organizationgovernment accountability

Source: Canada Gazette

Official source