Minister of State Assigned to Assist Industry

Summary#

The Canada Gazette published Order Assigning the Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism) to Assist the Minister of Industry: SI/2025-69. It assigns Rechie Valdez, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), to act as Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism) and to assist the Minister of Industry. The order was made on May 13, 2025 and published on June 4, 2025.

What it does#

• Gives Rechie Valdez the formal title Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism).
• Assigns that Secretary of State to assist the Minister of Industry in carrying out the minister’s responsibilities.
• The assignment is made under the Ministries and Ministers of State Act.

Who's affected#

• The immediate people affected are the Minister of Industry and Rechie Valdez in her ministerial role.
• Government staff who work on small business, tourism, and industry files may see changes in reporting or coordination.
• Small business owners and tourism operators might notice changes only if this leads to different priorities or more coordination between small business/tourism and industry policy. The order does not list specific new tasks, so the practical effect for the public is unclear.

Why it matters#

• This is mainly an administrative step that clarifies who helps the Minister of Industry with small business and tourism matters.
• It can matter in practice if the added support leads to faster decisions, clearer coordination, or a stronger voice for small business and tourism within industry-related policies.
• Because the order does not set out specific duties, it does not itself change laws or create new public programs.