Shared Services Canada: New Responsible Minister

Summary#

The Order Amending Schedule I.1 to the Financial Administration Act (SOR/2019-342) changes which minister is listed as responsible for Shared Services Canada in a federal list used for financial and administrative records. The change took effect on November 20, 2019 and was published in the Canada Gazette on December 11, 2019.

What it does#

• Removes the reference to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services opposite Shared Services Canada in Schedule I.1 of the Financial Administration Act.
• Inserts a reference to the Minister of State (Digital Government) opposite Shared Services Canada in that same schedule.
• The order was made by the Governor General in Council on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, and became effective November 20, 2019.

Who's affected#

• Shared Services Canada is directly affected, because the order changes which minister is listed as responsible for it in federal administrative records.
• Federal officials, parliamentarians, and anyone who tracks which minister is formally responsible for a department may notice the change.
• It is unclear from the order whether there are any immediate changes to day-to-day services or staff; the item only changes the minister listed in the schedule.

Why it matters#

• This is an administrative change that records which minister is formally tied to Shared Services Canada for financial and accountability purposes.
• In practice, it can affect where formal responsibility is recorded and which minister is expected to answer questions or sign certain documents about Shared Services Canada.
• The order does not itself describe any new programs, funding, or operational changes to services.