Alberta Record

· Order in Council / Miscellaneous Corrections Regulation · in-force

Oic 2023 163 miscellaneous corrections regulation

This Order in Council enacts the Miscellaneous Corrections Regulation, which updates departmental names across several regulations and repeals and replaces the entire schedule of designated public bodies under the Electronic Transactions A…

High impactCentralization of powerInstitutional independenceEducationHealth system governanceThe public, directlyLegislaturePost-secondary institutionsHealth-care bodiesIndependent watchdogs

What changed

  • Establishes the names and structures of 26 departments within the Government of Alberta.
  • Designates the specific Ministers responsible for administering each of the established departments.
  • Defines each department as consisting of public service employees under the administration of its designated Minister.
  • Rescinds Order in Council O.C. 361/2022, which previously established government departments.
  • The President of Executive Council is designated responsibility for the Alberta Investment Attraction Act and associated appropriations from the Ministry of Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism related to Invest Alberta Corporation.
  • The Minister of Advanced Education is designated responsibility for 18 enactments, including professional regulatory acts (e.g., Agrology Profession Act, Architects Act) and education-related acts (e.g., Post-secondary Learning Act, Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act).
  • The Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women is designated responsibility for 21 enactments related to culture, heritage, and special days (e.g., Alberta Foundation for the Arts Act, Historical Resources Act, various remembrance acts).
  • The Minister of Children and Family Services is designated responsibility for 7 enactments concerning child welfare and family services (e.g., Child and Youth Advocate Act, Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act, Early Learning and Child Care Act).
  • The Minister of Energy and Minerals is designated responsibility for 17 enactments related to energy and mineral resources (e.g., Coal Conservation Act, Mines and Minerals Act, Oil and Gas Conservation Act).
  • Responsibility for associated public service appropriations is transferred to the newly designated ministers for the President of Executive Council, Advanced Education, Arts, Culture and Status of Women, Children and Family Services, and Energy and Minerals.
  • Rescinds all appointments to the Treasury Board made under Order in Council 364/2022.
  • Appoints 8 new members to the Treasury Board, including Members of the Legislative Assembly and Ministers.
  • Appointed 18 individuals to Deputy Minister and other senior public service roles across various ministries.
  • Rescinded 15 previous appointments to Deputy Minister and senior public service positions.
  • Amended three prior Orders in Council (O.C. 92/2019, O.C. 125/2021, O.C. 365/2022) by striking specific sections or clauses.
  • Rescinded six other Orders in Council (O.C. 379/2020, O.C. 3/2021, O.C. 256/2021, O.C. 110/2022, O.C. 93/2019, O.C. 86/2020).
  • Amends the Adoption Regulation, Blackfoot First Nations Sacred Ceremonial Objects Repatriation Regulation, Business Corporations Regulation, Carbon Capture and Storage Funding Regulation, Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Regulation, Cooperatives Regulation, and Court Rules and Forms Regulation to update departmental names.
  • Amends the Conflicts of Interest Act Part 4.3 Designation Order by repealing and substituting Table 1, which lists CEOs and Chairs of various public bodies for conflict of interest purposes.
  • Repeals and replaces the entire Schedule of the Electronic Transactions Act Designation Regulation, which lists all boards, committees, and councils designated as public bodies under the Act.

Why it matters

  • Formalizes the administrative structure of the provincial government following a cabinet formation or reorganization.
  • Clarifies the portfolio responsibilities for each Minister and their respective departments.
  • Provides the legal framework for the operation of government ministries and the deployment of public service employees within them.
  • Reflects the current government's organizational priorities and allocation of administrative functions.
  • This OIC centralizes oversight of investment attraction initiatives under the President of Executive Council, potentially streamlining economic development efforts.
  • It consolidates responsibility for professional regulation and post-secondary education under the Minister of Advanced Education, potentially affecting governance structures for various professions and educational institutions.
  • The reassignment of numerous cultural and heritage acts to the Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women creates a focused portfolio for these areas.
  • The consolidation of child and family services acts under a single minister aims to create a more integrated approach to child welfare and family support programs.
  • The designation of a comprehensive portfolio of energy and mineral acts to the Minister of Energy and Minerals centralizes authority over resource development and policy.
  • The transfer of appropriations alongside statutory responsibilities ensures that the designated ministries have the administrative and financial resources to execute their new mandates.
  • Reconstitutes the Treasury Board by replacing all previously appointed members, indicating a shift in the board's composition.
  • Centralizes decision-making within the executive by appointing a new slate of ministers and MLAs to this key financial oversight body.
  • May lead to a re-evaluation of strategic direction or priorities for public finance management due to the complete change in membership.
  • Represents a significant reorganization of senior administrative leadership within the provincial government.
  • Affects the continuity and strategic direction of numerous government ministries and departments.
  • The comprehensive nature of appointments and rescissions suggests a reset of administrative priorities.
  • Amending and rescinding multiple prior Orders in Council indicates a broad review and adjustment of previous executive decisions.
  • The replacement of the Electronic Transactions Act Designation Regulation schedule redefines the scope of entities considered 'public bodies' for the purposes of electronic transactions, potentially altering administrative processes and legal obligations for numerous government-related entities, which may impact their operational autonomy.
  • The changes to the Conflicts of Interest Act Part 4.3 Designation Order update the list of designated positions subject to specific conflict of interest rules, reflecting current government structure and appointments.
  • Updates to departmental names across various regulations reflect recent changes in ministerial portfolios and government organization, ensuring consistency in legal texts.

Rights affected

  • Access to information — The ability to see public records and government decisions.

Other governance concerns

  • Transparency of government structure
  • Accountability of ministerial portfolios
  • Potential for altered policy direction in professional regulation, post-secondary education, and resource development due to new ministerial oversight.
  • Changes in administrative accountability for various public service functions and appropriations.
  • Impact on the autonomy of professional associations and post-secondary institutions due to consolidated ministerial authority.
  • Executive oversight of public finances
  • Composition of key financial governance bodies
  • Accountability of public funds
  • Continuity of public service leadership
  • Potential for policy shifts across ministries
  • Impact on institutional memory within government departments
  • Redefinition of entities subject to the Electronic Transactions Act.
  • Potential impact on administrative transparency and accountability for newly included or excluded bodies.
  • Changes to conflict of interest designations for senior officials in various public bodies.

Primary sources (5)