Governor in Council Appointments

Social Security Tribunal

Canada's Economic Action Plan 2012 established the Social Security Tribunal (Tribunal). The Tribunal is an independent administrative tribunal that provides efficient, effective and independent appeal processes for Employment Insurance (EI), Canada Pension Plan (CPP), and Old Age Security (OAS) decisions. Members of the Tribunal's General Division (Income Security and EI sections) function as first-level, independent, adjudicative decision-makers. Members of the Appeal Division function as second-level adjudicative decision-makers. The Tribunal simplifies and streamlines the appeal processes by offering a single point of contact for submitting an appeal.

As an administrative tribunal with quasi-judicial powers, the Tribunal has the responsibility of processing and deciding appeals of Employment and Social Development Canada decisions relating to the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security and Employment Insurance.

The Tribunal consists of full-time and part-time members to be appointed by the Governor in Council.

For more information on the Tribunal, please visit the Social Security Tribunal website.

Canada Employment Insurance Commission

The Canada Employment Insurance Commission (CEIC) represents and reflects the interests of government, workers and employers. The Commission is responsible for:

• supporting the Employment Insurance (EI) appeal system
• making regulations with the approval of the Governor in Council
• reviewing and approving policies related to EI program administration and delivery and
• continuing development of the EI Monitoring and Assessment Report as a permanent annual report

The Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development is also the Chairperson of the CEIC and an Associate Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development acts as Vice-Chairperson representing the interests of the government. As required by the Department of Employment and Social Development Act, the CEIC also includes a Commissioner for Workers and a Commissioner for Employers who are appointed by the Governor in Council following consultations with representative organizations to ensure that the views of workers and employers are reflected in the work of the Commission.

For more information on the CEIC, please visit Canada Employment Insurance Commission.

Accessibility Standards Canada

Accessibility Standards Canada is a public organization that was created under the Accessible Canada Act. Accessibility Standards Canada is a departmental corporation within the Department of Employment and Social Development portfolio, the first federal organization majority-led by persons with disabilities. It will be the government’s leader in creating accessibility standards.

Accessibility Standards Canada develops and revises accessibility standards. The organization sets out how these bodies can prevent, identify and remove barriers to accessibility:

• Federal private sector organizations and
• Government of Canada departments and agencies

Accessibility Standards Canada’s board of directors establishes the organization’s strategy and vision, supervises its activities and gives advice to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The directors and the CEO are Governor in Council appointees.

For more information on Accessibility Standards Canada, please visit Accessibility Standards Canada.

National Advisory Council on Poverty

On August 21, 2018, the Government of Canada released Opportunity for All, Canada’s First Poverty Reduction Strategy. The Poverty Reduction Act legislates the commitments made in the Strategy. To ensure continued accountability to Canadians on poverty reduction, the Government of Canada created a National Advisory Council on Poverty.

The Advisory Council brings together a committed and diverse group of ten members, including persons with lived experience, leaders, experts, academics, and practitioners that work in the field of poverty reduction. The Advisory Council advises the Government on poverty reduction and reports on progress every year.

For more information on the National Advisory Council on Poverty, please visit National Advisory Council on Poverty.

Canada Industrial Relations Board

The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) is a quasi-judicial tribunal that deals with labour relations in the federally regulated private sector. Its mandate is contained in Parts I and II of the Canada Labour Code and provides for the acquisition of collective bargaining rights by unions. It also provides for the orderly management of the collective bargaining process by enforcing statutorily defined rights and obligations, and adjudicating unfair labour practices.

The CIRB consists of a full-time neutral chairperson, 2 or more full-time neutral vice-chairpersons and any other part-time vice-chairpersons as necessary, not more than 6 full-time members representing employers and employees in equal numbers, and any other part-time members as required to assist the Board in carrying out its functions.

For more information on the CIRB, please visit Canada Industrial Relations Board.

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) is governed by a Council representing the following 3 key stakeholder groups: governments (provincial and territorial), employers and workers. The Council promotes occupational health and safety by facilitating consultation and cooperation among jurisdictions as well as participation by labour and management. The CCOHS assists in developing and maintaining policies and programs, and also serves as a national centre for occupational health and safety information.

The Council is composed of a Chairperson and 13 governors nominated by the provinces and territories. The Governor in Council appoints 4 governors after consultation with organizations that represent workers; 4 governors after consultation with organizations that represent employers; and the president of the CCOHS after consultation with the Council.

For more information on the CCOHS, please visit Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

National Seniors Council

The National Seniors Council (NSC) provides advice to the Minister of Seniors and the Minister of Health on all matters related to the health, well-being and quality of life of seniors, focusing on both the opportunities and challenges presented by a rapidly growing and increasingly diverse seniors' population.

The Council is comprised of a chairperson and not more than 11 part-time members who hold office for terms not exceeding 3 years. The Council may be diverse, including seniors, representatives of organizations that serve the needs or interests of seniors, and experts from fields of study related to seniors and aging.

For more information on the NSC, please visit National Seniors Council.