About the Treasury Board of Canada

The Treasury Board is the oldest federal Cabinet committee of the King’s Privy Council for Canada. It was established in 1867 and is responsible for managing federal government operations.

It does this in 2 ways.

  1. As the government’s management board – Part A
    • The Treasury Board considers proposals (Treasury Board submissions) for funding and/or authorities (for example, permission to enter into contracts or initiate projects) for departments to advance government initiatives and implement Cabinet’s policy and program decisions.
    • It establishes the rules and policies related to financial and project management, contracting, and people and IT management in the federal public service.
    • It is the employer of the federal public service and approves collective agreements.
  2. As the Governor in Council – Part B
    • Together with the Governor General, the Board forms the “Governor in Council” which is responsible for reviewing most regulations and orders in council.
    • The Treasury Board also considers regulations meant to protect the health, safety, and security of Canadians, and the environment, while supporting a competitive and innovative economy. The Board reviews regulatory proposals to ensure they follow the Cabinet Directive on Regulation and the Policy on Regulatory Development.
    • Examples of orders in council considered by the Treasury Board include the authority to enter into an international agreement, tabling of budgetary estimates and release of supply, and bringing legislation into force. Orders in council are reviewed to ensure they align with legislative requirements.

The President of the Treasury Board

As a minister of the Crown, the President chairs the Treasury Board Cabinet committee.

The President of the Treasury Board is also the minister responsible for the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS), the central agency that acts as the administrative arm of the Treasury Board.

Learn more about the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Treasury Board Members

The Treasury Board consists of federal Cabinet ministers. When they take part in meetings, they do not represent their individual portfolios. Membership is broken down into the following positions:

  • Chair: President of the Treasury Board
  • A Vice-Chair
  • 4 other ministers
  • Alternates who can serve in the place of members

Read the complete list of current members of the Treasury Board.

Facts about the Treasury Board

The Treasury Board was given authority in 1869 to manage the government. It gets its mandate from the Financial Administration Act, as well as a number of other statutes, regulations, policies, and Orders in Council. It is the only Cabinet committee recognized in legislation.

Annually, the Treasury Board considers more than 400 submissions; and reviews and approves 100 to 200 regulatory proposals, with an additional 200 to 300 orders in council. This makes it the highest volume Cabinet committee.

The Treasury Board is responsible for 28 policies and acts as the employer of about 271,000 employees.

There are different rules and documents for Part A and Part B. For example, Part A requires 3 members while Part B requires 4 members. This reflects the fact that these are essentially two separate committees that have been combined since 2003.

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