At the end of 2021, the Prime Minister’s Office released the mandate letters of federal ministers. Mandate letters provide important information for Canadians to hold the government accountable on policy directions. There were several anti-corruption, transparency and accountability commitments mandated for ministers. TI Canada has compiled relevant mandates and have flagged some significant exclusions. Read all the mandate letters here.
Ministers of Finance, Innovation Science and Industry, & National Revenue (CRA)
All three minister are mandated to implement a beneficial ownership registry. However, despite a commitment for a publicly accessible beneficial ownership registry in the 2021 federal budget, the words ’publicly accessible’ are dropped from the mandate letters.
The CRA is mandated to increase resources to combat aggressive tax planning, tax avoidance and tax evasion. The CRA is also mandated to improve its capacity to audit real estate transactions.
The Minister of Innovation Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, responsible for Statistics Canada, will continue to support the President of the Treasury Board in their work in building a whole-of-government approach for the improved collection and publication of disaggregated data.
Ministers of Foreign Affairs, International Development, & International Trade
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly has been mandated to continue supporting and implementing the Magnitsky Law (the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act). This is a promising update, as Canada has not implemented any new Magnitsky sanctions in over three years.
Minister Joly has also been instructed to help establish an International Anti-Corruption Court, in collaboration with international partners.
Minster Joly has been mandated to work with the Minster of International Development to establish a centre to support and expand the efforts of those seeking to build peace, advance justice, and promote human rights.
Further, the Minister of International Development, Harjit Sajjan, will work to improve the way the federal government manages and delivers international development assistance to ensure greater effectiveness, transparency and accountability.
The Minister of International Trade, Mary Ng, will enhance and expand Canada’s Responsible Business Conduct strategy and provide continued support to the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise to ensure Canadian companies and Crown corporations uphold the highest environmental and social standards of corporate governance.
President of the Treasury Board
The President’s mandate letter includes integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards in federal procurement, which includes corporate governance. In order to foster greater transparency, integrating ESG should also include beneficial ownership transparency in procurement, licenses, permits, and grants.
The President is mandated to continue to take action to improve government whistleblower protections and supports. This will include exploring possible amendments to the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act.
Treasury Board President, Mona Fortier’s letter lacked a mandate to complete a review and update Canada’s Access to Information Act, despite ongoing reviews.
The President will work to expand open data initiatives and make data more available digitally;
Minister Mendicino is mandated to establish a Canada Financial Crimes Agency, as well as looking into strengthening laws and investigate powers of authorities to address financial crime. The Minister of Justice and the Attorney General and the Minister and Deputy Minister of Finance are meant to support this effort.
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Minister LeBlanc is mandated to further support transparency, fairness and participation in the federal electoral process.