What is an agency?
There are approximately 630 agencies to which the provincial government makes appointments. They vary in size from large operating agencies like the Liquor Control Board of Ontario to small advisory committees like the Ontario Geographic Names Board.
Many terms are used to describe different kinds of agencies - boards, commissions, councils, authorities and foundations. All of these bodies are referred to as agencies on this site.
An agency means a provincial government organization:
- which is established by the government, but is not part of a ministry;
- which is accountable to the government;
- to which the government appoints the majority of the appointees; and
- to which the government has assigned or delegated authority and responsibility,
or which otherwise has statutory authority and responsibility to perform a public function or service.
Agencies listed on this site include government agencies, as well as the many agencies excluded
from the financial and administrative requirements of the provincial government,
but to which the government makes at least one representative appointment.
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Functions
Advisory agencies (ADA)
The prime function of an advisory agency is to provide information and/or advice to assist in the development of policy and/or in the delivery of programs. Some examples of advisory agencies are the Livestock Medicines Advisory Committee, the Drug Quality and Therapeutics Committee and the Commodity Futures Advisory Board.
Regulatory agencies (REG)
Regulatory agencies make independent decisions (including inspections, investigations, prosecutions, certifications, licensing, rate-setting, etc.) which limit or promote the conduct, practice, obligations, rights, responsibilities, etc. of an individual, business or corporate body. Some examples include the Financial Services Tribunal and the Ontario Film Review Board.
Adjudicative agencies (ADJ)
Adjudicative agencies make independent quasi-judicial decisions, resolve disputes, etc. on the obligations, rights, responsibilities, etc. of an individual, business or corporate body against existing policies, regulations, and statutes, and/or hear appeals against previous decisions. Some examples include the Ontario Human Rights Commission, the Ontario Labour Relations Board and the Assessment Review Board.
Operational Service (OPS)
Operational Service agencies deliver goods or services to the public usually with no, or only minimal, fees. Some examples include the Education Quality and Accountability Office and the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation.
Operational Enterprise (OPE)
Operational Enterprise agencies sell goods or services to the public in a commercial manner (including, but not necessarily, in competition with the private sector). Some examples include the Niagara Parks Commission and the Liquor Control Board of Ontario
Crown Foundation (CRF)
Crown Foundations solicit, manage and distribute donations of money and/or other assets donated for a named organization in whose interests the Foundation has been established. Some examples are the Art Gallery of Ontario Crown Foundation and the University of Toronto Foundation.
Trust Agency (TRA)
Trust agencies administer funds and/or other assets for beneficiaries named under statute. Some examples are the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and the Ontario Public Service Pension Board.
Nonscheduled agencies (N/A)
There are agencies that cannot be assigned to any of the above classifications. These are organizations which are excluded from the financial and administrative requirements of the Management Board of Cabinet, but to which the government makes at least one appointment. Some examples include university and hospital boards.
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Types of Appointments
There are three types of appointments:
- Premier's Prerogative - Appointments by an Order in Council on the recommendation of the Premier.
- Minister's Prerogative - Appointments by an Order in Council on the recommendation of a Minister.
- Ministerial Letter - The Minister appoints members to some agencies by a Minister's letter where legislation permits.
The types of positions to which appointments are made vary from agency to agency.
Positions on agencies may include chairs, vice-chairs, members, presidents and chief executive officers.
While there are full-time positions on some agencies, the majority of positions are part-time.
Whether a position is full-time or part-time is not an indication of the importance of the appointment.
All appointments, Order in Council and Ministerial Letter, are made following a recruitment
and review process managed by the Public Appointments Secretariat.
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Compensation
Rates of remuneration are provided for appointees to agencies on this site.
The remuneration is shown by an hourly or per diem rate for part-time appointees,
a per annum range for full-time appointees, or as expenses only. In some cases there is no compensation at all.
Appointees are paid according to levels set out in Management Board of Cabinet directives on government
appointees or as specifically approved by Management Board of Cabinet.
An element of public service is expected in all appointments to agencies of the government of Ontario.
Consequently, rates of remuneration are not competitive with the marketplace.
There is no requirement that appointees be paid, nor that they be paid at any maximum rate
which may be established by Management Board of Cabinet.
In fact, appointees to many of Ontario's agencies do not receive any payment for their services beyond,
in some cases, the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
Full time agency members
Classification |
Levels |
Range ($) |
| Senior Management Group |
SMG1 |
83,100 – 94,950 |
| SMG2 |
103,950 – 118,800 |
| SMG3 |
132,600 – 151,500 |
| SMG3+ |
151,500+ |
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Principles Governing the Appointments Process
The mission of the Public Appointments Secretariat is to ensure that the most qualified men and women having the highest personal and professional integrity serve the public on the Province's agencies, boards and commissions. Persons selected to serve must reflect the true face of Ontario in terms of diversity and regional representation.
The government has committed itself to a more open and transparent system for filling the positions on the Province's 630 agencies. The fact that through this web site all Ontarians have an up to date and accurate picture of the vacancies and the timetable for filling them is the first step on this path.
Ontario's agencies, boards and commissions are responsible for overseeing, managing and regulating a wide variety of important functions. In order to fulfill their mandates, the government has a responsibility to ensure that these agencies are made up of members who are qualified to do the job. We must also ensure that these persons are representative of all segments of Ontario society.
We are looking for people who are committed to the principles and values of public service and who will perform their duties with integrity.
These principles provide the government with a framework, or guide, in living up to the responsibility that we are privileged to carry out in governing the Province of Ontario.
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Personal and Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement
1) You may download the PERSONAL & CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE STATEMENT in the
MS Word
or Adobe PDF formats.
The personal information requested on this form will be collected and used by the Public Appointments Secretariat and the Ministry that has jurisdiction for the agency you are being considered for, to evaluate the suitability of your potential candidacy for appointment to the Ontario agency, board or commission. This information will not be disclosed except as required for the above-noted purpose. Questions about the collection, use or disclosure of personal information requested on this form should be directed to the Public Appointments Secretariat at 416-327-2640.
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Standing Committee on Government Agencies
The Standing Committee on Government Agencies reviews intended appointees to agencies,
boards and commissions and of directors to corporations in which the Crown in right of
Ontario is majority shareholder (excluding reappointments and appointments for a term of one year or less).
Intended appointees may be requested to appear before the committee to discuss their qualifications.
The committee reports back to the Legislature on whether or not it concurs with the intended appointments.
The complete terms of reference of the Standing Committee on Government Agencies can be found
at
www.ontla.on.ca/committees/agencies.htm.
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Glossary of terms
Throughout this site, abbreviations, codes and various terms are used to describe the
characteristics of the various agencies. This glossary will assist you in using this site.
O.C. - Order-in-Council.
Period - Period specifies the length of time for which the agency has been established.
Prerogative - Prerogative defines the legal authority for the creation of the agency and the individual(s) who are
permitted to make appointments. For example, "Prerogative: ML LG Minister" means that the agency was established under mandatory
legislation with appointments made by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council and at the prerogative of the minister.
The following abbreviations are used to denote the prerogative throughout the text:
- PL-Permissive legislation. The legislation states that there may be an agency.
- ML-mandatory legislation. The legislation states that there shall be an agency.
- LG-appointments are made by the Lieutenant Governor in (Order-in-Council).
- MA-appointments are made by the minister by ministerial letter.
- Minister - recommendations to Cabinet are the prerogative of the minister.
- Premier - recommendations to Cabinet are the prerogative of the Premier.
- Chm=P - the chair is recommended to Cabinet by the Premier.
- Mbrs=M - Members are recommended to Cabinet by the responsible minister.
- R.S.O.- Revised Statutes of Ontario.
- S.O.- Statutes of Ontario.
- S.C.- Statutes of Canada.
- Term - Term is the length of time an individual is appointed to serve on an agency.
Type - Type refers to the function of an
agency. For example: Type: ADA means that the agency is
an advisory agency. Agencies designated as N/A are those
excluded from the financial and administrative requirements
of the Management Board of Cabinet, but to which the
government makes at least one appointment (e.g., university
and hospital boards). For a detailed description, see Functions.
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