What is an agency?

There are many classified agencies and non-classified entities 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 classified agencies and non-classified entities - boards, commissions, councils, authorities and foundations. All of these bodies are referred to as agencies on this site.

A classified 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 classified agencies, as well as the many non-classified entities 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 Committee to Evaluate Drugs and the Accessibility Standards Advisory Council.

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 Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, 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 Brock University Foundation and the McMaster University 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.

Non-classified entities (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:

1. Premier's Prerogative - Appointments by an Order in Council on the recommendation of the Premier.
2. Minister's Prerogative - Appointments by an Order in Council on the recommendation of a Minister.
3. 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 classified agencies and non-classified entities 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 classified agencies and non-classified entities on this site. The remuneration is shown by a 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 classified agencies and non-classified entities. 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 classified agencies and non-classified entities 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	93,050 – 106,350
	SMG2	115,000 – 131,450
	SMG3	146,700 – 167,650
	SMG4	169,100 - 188,950

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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 classified agencies and non-classified entities. 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 classified agencies and non-classified entities. Through this web site all Ontarians have an up to date and accurate picture of the vacancies and the timetable for filling them.

Ontario's classified agencies and non-classified entities 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 classified agency and non-classified entity you are being considered for, to evaluate the suitability of your potential candidacy for appointment to the Ontario classified agency or non-classified entity. 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

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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.I.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 classified agency or non-classified entity and the individual(s) who are permitted to make appointments. For example, "Prerogative: Mandatory legislation, Minister’s O.I.C. means it was established under mandatory legislation with appointments made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council (O.I.C.) and at the prerogative of the minister. 

The following abbreviations are used to denote the prerogative throughout the text:

• Permissive Legislation: The legislation states that there may be a classified agency or non-classified entity.
• Mandatory Legislation: The legislation states that there shall be a classified agency or non-classified entity.
• O.I.C.:  appointments are made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council (Order-in-Council).
• Minister’s Letter: appointments are made by the minister by letter.
• Minister:  recommendations to Cabinet are the prerogative of the minister.
• Premier:  recommendations to Cabinet are the prerogative of the Premier.
• 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 a classified. For example: Type: ADA means that the agency is an advisory agency. Non-classified entities 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 boards and police services boards). For a detailed description, see Functions.

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Governance Tools

Generic governance tools for classified agencies have been developed as one component of a series of changes to modernize public services. They were developed by agencies for agencies to further support modern, transparent governance within agencies and focus on attracting and retaining quality appointees and supporting excellence.
These generic tools can assist prospective appointees to understand the requirements of the position and inform new appointees about their role and clarify expectations in the position.

The suite of tools includes:

• Position Descriptions
  Identifies the purpose, key duties and qualifications for individual positions
• Core Competencies
  Identifies the key skills, abilities and behaviours needed for effective performance in the individual positions 
• Code of Conduct
  Identifies positive standards of ethical and professional conduct expected of an appointee
• Learning and Development Maps and Board Questionnaire
  Once in the position, the learning and development maps help appointees to achieve excellence in the position and contribute to coordinated learning and development among appointees as a group
  The board questionnaire helps governing boards to analyze how well they function as a whole

Agency Governance - Link to governance tools for classified agencies

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Justice of The Peace Information and Application Form

Justices of the peace are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Attorney General. The Justices of the Peace Appointments Advisory Committee (JPAAC) was established in 2007 following amendments to the Justices of the Peace Act. JPAAC's duties are to classify applicants for appointment as justices of the peace and to report those classifications to the Attorney General.

www.ontariocourts.on.ca - Link to Application Form

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Agencies prohibited from hiring external lobbyists

Are you looking for the list of government agencies that are prohibited by the Broader Public Sector Accountability Act, 2010 from hiring external lobbyists using public funds? These agencies are public bodies as described in Ontario Regulation 146/10 made under the Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006 . Click here.

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Certificate in Adjudication for Administrative Agencies, Boards and Tribunals

The Certificate in Adjudication for Administrative Agencies, Boards and Tribunals,a joint program of the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators (SOAR)and Osgoode Professional Development, will give you a solid grounding in the goals and principles of the administrative justice system, while learning and improving practical adjudication skills. This unique program, being held June 10-14, 2013 and December 7-13, 2013 in Toronto builds on the successes of SOAR’s Adjudicator Training Course, which has prepared hundreds of professionals to provide adjudicative services. For more information or to register, please click here.

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