Federal Minister Mandate Letters – Dec 2021

Admittedly,  I have only recently learned about the existence of Mandate Letters provided to our Federal Minsters. Mandate letters are provided by the Prime Minister which outline the objectives that each minister will work to accomplish, as well as the pressing challenges they will address in their role. It is worth noting that there is no indication that public input influences any of these directives, which begs the question of where, exactly, are these objectives determined? 

All of the letters have the same body that outline expectations and community goals which include a little chat about Covid-19, climate change, carbon emissions, inclusions of categorized populations, maintaining relations with media, and working cooperatively. 

Below are a few highlights from each of the mandate letters. There are several items listed that are worthy of raised eyebrows that we will be investigating further.  Vaccination, vaccination mandates, vaccine purchases, proof of vaccination programs, and participation in UN Agenda 2030 are repeated often. Full mandate letters can be found here

  • adoption of a global minimum standard on carbon pricing
  • achieve net-zero emissions by no later than 2050
  • Launch an annual program of green bond issuances with an initial issuance of $5 billion
  • work with global partners to bring the new OECD/G20 agreement on tax reform related to the world’s largest corporations into effect and then legislate its implementation
  •  National tax on vaping product
  • Accelerate the design and delivery of the next phase of the Smart Cities Challenge. 
  • In order to support the mental health of Canadians, develop and implement a comprehensive, evidence-based plan, leveraging existing and new investments, including to:
    • Develop mental health standards, with a particular focus on health equity;
    • Sustain improved access to virtual mental health services with Wellness Together Canada;
    • Ensure timely access to perinatal mental health services;
    • Implement a three-digit suicide prevention hotline; and
    • Introduce a new fund for student mental health that will support the hiring of new mental health care counsellors, improve wait times for services, increase access overall and enable targeted supports to Black and racialized students at post-secondary institutions across Canada.
    • Support the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority in advancing the completion of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, creating a vital link with our largest trading partner.
    • Work with the Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister of Public Services and Procurement to introduce a new Buy Clean Strategy to support the use of made-in-Canada low-carbon products in Canadian infrastructure projects.
    • Continue to lead an integrated government response to protect Canada’s democratic institutions, including the federal electoral process, against foreign interference and disinformation, working with domestic and international partners. You will also lead efforts to consider the interplay between technology and democracy.
    • Consider the Chief Electoral Officer’s forthcoming legislative recommendations from the 43rd and 44th general elections to further support transparency, fairness and participation in the federal electoral process. This will include working to ensure that participating in Canadian elections continue to be safe, regardless of ongoing events.
    • Consider the forthcoming report of Canada’s Leaders’ Debates Commissioner on how to improve leaders’ debates and take steps to ensure that they better serve the public interest.
    • Work with the Minister of Public Safety to bolster the security of ministers and Parliamentarians.
    • Working with colleagues, provinces and territories, municipalities, Indigenous communities and other partners to continue the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines;
    • Working with colleagues to continue to ensure sufficient domestic supply of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, evaluate our border posture and ensure surge capacity supports are available to assist provinces and territories;
    • Working with provinces and territories, municipalities, Indigenous organizations, the private sector and other partners to continue to ensure implementation of and adherence to public health measures, and support the availability of rapid tests and self-tests
    • Launching a COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination Fund to support provinces and territories who implement a requirement for proof of vaccine credentials in their jurisdiction for non-essential businesses and public spaces;
    • Expanding virtual care, helping to cover digital infrastructure and other system improvements so that Canadians can access virtual medical consultations or remote monitoring;
    • In consultation with provinces and territories and a broad range of partners, expediting work to create a world-class health data system that is timely, usable, open-by-default, connected and comprehensive.
    • With the support of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, work with the Minister of International Development to continue to reinforce international efforts to ensure that people around the world have access to health interventions to fight COVID-19, including vaccines, therapeutics and strengthened health systems.
    • Work with G7, NATO and likeminded partners to develop and expand collective responses to arbitrary detention, economic coercion, cyber threats, foreign interference in democratic processes and egregious violations of human rights, including through the use of sanctions, support for international institutions and coordinated action to reinforce the rules of international trade.
    • Defending the right to freedom of expression and opposing the mistreatment or arbitrary detention of journalists, including by building on the work of the Media Freedom Coalition;
    • Working with international partners to help establish an International Anti-Corruption Court, to prevent corrupt officials and authoritarian governments from impeding development that should benefit their citizens; and
    • Continuing to support and implement Canada’s Magnitsky Law, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, and promote the adoption of similar legislation and practices globally.
    • With the Minister of International Development, work to strengthen Canada’s engagement and presence in the United Nations (UN) system in order to ensure a more effective, efficient, relevant and accountable UN that supports a rules-based international system, particularly so that it can better address those who are seeking to undermine democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
    • Work with the Minister of National Defence and NATO partners to establish a new NATO Centre of Excellence on Climate and Security based in Canada to ensure Canada and its allies are prepared to respond to climate-related threats and emergencies.
    • Work with the Minister of Public Safety, the Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and in collaboration with implicated ministers, to develop and implement a renewed National Cyber Security Strategy, which will articulate Canada’s long-term strategy to protect our national security and economy, deter cyber threat actors, and promote norms-based international behavior in cyberspace.
    • Support the Minister of Public Safety, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Minister of National Defence and Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry in their work to continue to advance the National Cyber Security Action Plan, ensuring Canada is well positioned to adapt to and combat cyber risks, and ensure the security and integrity of Canada’s critical systems.
    • Working with the Minister of Canadian Heritage, take steps to build an international coalition to develop a new UNESCO convention on the diversity of content online.
    • Strengthen the work of the CRA to improve its capacity to audit real estate transactions.
    • Support the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry in their work to implement a beneficial ownership registry.
    • With the support of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, work with the Minister of Health to continue to reinforce international efforts to ensure that people around the world have access to health interventions to fight COVID-19, including by donating at least 200 million vaccine doses to vulnerable populations around the world through COVAX by the end of 2022 and providing additional funding for enhanced testing and vaccine production capacity in developing countries.
    • Increase Canada’s international development assistance every year towards 2030 to realize the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals.
    • With the Minister of Foreign Affairs, work to strengthen Canada’s engagement and presence in the United Nations (UN) system in order to ensure a more effective, efficient, relevant and accountable UN that supports a rules-based international system, particularly so that it can better address those who are seeking to undermine democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
    • Taking into account input received through consultations on the future of Employment Insurance (EI), by Summer 2022, bring forward and begin implementing a plan to modernize the EI system for the 21st century, building a stronger and more inclusive system that covers all workers, including workers in seasonal employment and persons employed by digital platforms, ensuring the system is simpler and more responsive for workers and employers. In addition to moving forward with extending EI sickness benefits from 15 to 26 weeks, the plan will include:
      • A new EI benefit for self-employed Canadians that would provide unemployment assistance comparable to EI and lasting for as many as 26 weeks;
      • A new 15-week benefit for adoptive parents;
  • Permanently eliminate federal interest on Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans, increase the repayment assistance threshold to $50,000 for Canada Student Loan borrowers who are single and make appropriate adjustments to the thresholds for other family sizes, and allow new parents to pause repayment of their federal student loans until their youngest child reaches the age of five.
  • Eliminate all remaining long-term drinking water advisories on reserve and make sure that long-term investments and resources are in place to prevent future ones, including by investing $6 billion to ensure sustainable access to clean water in First Nations communities.
  • Support the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada in fully implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act across government.
  • Work with the Minister of Natural Resources on the development of model building codes, including publishing a net-zero emissions building code and model retrofit code by the end of 2024 that align with national climate objectives and provide a standard for climate-resilient buildings. You will also work to amend the National Building Code of Canada to specify firefighter and first responder safety as a core objective. To ensure effective implementation of these performance standards, work with partners to develop strategies around incentives, training programs and pilot initiatives.
  • Supported by the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, continue advancing the creation and sustainability of a Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system, including:
    • Concluding negotiations with remaining provinces and territories and implementing agreements:
      • Reducing fees for regulated child care by 50 per cent on average by the end of 2022 everywhere outside of Quebec,
      • Reducing regulated child care fees to $10 a day on average by the end of fiscal year 2025-2026 everywhere outside of Quebec, and
      • Building 250,000 new high-quality child care spaces and hiring 40,000 more early childhood educators by the end of fiscal year 2025-2026;
  • Through the delivery of Canada’s Poverty Reduction Strategy and other measures, continue leading implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the United Nations.
  • Continue to work with federally regulated workplaces to ensure that COVID-19 vaccination is enforced.
  • Swiftly introduce legislation to require digital platforms that generate revenues from the publication of news content to share a portion of their revenues with Canadian news outlets to level the playing field between global platforms and Canadian outlets. This legislation should be modelled on the Australian approach and introduced in early 2022. 
  • Continue efforts with the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada to develop and introduce legislation as soon as possible to combat serious forms of harmful online content to protect Canadians and hold social media platforms and other online services accountable for the content they host. This legislation should be reflective of the feedback received during the recent consultations. 
  • Strengthening Radio Canada International, so that it can continue to advocate for peace, democracy and universal values on the world stage;
  • Support me in expanding the Office of the National Security and Intelligence Advisor as climate change increasingly impacts our domestic and global context.
  • Work with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to continue Canada’s leadership on the global effort to phase out coal-powered electricity and the mining of thermal coal and ban thermal coal exports from and through Canada as swiftly as possible, and no later than 2030.
  • Continue to procure COVID-19 therapeutics, tests and vaccines, for adults and children, to ensure all Canadians have access to free booster shots and second-generation vaccines as needed.
  • In support of Canada’s efforts to achieve a 100 per cent net-zero electricity system by 2035, with the support of the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, advance near-term consultations with provinces, territories and Indigenous communities to develop and implement strategies to decarbonize electricity systems. In support of this work, you will:
    • Establish a Pan-Canadian Grid Council to promote infrastructure investments, smart grids, grid integration and electricity sector innovation;
    • Work with Indigenous partners and communities to support the transformation from diesel-fueled power to clean, renewable and reliable energy by 2030; and
    • Work to connect regions with carbon intensive electricity systems to more clean power by supporting transmission lines and the integration of renewables and clean fuels.
  • Continue work to ensure the Bench is gender-balanced and reflective of Canada’s diversity by working with relevant stakeholders to encourage women, Black and racialized Canadians, Indigenous Peoples and LGBTQ2 Canadians to join the Bench and the legal profession. This will include working with the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs to better track diversity data for both new and past appointees to the bench.
  • Continue efforts with the Minister of Canadian Heritage to develop and introduce legislation as soon as possible to combat serious forms of harmful online content to protect Canadians and hold social media platforms and other online services accountable for the content they host, including by strengthening the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code to more effectively combat online hate and reintroduce measures to strengthen hate speech provisions, including the re-enactment of the former Section 13 provision.
  • Continue to work with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and partners to ensure Canada meets its goals to conserve 25 per cent of our lands and waters by 2025, and 30 per cent of each by 2030, working to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 in Canada, achieve a full recovery for nature by 2050 and champion this goal internationally. 
  • Work with the United States to expand cooperation on continental defence and Arctic security, including by modernizing NORAD through:
    • Replacing the North Warning System;
    • Deploying new technological solutions to improve surveillance and monitoring of northern and maritime approaches;
    • Modernizing CAF and NORAD command and control systems to deter and defeat aerospace threats to North America; and
    • Investing in infrastructure and capabilities to support operations in the North.
  • Ensure Canada remains a leading contributor to NATO operations, including by extending Operation REASSURANCE in Eastern Europe and maintaining regular participation in aerial and maritime patrol operations, and extending Canada’s support to Ukraine through Operation UNIFIER. 
  • Working towards a common and secure approach for a trusted digital identity platform to support seamless service delivery to Canadians across the country.
  • Work with the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons to develop a plan to both make Parliament a more inclusive place for families and to respond with greater agility in the event of a future national health crisis.
  • Work with industry, labour and other stakeholders to develop a regulated sales mandate that at least 50 per cent of all new light duty vehicle sales be zero emissions vehicles in 2030 as an interim step toward achieving Canada’s mandatory target of 100 per cent by 2035, and a regulated sales requirement that 100 per cent of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles sales be zero emission by 2040, where feasible.
  • With the support of the Minister of Natural Resources, 
  •  To achieve Zero Plastic Waste by 2030:
  • Providing financial support to provinces and territories that implement a ban on handguns across their jurisdiction;
  • Continue modernizing infrastructure and processes at Canada’s ports of entry, including digital and right touch technology for travellers and conveyances, and ensuring the safety, security and integrity of our borders. 
  • Work with the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities to bolster the security of ministers and Parliamentarians.
  • Continue moving forward on Self Government Recognition and Implementation Agreements with the Manitoba Métis Federation, the Métis Nation of Alberta, the Métis Nation of Ontario, and the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan, and on the Self-Government Framework Agreement with the Northwest Territory Métis Nation, and, as set out in our permanent bilateral process, meet regularly with Métis Nation partners to make progress on Métis priorities.
  • Continue to support territorial planning for hydroelectricity projects and other forms of renewable energy (e.g., wind and solar) and invest in renewable, sustainable and affordable sources of energy.
  • Require that travellers on interprovincial trains, commercial flights, cruise ships and other federally-regulated vessels be vaccinated, and continue to work with the federally regulated transportation sector to ensure that COVID-19 vaccination is prioritized for those workers.
  • Launch a procurement process and move forward with the High Frequency Rail project in the Toronto to Quebec City corridor using electrified technology, working towards the ultimate goal of extending the high frequency rail project to Southwestern Ontario.
  • Advance our commitments to launch a made-in-Canada model of open banking by early 2023 and to modernize Canada’s payments technology to deliver faster and lower cost options to securely and conveniently transfer funds.
  • Continue to bring newcomers to Canada to drive economic growth and recovery, as set out in the 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan.
  • Building on the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot, work with employers and communities across Canada to welcome 2,000 skilled refugees to fill labour shortages in high-demand sectors such as health care.
  • Work with opposition House Leaders and the Government Representative in the Senate to support the maintenance of the vaccine mandate in the House of Commons and the Senate.
  • Building on our commitment to old age security, increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement by $500 for single seniors and $750 for couples starting at age 65.

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