Crown corporation

Definition

There is no common definition of a Crown corporation among Canadian governments. In its review of state-owned enterprise (SOE) governance in 54 countries, the OECD notes that in Canada, federal government SOEs are referred to as "Crown corporations."

The Canadian federal government defines its Crown corporations as corporations that (1) are wholly owned by the government; (2) have enabling legislation which sets out the corporation's mandate, powers, and objectives; and (3) operate at arm's length from the government, but are ultimately accountable to the government.

While the term "Crown corporation" is widely used in Canada, the province of Ontario refers to its government-owned entities as "agencies".

Economic impact

Crown corporations have a considerable economic footprint, with annual commercial operations equivalent to 7% of Canadian GDP. In 2023, government business enterprises had revenues of $199 billion, of which $120 billion was generated at the provincial and territorial level, $43 billion at the federal level, and $36 billion at the local level.

There were 47 federal Crown corporations in 2022. In 2025, Ontario had over 170 agencies, and British Columbia had 29 Crown corporations. There are hundreds of local government-owned enterprises that are sometimes referred to as Crown corporations. They provide local services such as electricity, potable and wastewater services, and public transit (ie, Metro Vancouver's public transit authority Translink).

Purpose

As long as Crown corporations have existed, there has been debate about their role and whether they should exist at all. Crown corporations are generally formed to fill a need that the government deems in the public or national interest, and that may not be profitable for private industry to provide. For example, Air Canada was created to be an active competitor in a market where competition and service was viewed as inadequate. Some Crown corporations are expected to be profitable organizations, while others are non-commercial and rely entirely on public funds to operate.

Structure

Ownership and accountability

In Canada, Crown corporations are directly owned by the government as the enterprise's sole legal shareholder. (Governments in Canada are sometimes referred to as "the Crown".) Established by an act of parliament or by articles of incorporation under the Canada Business Corporations Act, each Crown corporation is ultimately accountable for the conduct of its affairs to the federal parliament or a provincial legislature through the relevant minister.

Although Crown corporations are owned by the government, they are operated with much greater managerial autonomy than government departments. They generally enjoy greater freedom from direct political control than government departments since they are "shielded from constant government intervention and legislative oversight". The government can, however, have the minister responsible issue a directive to the board of directors ordering them to take a specific action; and the government carries out periodic mandate reviews to assess crown corporations' performance and cost-effectiveness.

Crown corporations differ from "departmental corporations" (such as the Canada Revenue Agency and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency), which have no commercial purpose and perform only administrative, research, advisory, or regulatory functions. In the federal sphere, certain Crown corporations can be an agent or non-agent of the government. One with agent status is entitled to the same constitutional prerogatives, privileges, and immunities held by the government and can bind the government by its acts. The government is not liable for Crown corporations with non-agent status, except for actions of that corporation carried out on instruction from the government, though there may be "moral obligations" on the part of the government in other circumstances.

Provincial Crown corporations

Provincial Crown corporations function similarly to their federal counterparts in that they are accountable to the provincial government, and their directors are appointed by the provincial cabinet. Areas in which provincial Crown corporations have traditionally been involved include utilities (e.g., Hydro-Québec), liquor stores and gaming (e.g., Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario), telecommunications (e.g., SaskTel), and auto insurance (e.g., Insurance Corporation of British Columbia).

History

Crown corporations have been created to provide important services in Canada - a large, sparsely populated country - usually because the private sector was unable or unwilling to provide such services. The first Canadian Crown corporation was the Board of Works, established in 1841 by the Province of Canada to construct shipping canals. Many of the most significant crown corporations created in the 20th century were designed to meet transportation needs. These include the Canadian National Railway Company (CN), created in 1922 from more than 200 companies, Air Canada, and the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority.

The Bank of Canada, originally privately owned, became a Crown corporation in 1938. After the Second World War, federal crown corporations were created to provide loans and financial services to groups whose needs were not always met by private institutions, such as farmers (Farm Credit Corporation), small businesses (Business Development Bank of Canada), and exporters (Export Development Canada).

Crown corporations have been most common in transport, telecommunications, utilities, and power generation, but they have also been involved in alcohol sales, gaming, finance, insurance, agriculture, culture and other industries. Significant crown corporations include Petro-Canada, which was founded in 1975 to create a national oil Crown corporation; and Canada Post Corporation, which in 1981 replaced the federal Post Office Department.

In the 1970s, a debate emerged about the role and effectiveness of crown corporations, and whether they had become too prominent in the economy. Inspired by Margaret Thatcher's sell-off of state assets in Britain in the 1980s, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney privatized many of Canada's Crown corporations, including Air Canada, Petro-Canada, and Canadair. Sectors that were once dominated by Crown corporations, such as telecommunications, were almost fully privatized. For example, most provinces sold off their phone companies in the 1990s. British Columbia sold off parts of BC Hydro, Saskatchewan privatized PotashCorp, the world's largest producer of fertilizer, and Nova Scotia privatized its electricity company Nova Scotia Power. Alberta privatized its liquor stores in 1996, although in this case, most other provinces did not follow suit. Nevertheless, some new crown corporations have since been created, such as the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) which was formed in response to the 11 September 2001 attacks to provide passenger and baggage screening at airports (rather than leave it to airlines).

{{Anchor|List of Canada's Crown corporations}}List of federal Crown corporations

List of provincial Crown corporations

Alberta

In Alberta, the term public agency is used to describe "boards, commissions, tribunals or other organizations established by government, but not part of a government department."

• Agriculture Financial Services Corporation
• Alberta Capital Finance Authority (ACFA)
• Alberta Enterprise Corporation (AEC)
• Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA)
• Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC)
• Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation
• Alberta Innovates (AI)
• Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo)
• Alberta Pensions Services Corporation
• Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission (APMC)
• Alberta Securities Commission
• Alberta Social Housing Corporation
• Alberta Treasury Branches (ATB Financial)
• Canadian Energy Centre
• Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation (Alberta) (CUDGC)
• Heritage Fund Opportunities Corporation
• Invest Alberta Corporation (IAC)
• Royal Alberta Museum (RAM)
• Travel Alberta

British Columbia

Main article: List of British Columbia Government Agencies and Crown Corporations

• BC Assessment Authority
• B.C. Council for International Education
• BC Games Society
• British Columbia Housing Management Commission (BC Housing)
• BC Hydro (formed in 1961) — took over the assets of the British Columbia Electric Railway.
• BC Immigrant Investment Fund
• BC Infrastructure Benefits (BCIB)
• BC Innovation Council (BCIC)
• BC Lottery Corporation
• BC Liquor Distribution Branch
  • BC Liquor Stores
  • BC Cannabis Stores
• BC Pavilion Corporation — originally created to manage the BC Pavilion during Expo 86, PavCo operates BC Place Stadium and the Vancouver Convention Centre.
• BC Pension Corporation
• BC Transit
• BC Transportation Financing Authority
• British Columbia Investment Management Corporation ()
• British Columbia Public School Employers' Association
• British Columbia Railway Company
• British Columbia Securities Commission
• Columbia Basin Trust
• Columbia Power Corporation
• Community Living BC
• Community Social Services Employers' Association
• Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area
• Crown Corporations Employers' Association
• Destination BC
• First Peoples' Cultural Council
• Forestry Innovation Investment
• Health Employers Association of British Columbia
• Industry Training Authority
• Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC; formed in 1973)
• Knowledge Network
• Legal Services Society
• Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society
• Oil and Gas Commission (formed in 1998)
• Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia
• Pacific Carbon Trust
• Partnerships British Columbia Inc.
• Post-secondary Employers' Association of British Columbia
• Private Career Training Institutions Agency
• Royal British Columbia Museum (RBCM)
• Transportation Investment Corporation (formed in 2008)

Manitoba

Crown corporations in Manitoba are supported by Manitoba Crown Services.

• Efficiency Manitoba
• Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation
• Manitoba Arts Council
• Combative Sports Commission (formerly Manitoba Boxing Commission)
• Manitoba Film and Music
• Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation
• Manitoba Hydro
  • Centra Gas Manitoba
• Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation
• Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation

New Brunswick

• Atlantic Lottery Corporation
• Financial and Consumer Services Commission
• NB Power
• New Brunswick Liquor Corporation
• Service New Brunswick
• New Brunswick Community College
• New Brunswick Investment Management Corporation
• WorkSafeNB

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation Limited
• Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Nalcor Energy
• Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation
• Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro
• Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
• Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation
• Defence Construction Canada

Nova Scotia

• Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
• Build Nova Scotia (formerly Waterfront Development Corporation Limited)
• Film and Creative Industries Nova Scotia
• Halifax Convention Centre Corporation (operating as Events East Group)
• Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission
• Harbourside Commercial Park Inc. (HCPI)
• Highway 104 Western Alignment Corporation — created by statute but independent of government
• Innovacorp
• Nova Scotia Arts Council
• Nova Scotia Beef Commission
• Nova Scotia Business Incorporated
• Nova Scotia Crop and Livestock Insurance Commission
• Nova Scotia Farm Loan Board
• Nova Scotia Fisheries & Aquaculture Loan Board
• Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation
• Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation
• Nova Scotia Harness Racing Incorporated
• Nova Scotia Housing Development Corporation
• Nova Scotia Lands Incorporated (NSLI)
• Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC)
• Nova Scotia Municipal Finance Corporation (NSMFC)
• Nova Scotia Power Finance Corporation
• Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency
• Nova Scotia Resources Limited
• Perennia Food and Agriculture Inc.
• Renova Scotia Bioenergy Inc. (former Bowater Mersey assets)
• Rockingham Terminal Inc.
• Sydney Environmental Resources Limited
• Tidal Power Corporation
• Tourism Nova Scotia

Ontario

Crown corporations in Ontario are referred to as Crown agencies. A Crown agency includes any board, commission, railway, public utility, university, factory, company or agency that is established or operated by the King in Right of Ontario or the Government of Ontario, or under the authority of the Legislature or the Lieutenant Governor-in-Council.

• Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario
• Education Quality and Accountability Office
• Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario
• GroupeMédia TFO
• Independent Electricity System Operator
• Infrastructure Ontario
• Liquor Control Board of Ontario
• McMichael Canadian Art Collection
• Metrolinx
• Municipal Property Assessment Corporation
• Niagara Escarpment Commission
• Niagara Parks Commission
• Northern Ontario Heritage Fund
• Ontario Agricorp
• Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion
• Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation
• Ontario Clean Water Agency
• Ontario Educational Communications Authority
• Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation
• Ontario Northland Transportation Commission
• Ontario Health
• Ontario Power Generation
• Ontario Science Centre
• Ontario Securities Commission
• Owen Sound Transportation Company
• Royal Ontario Museum
• Science North
• St. Lawrence Parks Commission
• Trilcor Correctional Industries
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Board

Prince Edward Island

Main article: List of Prince Edward Island Government Agencies and Crown Corporations

• Charlottetown Area Development Corporation
• Innovation PEI
• Island Investment Development Inc.
• P.E.I. Student Financial Assistance Corporation
• Island Waste Management Corporation
• P.E.I. Aquaculture and Fisheries Research Initiative Inc.
• Prince Edward Island Agricultural Insurance Corporation
• Prince Edward Island Energy Corporation
• Prince Edward Island Grain Elevators Corporation
• Prince Edward Island Liquor Control Commission
• Prince Edward Island Self-Insurance and Risk Management Fund
• Summerside Regional Development Corporation

Saskatchewan

• Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan (CIC)
• eHealth Saskatchewan
• Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority
• Global Transportation Hub (GTH)
• Municipal Financing Corporation of Saskatchewan (MFC)
• Saskatchewan Association of Rehabilitation Centres (SARC)
• SaskAbilities
• Saskatchewan Distance Learning Corporation (DLC)
• Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI)
• Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC)
• Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA)
• Saskatchewan Opportunities Corporation (SOCO)
• Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency
• Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC)
• SaskBuilds
• SaskEnergy
• SaskGaming
• SaskPower
• SaskTel
• SaskWater
• Tourism Saskatchewan
• Water Security Agency
• SaskNuclear

List of territorial Crown corporations

Northwest Territories

• Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation
• Northwest Territories Power Corporation
• NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation
• NWT Housing Corporation
• Aurora College

Nunavut

• Qulliq Energy
• Nunavut Arctic College

Yukon

• Yukon Arts Centre
• Yukon Energy
• Yukon Hospital Corporation
• Yukon Liquor Corporation

Former Crown corporations

Several private Canadian companies were once Crown corporations, while others have gone defunct.

References

References

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2. (2012-09-28). "Overview of federal organizations and interests".
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8. Secretariat, Treasury Board of Canada. (2007-05-15). "List of Crown corporations".
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18. (2005). "Meeting the Expectations of Canadians: Review of the Governance Framework for Canada's Crown Corporations". Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.
19. (2021-03-29). "List of Crown corporations".
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22. [http://www.bcpavco.com/ BC Pavilion Corporation Official website]
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24. "Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC)".
25. [https://fcnb.ca/ Financial and Consumer Services Commission]
26. ''[http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90c48_e.htm Crown Agency Act]'', R.S.O. 1990, c. 48.
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29. (March 26, 2003). "Bill 18 – 2003: Coastal Ferry Act".
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