List of Canadian royal commissions

Overview

An inquiry called by the federal government into matters of national concern are known in Canada as royal commissions or commissions of inquiry. These consist of a panel of distinguished individuals, experts, or judges convened by the governor-in-Council (the governor general acting on the advice of Cabinet) to look into and secure advice for an issue of general importance or to fully investigate a specific contentious incident. This is done according to the Inquiries Act, which was first passed by the Parliament of Canada in 1868 and provides royal commissions, commissions of inquiry, task forces, and departmental investigations the power to conduct investigations by subpoenaing witnesses, taking evidence under oath, requisitioning documents, and hiring expert staff.

Once the commission's task is complete, its findings are reported to Cabinet for appropriate action.

In practice, royal commissions can be seen as commissions of inquiry under the Great Seal of Canada that carry a royal title;

There are several different kinds of commissions of inquiry, which can be established under either Part I or Part II of the Inquiries Act, or any one of 87 or more federal statutes. The mandate of a commission of inquiry depends on the nature of the issue to be considered. Advisory commissions usually have a broad mandate in order to ensure that commissioners consider all options and consult all parties with an interest in the matter, whereas investigative commissions typically have a more specific, focused mandate. Commissions of inquiry created under Part I of the Inquiries Act are considered to government departments for the purposes of the Financial Administration Act (FAA). Oftentimes, the prime minister is given responsibility for the commission for the purposes of the FAA, thus enabling the commission to receive administrative support from the Privy Council Office.

Other types of public inquiry in Canada that are closely related to royal commissions include There are also departmental investigations, which can be established by departments and other agencies under statutory powers of the Inquiries Act.

Federal inquiries are limited to matters within the constitutional jurisdiction of the Parliament of Canada. They can only look at issues within provincial jurisdiction that are connected to federal jurisdiction, such as policing on-reserve, child welfare on-reserve, etcetera. The Crown in right of each province can also appoint a royal commission, although, they are not included in this list.

Royal commissions

Commissions of inquiry

Task forces

Other public inquiries

Many of these are task forces in miniature.

Provincial commissions and inquiries

References

References

1. For an account of the origins of Canada's original Inquiries Act see Tom Mitchell, "1846: Canada's First Inquiries Act," ''Journal of Canadian Studies'', Vol. 55, No. 3, 2021.
2. Fox, Paul. (7 February 2006). "Royal Commissions". Historica Canada.
3. Library and Archives Canada. (19 March 2013). "Index to Federal Royal Commissions". Queen's Printer for Canada.
4. Privy Council Office. (12 April 2017). "Commissions of inquiry". Queen's Printer for Canada.
5. Privy Council Office. (21 December 2017). "About commissions of inquiry". Queen's Prnter for Canada.
6. Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. (1 April 2016). "Fact sheet on inquiries". Queen's Printer for Canada.
7. "Commission to Inquire into the Present State and Probable Requirements of the Civil Service (Civil Service Commission)".
8. (December 16, 2013). "Royal Commission on Patents, Copyright and Industrial Designs".
9. "Report of the Royal Commission on Security (Mackenzie Commission) (1969)".
10. (8 Mar 2016). "Safety is everyone's responsibility".
11. "Disclaimer - Electronic Collection".
12. (July 3, 2014). "Commission of Inquiry into the Sponsorship Program and Advertising Activities".
13. "About".
14. (December 16, 2013). "Federal Task Force on Agriculture".
15. (December 16, 2013). "Task Force on Foreign Ownership".
16. (December 16, 2013). "Task Force on Canadian Unity".
17. "Royal Commission re Charges Against the Chief Clerk of the Department of Agriculture and Immigration".
18. "Royal Commission Constituted to Inquire into all Matters Pertaining to the Manitoba Agricultural College".
19. "Royal Commission Constituted to Inquire into and Report on all Expenditures for Road Work during the Year 1914".
20. Mitchell, Tom. "Strike or Revolution? H.A. Robson’s Inquiry and the Winnipeg General Strike".
21. "[https://news.umanitoba.ca/manitoba-law-school-co-founder-a-labour-jurist-ahead-of-his-time/ Manitoba Law School co-founder 'A labour jurist ahead of his time']". ''UM Today''. November 12, 2019. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
22. "Royal Commission to Enquire into and Report upon the Causes and Effects of the General Strike which Recently Existed in the City of Winnipeg for a Period of Six Weeks, Including the Methods of Calling and Carrying on Such Strike".
23. "Royal Commission on Adult Education".
24. "[http://pam.minisisinc.com/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/PAM_AUTHORITY/AUTH_DESC_DET_REP/SISN%202457?sessionsearch Royal Commission on Education]". ''Archives of Manitoba''.
25. (1958). "Report of the Royal Commission on the Development of Northern Alberta". The Commission.
26. (1959). "Report of the Royal Commission on Education in Alberta, 1959". L.S. Wall, Printer to the Queen.
27. "Commission d'enquête sur la vente du réseau de gaz de l'Hydro-Québec à la Corporation de gaz naturel du Québec". Bibliothèque de l'Assemblée Nationale du Québec.
28. "Commission d'enquête sur les méthodes d'achat utilisées au Département de la colonisation et au Service des achats du gouvernement". Bibliothèque de l'Assemblée Nationale du Québec.
29. (1963). "Report of the Alberta Royal Commission on Prearranged Funeral Services". The Commission.
30. (1967). "Report of the Alberta Royal Commission on Juvenile Delinquency". The Commission.
31. Ontario. Royal Commission on Matters of Health and Safety Arising from the Use of Asbestos in Ontario. "Report of the Royal Commission on Matters of Health and Safety Arising from the Use of Asbestos in Ontario". Internet Archive.
32. "Home - Taman Inquiry into the Investigation and Prosecution of Derek Harvey-Zenk".
33. "Ontario's Long Term Care Commission".
34. "Commissioners".