Deputy Minister (Canada)

In Canada, a Deputy Minister is the senior civil servant in a government department and assists the Minister of the department who is a member of the Canadian Cabinet or provincial Cabinet.

The most senior deputy minister is the Clerk of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada who is also Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister of Canada. This should not be confused with the position of Deputy Prime Minister of Canada who is not a deputy minister at all but a politician and senior member of the Cabinet. The position of Deputy Minister is equivalent to the British position of Permanent Secretary made famous in the television satire, Yes, Minister.

There are several individuals who have deputy minister rank(for example Robert Fonberg Deputy Minister of International Trade) and are known by other titles such as president, secretary or commissioner.

Provincial governments also have deputy ministers who serve the same function as their federal counterparts.

External link

*Departmental Deputy Ministers (current list)