Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Act (S.C. 2024, c. 15, s. 323)

Short Title

Marginal note:Short title

1 This Act may be cited as the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Act.

Definition

Marginal note:Definition of Department

2 In this Act, Department means the department established under section 3.

Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

Marginal note:Department established

3 A department of the Government of Canada, called the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, is established and is to be presided over by the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.

Marginal note:Deputy Minister

4 The Governor in Council may appoint a Deputy Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities to hold office during pleasure and to be the deputy head of the Department.

Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

Marginal note:Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

5 The Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, appointed by commission under the Great Seal, holds office during pleasure and has the management and direction of the Department.

Marginal note:Powers, duties and functions

• 6 (1) The powers, duties and functions of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities extend to and include all matters relating to public infrastructure over which Parliament has jurisdiction and that are not by law assigned to any other department, board or agency of the Government of Canada.

• Marginal note:Particulars

  (2) Without restricting the generality of subsection (1), the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities’ duties and functions include supporting and promoting infrastructure projects and initiatives that are in the public interest in order to foster the prosperity, inclusivity and environmental sustainability of communities.

Minister of Housing

Marginal note:Appointment

7 A Minister of Housing may be appointed by commission under the Great Seal to hold office during pleasure.

Marginal note:Powers, duties and functions

• 8 (1) The powers, duties and functions of the Minister of Housing extend to and include all matters relating to housing and the reduction and prevention of homelessness over which Parliament has jurisdiction and that are not by law assigned to any other Minister, department, board or agency of the Government of Canada.

• Marginal note:Particulars

  (2) Without restricting the generality of subsection (1), the Minister of Housing’s duties and functions include advancing national housing priorities and reducing and preventing homelessness to foster the prosperity, inclusivity and environmental sustainability of communities.

Marginal note:Use of departmental services and facilities

9 The Minister of Housing is to make use of the Department services and facilities and may authorize employees of the Department to exercise any power or perform any duty or function of the Minister of Housing.

Provisions Applicable to Both Ministers

Marginal note:No Minister appointed

10 If no Minister is appointed under section 7,

• (a) the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities is to exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the Minister of Housing; and

• (b) every reference to the Minister of Housing in any Act of Parliament or in any order, regulation or other instrument made under an Act of Parliament is to be read as a reference to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, unless the context otherwise requires.

Marginal note:General duties and powers

11 The Minister of Infrastructure and Communities or the Minister of Housing, as the case may be, may, in exercising their powers and performing their duties and functions,

• (a) establish, recommend, coordinate and implement initiatives, programs and projects;

• (b) make grants and contributions;

• (c) collaborate or enter into agreements or other arrangements with other federal, provincial or territorial departments, boards and agencies, local governments, Indigenous bodies or any institution or person;

• (d) undertake, coordinate and promote research activities; and

• (e) subject to the Statistics Act, collect, analyze, interpret, publish or distribute information.

Marginal note:Committees

• 12 (1) The Minister of Infrastructure and Communities or the Minister of Housing, as the case may be, may establish advisory and other committees and provide for their membership, duties, functions and operation.

• Marginal note:Remuneration

  (2) The Minister of Infrastructure and Communities or the Minister of Housing, as the case may be, may fix the remuneration that members of a committee are to be paid for the performance of their duties and functions.

• Marginal note:Travel, living and other expenses

  (3) Members of a committee are entitled to be reimbursed, in accordance with Treasury Board directives, for the travel, living and other expenses incurred for the performance of their duties and functions while absent from their ordinary place of residence.