What is an Agent of Parliament

Background

• Officers or Agents of Parliament are parliamentary entities rather than government entities and are responsible directly to both houses of Parliament. They have independence from the government.
• The appointment of an Agent of Parliament is made by the Governor-in-Council.
• There are nine Officers or Agents of Parliament:
  1. The Auditor General of Canada;
  2. The Chief Electoral Officer of Canada;
  3. The Commissioner of Official Languages;
  4. The Information Commissioner of Canada;
  5. The Privacy Commissioner of Canada;
  6. The Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner;
  7. The Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada;
  8. The Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada; and
  9. The Parliamentary Budget Officer.
• Certain additional organizations, such as the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the Public Service Commission, are sometimes considered in the same category as the Agents of Parliament because of their degree of independence and functions.
• Agents of Parliament table a statutory or annual report to Parliament every year. The Privacy Commissioner of Canada tables both an annual report and can also table special reports to Parliament.

Strategic considerations

• The Commissioner occasionally participates in calls organized with the other Agents of Parliament, the purpose of which is to discuss matters of common interest.

Prepared by: Executive Secretariat