A special operating agency (SOA) is a designation given to a government organization within a department or agency of the Government of Canada, or a provincial government, that has some management flexibility, independence, and separate accountability. Federal SOAs function, without legislation, within a framework agreement approved by their given department's deputy minister, the minister responsible for the agency, and the Treasury Board. They are considered part of the host department and not separate legal entities.

Special operating agencies also exist among some provincial governments in Canada.

Federal special operating agencies

Former

The first 5 SOAs were created in December 1989 on a pilot basis:

• Canada Communication Group (Public Works and Government Services) (1989–1997)

• Consulting and Audit Canada (Public Works and Government Services) (1989–2013)

• Government Telecommunications Agency (GTA) (Communications) (1989–1994)

• Passport Canada (Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development) (1989–2013)

• Training and Development Canada (named Public Service Staff Training Program upon its inception) (Public Service Commission of Canada) (1989–2004)

Other were created later on and have since been dissolved:

• Canada Investment and Savings (named Canada Retail Debt Agency from 1995 to 1996) (Finance) (1995–2007)

• Canadian Grain Commission (Agriculture and Agri-Food) (1992–1999)

• Industrial Technologies Office (named Technology Partnerships Canada from 1996 to 2006) (Innovation, Science and Economic Development) (1996–2017)

Provincial special operating agencies

Special operating agencies also exist among some provincial governments in Canada.

Manitoba

References