Agencies: Boards, Commissions, Councils, Authorities and Foundations

There are approximately 630 agencies to which the provincial government makes appointments. They vary in size from large operating agencies like the Liquor Control Board of Ontario to small advisory committees like the Ontario Geographic Names Board.

An agency means a provincial government organization:

• which is established by the government, but is not part of a ministry;
  which is accountable to the government;
• to which the government appoints the majority of the appointees; and,
• to which the government has assigned or delegated authority and responsibility, or which otherwise has statutory authority and responsibility to perform a public function or service.

Agencies listed on the Public Appointments Secretariat website include government agencies, as well as the many agencies excluded from the financial and administrative requirements of the provincial government, but to which the government makes at least one representative appointment.

About 4,300 Ontarians serve the province by sitting on agencies, boards and commissions. They do important work. To cite a few examples, some oversee local police or health services, others consider rent rates, and still others compensate the injured victims of crime.

Anyone may apply to serve on a provincial agency, board or commission.