Treasury Board

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In the government of Canada the Treasury Board is the only statutory cabinet committee. It is in charge of the federal civil service, and for much of the operation of the Canadian government. Among its specific duties are negotiating labour agreements with the public service unions and serving as Comptroller General.

The Canadian cabinet is arranged into several committees, but all other ones are informal structures and frequently change. The Treasury Board is the only one created by law, and is officially a committee of the privy council. Its role in government makes it far more powerful than most cabinet committees. It is also unique in having its committee chair, President of the Treasury Board, as a separate cabinet minister. The Treasury Board is supported by the Treasury Board Secretariat.

The committee is composed of five of the most powerful cabinet ministers, always including the Minister of Finance. Currently the other four ministers are Carol Skelton, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of Western Economic Diversification; Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians; Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry; Michael Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services. The current President of the Treasury Board is John Baird.