2019 Minister’s Transition Book 1: Ministers' regional offices

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The Ministers' Regional Office program has been operational, under the department's responsibility, since 1986, with the mandate of providing secure accommodations, administrative and logistical support for on and off-site meetings and events for the Prime Minister, as well as Cabinet ministers and their staff, when conducting government business outside the National Capital Region. Moreover, the ministers' regional offices provide a secure communications hub in the regions, offering secret network and eCabinet capacity.

Background

There are 16 offices operating across the country: Whitehorse, Vancouver, Yellowknife, Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Kitchener, Toronto, Montreal, Iqaluit, Québec City, Fredericton, Charlottetown, Halifax, and St. John's.

The ministers' regional offices are not intended to duplicate the functions of constituency offices and other support provided by the House of Commons.

The Privy Council Office provides guidance to the program on service offerings, security requirements, and the general application of the Policies for Ministers' Offices.

The offices function as business centres for all Cabinet ministers, parliamentary secretaries and staff when travelling in the regions on government business. They are equipped with offices, boardrooms and kitchen facilities. Ministers often host stakeholder meetings and press conferences at the ministers' regional offices.

Each office is set up with secure telephones and faxes up to Top Secret, secure email up to Secret (over the Government of Canada Secret Infrastructure (GCSI) network), protected document storage and destruction and most have eCabinet capability to upload and download Cabinet documents onto tablets for ministers, and their chiefs of staff.

The department's ministers' regional office staff have Secret or Top Secret security clearance and maintain the physical security of the office by ensuring controlled access, and adhering to Corporate Security Guidelines for secure office accommodations. They provide administrative support and concierge services to visiting ministers. They also greet visitors, assist with hospitality services, and provide on and off-site event coordination.

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