Definitions and roles
In Québec's public administrative system, every government instance is identified based on its main role. There are two main kinds of instances:
- Instances other than corporations (advisory bodies, agencies, boards, committees...)
- Government corporations and their subsidiaries
Instances other than corporations
Advisory committees provide ministers or government agencies with opinions primarily concerning certain aspects of implementation of specific policies.
Advisory councils provide ministers with opinions on the overall policy pertaining to a specific activity sector.
Commissions are primarily tasked with inquiry, examination, arbitration, study, assessment, verification and monitoring in areas of government jurisdiction.
Agencies are mandated to oversee activities other than commercial, industrial or financial.
Boards harmonize the exercise of private activities by enforcing legislative standards. They ensure compliance with these standards and authorize activities based on socio-economic or technical considerations.
After hearing the parties concerned, administrative tribunals hand down or amend decisions by a body regarding a right granted a citizen in an area of the law outside the jurisdiction of regular courts or procedure.
Government corporations and their subsidiaries
Government corporations are entrusted with the commercial, financial or industrial management of instances based on the goals of profitability and self-financing.
Administrative companies are entrusted with commercial, financial or industrial management based on the goals of efficiency and effectiveness. Examples are retirement or insurance plan management bodies, development or infrastructure corporations, financial or technical assistance corporations and service corporations.
To learn more about the official abbreviations of the gouvernement du Québec departments and agencies, please see the Government Abbreviations list.
In Québec's public administrative system, every government instance is identified based on its main role (board, corporation, office, etc). For more information, visit the section definitions and roles.
