Welcome Minister

Welcome to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), a science-based economic department mandated to manage Canada’s fisheries and safeguard its waters. This includes the Canadian Coast Guard, a Special Operating Agency within DFO responsible for the safety, security and accessibility of Canada's waterways.

As per the 2018-19 Main Estimates, DFO’s current approved authorities are 2.4 billion. DFO employs more than 12,000 employees, over 85 percent of whom are located outside of Ottawa at approximately 350 locations across the country. This puts DFO among the top three custodial departments in terms of its real property footprint, as well as often being the only representative of the federal government in many small coastal communities.

In addition to its headquarters in Ottawa, there are six regional centres representing the Pacific (BC and Yukon), Central and Arctic (Prairie provinces, Ontario, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories), Quebec, Gulf (northern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton), Maritimes (the rest of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia), and Newfoundland and Labrador.

In 2016, products and outputs of the commercial fishing, aquaculture and fish processing industries were valued at approximately $6 billion. These industries also employ close to 80,000 people across Canada and play a critical employment role in many remote coastal communities. Through the Fisheries Act, you have authority regarding allocation decisions for managing these economically important fisheries.

In order to make your transition to DFO as smooth as possible, the Department will provide support to ensure your office is well established to meet your needs. This will be coordinated by the Departmental Assistant, a Departmental official who is assigned by the Deputy Minister to facilitate the transmittal of departmental advice and who will be a key coordinator for arranging your office to best suit your requirements.

Upon your arrival, this support will include:

• security requirements: assistance will be provided to ensure that all security requirements are implemented for the safety of you and your office, including arranging security consultations and briefings and providing appropriate tools for the protection of sensitive information. In addition, the Department will assist in obtaining or validating security clearances for any incoming staff
• human resources: support will be provided to facilitate the arrival of incoming staff, including the creation of letters of offer, as well as the provision of welcome kits with key administrative information. The Department can also provide temporary administrative support staff to assist you with establishing your office
• financial advice: you will receive a letter from the Treasury Board (historically received in the weeks following your appointment) outlining budgetary information for your office. The Department will be available to provide information and address any questions which may arise regarding your Ministerial budget
• vehicle services: your vehicle will be available to you immediately following the swearing in ceremony, as well as a temporary driver should you require one
• administrative needs: the Department will be available to address any administrative needs which may arise, and your preferences will be sought regarding several administrative items, including the selection of electronic devices, the establishment of protocols for the use of an auto-pen, and the arrangement of your office suite and business cards

Once your Chief of Staff has been appointed, the Department will provide them with a welcome kit containing more detailed administrative information to help establish your office and address any requirements you may have.

The Department is also prepared to brief you on its mandate, as well as legislation (e.g., Access to Information and Privacy Act) and practices (e.g., information management) relevant to the day to day operations of a Minister’s office. The Departmental Assistant will work with your office to coordinate these sessions, depending on your availability and interest.

Please find below a list of key contacts, should you require any immediate assistance in the coming days.

We look forward to helping you advance an exciting and challenging mandate.