Special operating agency

A special operating agency (SOA) is a designation given to a government organization within a department or agency of the Government of Canada, or a provincial government, that has some management flexibility, independence, and separate accountability. Federal SOAs function, without legislation, within a framework agreement approved by their given department's deputy minister, the minister responsible for the agency, and the Treasury Board. They are considered part of the host department and not separate legal entities.^[1][2]

Special operating agencies also exist among some provincial governments in Canada.^[3]

Federal special operating agencies

Current

Agency[4]	Established as SOA	Parent department
Build Canada Homes	2025	Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
Canadian Coast Guard	2005	National Defence
Canadian Conservation Institute	1992	Canadian Heritage
Canadian Forces Housing Agency	1995	National Defence
Canadian Heritage Information Network	1992	Canadian Heritage
Canadian Intellectual Property Office	1992	Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency	1993	Agriculture and Agri-Food
CORCAN[5]	1992	Public Safety (Correctional Service of Canada)
Defence Investment Agency[6]	2025	Public Services and Procurement
Defence Research and Development Canada[7]	2000	National Defence
Health Emergency Readiness Canada[8]	2024	Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Indian Oil and Gas Canada (IOGC)[9]	1993	Indigenous Services Canada
Major Projects Office	2025	Privy Council Office
Measurement Canada	1996	Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy	1997	Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Physical Resources Bureau[10]	1993	Global Affairs
Translation Bureau	1995	Public Services and Procurement

Former

• Canada Communication Group (Public Works and Government Services) (1989-1997)
• Canada Investment and Savings (named Canada Retail Debt Agency from 1995 to 1996) (Finance) (1995-2007)
• Canadian Grain Commission (Agriculture and Agri-Food) (1992-1999)
• Consulting and Audit Canada (Public Works and Government Services) (1989-2013)
• Government Telecommunications Agency (GTA) (Communications) (1989-1994)
• Industrial Technologies Office (named Technology Partnerships Canada from 1996 to 2006) (Innovation, Science and Economic Development) (1996-2017)^[11]
• Passport Canada (Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development) (1989-2013)
• Training and Development Canada (Public Service Commission of Canada) (1989-2004)

Provincial special operating agencies

Special operating agencies also exist among some provincial governments in Canada.

Manitoba

Agency	Parent department	Notes
Entrepreneurship Manitoba	Public Service Delivery[12]
Materials Distribution Agency	Public Service Delivery[12]	The mail and materials management services agency for the provincial government and government-funded organizations[13]
Manitoba Education, Research and Learning Information Networks (MERLIN)	Public Service Delivery[12]	Coordinates the delivery of technology services to the education community in Manitoba
Public Guardian and Trustee	Public Service Delivery[12]	Manages and protects the affairs of those who are "unable to do so themselves and have no one else willing or able to act," including mentally incompetent and vulnerable adults, deceased estates, and children
Vehicle and Equipment Management Agency	Public Service Delivery[12]	Fleet management organizations for public-sector organizations operating in Manitoba
Industrial Technology Centre (former)[14]	Manitoba Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation
Office of the Fire Commissioner[15]
Manitoba Financial Services Agency[16]	Manitoba Finance
Food Development Centre	Manitoba Agriculture	Fee-for-service agency created to "assist Manitoba's agrifood industry in the development and commercialization of food products."[17]
Green Manitoba[18]	Manitoba Environment and Climate Change

References

1. Secretariat, Treasury Board of Canada (2012-09-28). "Overview of federal organizations and interests". aem. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
2. Elizabeth Thompson (2025-10-29). "How do Carney's special agencies work? Governing documents are being kept secret". CBC News.
3. "Manitoba Securities Commission." Manitoba Finance. 2022. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
4. "Inventory of Federal Organizations and Interests". GC InfoBase. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
5. "Overview CORCAN". Correctional Service of Canada. 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
6. "Backgrounder: Defence Investment Agency". www.canada.ca. 2025-10-02. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
7. "Defence Research and Development Canada". www.canada.ca. 2020-11-05. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
8. "Federal government launches Health Emergency Readiness Canada to strengthen preparedness for future health emergencies". www.canada.ca. 2024-09-24. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
9. "Indian Oil and Gas Canada". Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. 2008-11-03. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
10. "Physical Resources Bureau". GC InfoBase. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
11. "About Industrial Technologies Office (ITO)". Innovation Canada. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
12. "Consumer Protection and Government Services". Province of Manitoba - Consumer Protection and Government Services. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
13. "MDA | Home". mda.gov.mb.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
14. "Winnipeg business takes over provincial agency as province privatizes Industrial Technology Centre". CBC News. 2021-12-02. Archived from the original on 2023-04-17.
15. "Archives of Manitoba | Keystone Archives Descriptive Database". pam.minisisinc.com. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
16. "Finance | Province of Manitoba". Province of Manitoba - Finance. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
17. "Agriculture". Province of Manitoba. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
18. "Manitoba". Canada Conserves. 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2023-04-13.