Role and Structure of FPTR

The Privy Council Office’s Federal-Provincial-Territorial-Relations (FPTR) Secretariat provides advice and support to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs on policies, communications and parliamentary affairs relating to federal-provincial-territorial relations. This includes fiscal federalism, the evolution of the federation and Canadian unity.

The Federal Provincial Territorial Relations Secretariat, which is part of the Plans and Consultations and Intergovernmental Affairs Branch within PCO, falls under the responsibility of the Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet for Plans and Consultations and Intergovernmental Affairs. The FPTR portion of the Deputy Secretary’s overall mandate covers:

• Policy advice and strategic planning related to national unity, the broad federal-provincial-territorial agenda, constitutional and legal issues, and fiscal federalism. These files require close collaboration with a number of departments, including Finance, Justice, Treasury Board, and several others;
• Liaison and advice on relations with the provinces and territories and the management of the federation; and
• Communications and parliamentary affairs support on issues and initiatives with important federal-provincial-territorial dimensions.

The Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Federal-Provincial-Territorial-Relations, manages the FPTR Secretariat and is responsible for the development of strategic planning, integrated analysis and intergovernmental relations policy, options and advice on a variety of issues. These relate primarily to fiscal, economic, legal and constitutional matters, as well as to federalism in general. The Assistant Secretary, FPTR, also provides the Prime Minister and the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs with an integrated view of relations with the provinces and territories across the government’s broad policy agenda. He or she works with other PCO branches, federal departments/agencies and provincial-territorial governments to assess policy options and provide advice on issues related to intergovernmental relations. The Assistant Secretary, FPTR, also provides communications and parliamentary affairs support to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.