SHORT TITLE

Marginal note:Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec Act.

INTERPRETATION

Marginal note:Definitions

2. The following definitions apply in this Act.

“Agency”

« Agence »

“Agency” means the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec established by section 8.

“enterprise”

« entreprise »

“enterprise” includes a social economy enterprise.

“Minister”

« ministre »

“Minister” means the Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.

PURPOSE

Marginal note:Purpose

3. The purpose of this Act is to promote the development and diversification of the economy of the regions of Quebec.

MINISTER

Marginal note:Appointment

• 4. (1) The Minister shall be appointed by commission under the Great Seal to hold office during pleasure.

• Marginal note:Powers, duties and functions

  (2) The powers, duties and functions of the Minister extend to and include all matters over which Parliament has jurisdiction, not by law assigned to any other department, board or agency of the Government of Canada other than the Agency, relating to the promotion of the development and diversification of the economy of the regions of Quebec.

• Marginal note:Coordination

  (3) In exercising the powers and performing the duties and functions assigned by subsection (2), the Minister shall

  • (a) guide, promote and coordinate the policies and programs of the Government of Canada in relation to the development and diversification of the economy of the regions of Quebec; and

  • (b) lead and coordinate the activities of the Government of Canada in the establishment of cooperative relationships with Quebec and with business, labour and other public and private bodies in that province.

• Marginal note:Committees

  (4) The Minister may establish advisory and other committees and provide for their membership, duties, functions and operation.

• Marginal note:Remuneration

  (5) Members of a committee shall be paid, in connection with their work for the committee, the remuneration that may be fixed by the Governor in Council.

• Marginal note:Travel, living and other expenses

  (6) Members of a committee are entitled to be reimbursed, in accordance with Treasury Board directives, the travel, living and other expenses incurred in connection with their work for the committee while absent, in the case of full-time members, from their ordinary place of work or, in the case of part-time members, from their ordinary place of residence.

Marginal note:Minister to preside

• 5. (1) The Minister shall preside over the Agency.

• Marginal note:Agreements

  (2) In exercising the powers and performing the duties and functions under this Act, the Minister may enter into agreements with the government of Quebec or any agency of that government, or with any other entity or person, including cooperation agreements and agreements related to distinct sectors of Quebec's economy.

• Marginal note:Restriction — federal election

  (3) No grant or contribution shall be announced from the date that a federal election has been called until the day after voting day.

Marginal note:Powers, duties and functions of the Minister

6. The Minister shall exercise his or her powers and perform his or her duties and functions in a manner that will

• (a) promote economic development in the regions of Quebec where low incomes and/or slow economic growth are prevalent or where opportunities for productive employment are inadequate;

• (b) emphasize long-term economic development and sustainable employment and income creation; and

• (c) focus on small- and medium-sized enterprises and on the development of entrepreneurial talent.

Marginal note:Shares and related instruments

7. Subject to any regulations, the Minister may acquire, exercise, assign or sell a stock option, share warrant, share or other similar financial instrument obtained as a condition of a loan or contribution made, a guarantee given or loan insurance or credit insurance provided under subsection 11(1) or in the course of the collection or enforcement of a debtor’s obligation to the Agency.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF CANADA FOR THE REGIONS OF QUEBEC

Marginal note:Agency established

8. An Agency of the Government of Canada to be known as the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec is established.

Marginal note:President

• 9. (1) The Governor in Council shall appoint an officer to be the deputy of the Minister, who shall be called the President of the Agency and who shall hold office during pleasure.

• Marginal note:Chief executive officer

  (2) The President is the chief executive officer of the Agency and, under the direction of the Minister, has control and supervision over the work, officers and employees of the Agency.

• Marginal note:Acting President

  (3) In the event of the absence or incapacity of the President or a vacancy in that office, the Minister shall appoint another person to act as the President, but no person may act as President for a period exceeding 90 days without the approval of the Governor in Council.

• Marginal note:Remuneration

  (4) The President shall be paid the remuneration set by the Governor in Council.

OBJECT, POWERS AND DUTIES

Marginal note:Object

• 10. (1) The object of the Agency is to promote the long-term economic development of the regions of Quebec by giving special attention to those where slow economic growth is prevalent or where opportunities for productive employment are inadequate.

• Marginal note:Cooperation and complementarity

  (2) In carrying out its object, the Agency shall take such measures as will promote cooperation and complementarity with Quebec and communities in Quebec.

Marginal note:Powers

• 11. (1) In carrying out its object, the Agency may

  • (a) in cooperation with other concerned ministers and boards and agencies of the Government of Canada, formulate and implement policies, plans and integrated federal approaches;

  • (a.1) plan and implement mechanisms to facilitate cooperation and concerted action with Quebec and communities in;

  • (b) plan, implement, direct and manage programs and projects, or offer services, intended to contribute directly or indirectly

    • (i) to the establishment, development, support and promotion of enterprises, and more particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises, in Quebec,

    • (ii) to the development of entrepreneurial talent in Quebec,

    • (iii) to economic prosperity in Quebec, and

    • (iv) to the development of communities in Quebec;

  • (c) plan, implement, direct and manage programs and projects, or offer services, to improve the economic environment in Quebec, including programs, projects and serv­ices

    • (i) of support to business associations, conferences, studies, consultations, trade shows, demonstration projects and market research,

    • (ii) related to the development of economic opportunity data banks and networks,

    • (iii) to improve business communication and cooperation, and

    • (iv) to promote knowledge related to business and investment;

  • (d) collect, gather — by survey or other- wise —, compile, analyse, coordinate and dissem­inate information relating to the development and diversification of the economy of the regions of Quebec;

  • (e) assist investors to establish enterprises, and more particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises, in Quebec, consistent with federal investment requirements and in accordance with terms and conditions approved by the Treasury Board;

  • (f) make loans to any person with respect to the establishment and development of enterprises, and more particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises, in Quebec;

  • (g) guarantee the repayment of, or provide loan insurance or credit insurance in respect of, any financial obligation undertaken by any person with respect to the establishment and development of enterprises referred to in paragraph (f);

  • (h) make grants and contributions in support of programs and projects undertaken by the Agency or the Minister;

  • (i) enter into contracts, memoranda of understanding or other arrangements in the name of Her Majesty in right of Canada or in the name of the Agency, including cooperation agreements and agreements related to distinct sectors of Quebec’s economy; and

  • (j) do any other thing necessary or incidental to the attainment of the object of the Agency.

• Marginal note:Other functions

  (2) The Agency may also perform any other functions assigned to it by order of the Governor in Council.

Marginal note:Duties

12. The Agency shall assist the Minister

• (a) generally, in the exercise of powers and the performance of duties and functions under this Act and any other Act in respect of which powers, duties and functions are assigned to the Minister;

• (b) in guiding, promoting and coordinating the policies and programs of the Government of Canada in relation to the development and diversification of the economy of the regions of Quebec;

• (c) in leading and coordinating the activities of the Government of Canada in the establishment of cooperative relationships with Quebec and with business, labour and other public and private bodies in that province;

• (d) by administering any agreements entered into under subsection 5(2);

• (e) in the exercise of powers conferred on the Minister by section 7; and

• (f) by compiling detailed information on all programs and projects undertaken, and serv­ices offered, by the Agency or the Minister for the purpose of measuring trends and progress in the development and diversification of the economy of the regions of Quebec.

GENERAL

Marginal note:Officers and employees

13. The officers and employees that are necessary for the proper conduct of the work of the Agency shall be appointed in accordance with the Public Service Employment Act.