Organization Profile - Canadian Museum of History

Minister of Canadian Heritage

The Corporation's primary responsibilities are the management of Canada's national museum of human history, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Canada's national museum of military heritage, the Canadian War Museum, and a virtual museum on the Web, the Museum of New France. Through its activities, the Corporation practices museological excellence, thereby promoting a greater understanding of Canadian identity, history and culture. In addition to its presence within the National Capital Region, the Corporation disseminates its knowledge throughout Canada and the world – largely through electronic outreach.

Gatineau, Quebec

Museums Act

The Director of the museum shall be appointed, with the approval of the Governor in Council, by the museum's Board to hold office during pleasure for a term of not more than five years.

The Director of the Museum is eligible to be reappointed, with the approval of the GiC, by the Museum’s Board.

The Director is the CEO of the Museum. The Director shall be paid by the Museum any remuneration that the Board, with the approval of the GiC, may determine.

If the Director is absent or unable to act or if the office of the Director is vacant, the Board may designate another officer of the Museum to act as Director for the time being, but no person so designated shall act in that office for a period exceeding ninety days without the approval of the GiC.

There shall be a Board of Trustees consisting of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and not more than nine other trustees to be appointed by the Minister with the approval of the GiC.

The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson hold office during pleasure for a term not exceeding four years. The other trustees hold office during pleasure for a term not exceeding four years, that will ensure, as far as possible, the expiration in any one year of the terms of office of not more than four of those trustees.

A person is not eligible to be appointed as a member of the Board if that person is not a Canadian citizen.

A trustee is eligible to be reappointed to the Board in the same or another capacity, except that:

• no person may be appointed as Chairperson, and no person may be appointed as Vice-Chairperson, for more than two consecutive terms; and
• a trustee, other than the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson, who has served three consecutive terms in that capacity is not, during the year following the expiration of the third term, eligible to be reappointed in that capacity.

If the Chairperson is absent or unable to act or if the office of the Chairperson is vacant, the Vice-Chairperson has all the powers, and may exercise and perform all the duties and functions of the Chairperson.

If the Vice-Chairperson is absent or unable to act or if the office of the Vice-Chairperson is vacant, the Minister may designate another trustee to act as Vice-Chairperson for the time being, but no person so designated shall act in that office for a period exceeding ninety days without the approval of the GiC.

Where the office of a trustee, other than the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson, becomes vacant during the term of the person appointed thereto, the Minister, with the approval of the GiC, may appoint a person to that office for the remainder of that term.

Notwithstanding the above, if a trustee is not appointed to take office on the expiration of the term of an incumbent trustee, the incumbent trustee continues in office until a successor is appointed.

A person is not eligible to be appointed as a member of the Board if that person is not a Canadian citizen.

The Financial Administration Act requires that before an officer-director of a parent Crown corporation is appointed, the Minister shall consult the Board of Directors of the Corporation with respect to the appointment.

The Auditor General of Canada is the auditor of the Museum.