Department of Supply and Services

Background and Operations

The Department of Supply and Services was established in 1969 through the merger of the departments of defence production and public printing and stationery (Queen's Printer), the shipbuilding branch of the transport department, the office of the comptroller of the treasury, the central data-processing service bureau of the Treasury Board and the bureau of management consulting services from the Public Service Commission. The two branches (Supply and Services) operated under their own deputy ministers. The supply administration was responsible for purchasing, printing, publishing, traffic management, security, equipment maintenance and repair for the federal public service. It offered its services to customers on a cost-recovery basis. The services administration provided payment or cheque-issuing services for all federal departments and accounting, auditing and computer services for federal departments and agencies. The department was also responsible for the redistribution of tax dollars to the provinces. The minister of supply and services acted as the receiver general for Canada and reported to Parliament for Crown Assets Disposal Corporation, the Royal Canadian Mint and Statistics Canada.

The Department of Supply and Services is now defunct. In 1996, the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act was passed. This Act abolished the Department of Supply and Services and the Department of Public Works, establishing the Department of Public Works and Government Services (PWGSC). In 2015, the PWGSC was renamed to Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). The PSPC is responsible for supporting all other government departments with the services and materials they require for operating, assuming all the duties of its predecessors.