Task Force

Task Force

Task Force, established, like a ROYAL COMMISSION, under the Inquiries Act. Members are appointed by the governor-in-council. The subject matter of a task force is generally less important than that of a royal commission. Investigation is less formal and extensive, and with smaller budgets the reports are not as lengthy. Less impartial and authoritative, the reports are usually more closely identified with the government and need not be made public.

The government is not bound to follow the advice of a task force or even to comment on its report. Like the Task Force on CANADIAN UNITY, which was established in 1977 and reported in 1979, a task force is often one voice in a debate. The weakness of interest groups and their inability to represent adequately all members of society means that, unlike their Swedish counterparts, Canadian task forces cannot be used to gain the consent of the general public through that of their spokesmen. The House of Commons has established some small special COMMITTEES to investigate topics such as North-South relations. These are not to be confused with task forces established under the Inquiries Act, nor with the interdepartmental project committees of civil servants, also called task forces, which are dependent, internal tools of the government.