How many federal departments does Canada have?

The federal Government of Canada has about 25 departments plus a comparable number of agencies, Crown corporations, and other federal entities, organised under Cabinet portfolios. Federal departments are established by Acts of Parliament that define their mandate, the responsible minister, and key powers. The exact number changes periodically as portfolios are created, merged, or split, with major reorganisations occurring at the start of new governments and following major policy shifts.

The current major federal departments include Finance Canada (manages the Budget), Justice Canada, Foreign Affairs Canada (Global Affairs Canada), National Defence, Public Safety Canada, Health Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), Natural Resources Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Transport Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, Veterans Affairs, Indigenous Services Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), Canadian Heritage, Treasury Board Secretariat, and a few others.

Each department is led by a Cabinet minister (the political head) and a deputy minister (the senior non-political public servant). The deputy minister is the department's chief executive and is responsible for the day-to-day administration, policy advice, and program delivery. Deputy ministers are appointed by the Governor in Council on the advice of the Prime Minister, typically after consultation with the Clerk of the Privy Council. They are non-partisan public servants but serve at the Prime Minister's pleasure and can be reassigned or removed.

Federal agencies and Crown corporations operate alongside departments. Service Canada (within Employment and Social Development Canada) delivers federal services to citizens. The Canada Revenue Agency administers federal tax law. The Canada Border Services Agency manages border security and customs. Statistics Canada produces federal data. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is the federal police service. The federal Crown corporations include the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Canada Post, the Bank of Canada, Export Development Canada, the Business Development Bank of Canada, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, VIA Rail, and dozens of others. Crown corporations operate with arms-length independence from government but are ultimately accountable to a Minister.