1999–2000 Annual Report - Canadian Museum of Civilization

The Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation is a
Crown Corporation established pursuant to the
Museums Act (Statutes of Canada 1990, Chapter 3),
which came into force on July 1, 1990. Under the
Museums Act, the Corporation has a specific mandate
“to increase, throughout Canada and internationally,
interest in, knowledge and critical understanding of and
appreciation and respect for human cultural achievements
and human behaviour by establishing, maintaining and
developing for research and posterity a collection of objects
of historical or cultural interest, with special but not
exclusive reference to Canada, and by demonstrating those
achievements and behaviour, the knowledge derived from
them and the understanding they represent.”
Dating from its first incarnation as the Geological
Survey of Canada in 1841, the Canadian Museum of
Civilization Corporation (CMCC) now comprises the
Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC) — Canada’s
national repository of social and cultural history, and its
affiliate museums: the Canadian War Museum
(CWM)— Canada’s national museum of military
history, and the entirely virtual Museum of New
France. The Canadian Museum of Civilization complex
is also home to the Canadian Postal Museum, the
Canadian Children’s Museum, and one of the world’s
first IMAX ® /IMAX ® HD/OMNIMAX ® theatres.
5
Corporate Governance
CORPORA ORPORA ORPORATE ORPORA TE GO GOVERNANCE
GO GOVERNANCE
VERNANCE
As stated in the Museums Act, the Corporation is
governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the
Governor-in-Council. The Board is responsible for the
fulfillment of the policies and overall financial
management of the Corporation’s affairs. During 1999-
2000, the Board of Trustees had nine committees to help
expedite its work. These committees met regularly
before Board meetings — in person and by
teleconference — and reported their recommendations
to meetings of the Board of Trustees. Each Board
Member has duties on at least one Board committee.
During the past year, there were seven meetings and
five teleconferences of the Board of Trustees, and 20
meetings and twelve teleconferences of the Board’s
committees.
The Board’s Executive Committee, subject to by-laws
and the direction of the Board, facilitates the Board’s
decision-making process, if necessary, between Board
meetings. During the past year, this committee held one
meeting.
The Audit Committee fulfills the role required by the
Financial Administration Act. The Audit Committee
serves as the Board’s advisor on audit-related matters,
and ensures maintenance of sound internal controls.
During the year, this committee held two meetings.
The Finance and Compensation Committee serves as
the Board’s advisor on accountability and planning, in
relation to finance and compensation. It does not
involve itself in the Corporation’s day-to-day financial
operations, but does maintain appropriate controls over
significant financial transactions, by requiring that all
financial transactions exceeding a quarter of million
dollars are reviewed by the Committee prior to final
approval by the Board of Trustees. During the year, this
committee held five meetings and one teleconference.
The Development Committee advises and supports
management and participates in the Corporation’s
development and fundraising activities. During the year,
this committee held one meeting.