2002 - Canadian Museum of Civilization

Corporate GovernanceThe Canadian Museum ofCivilization Corporation is a CrownCorporation established pursuant to theMuseums Act (Statutes of Canada 1990,Chapter 3), which came into force on July 1,1990. Under the Act, the Corporation has aspecific mandate “to increase, throughoutCanada and internationally, interest in,knowledge and critical understanding of andappreciation and respect for human culturalachievements and human behaviour byestablishing, maintaining and developing forresearch and posterity a collection of objectsof historical or cultural interest, with specialbut not exclusive reference to Canada, andby demonstrating those achievements andbehaviour, the knowledge derived from themand the understanding they represent.”Dating from its first incarnation as theGeological Survey of Canada in 1842, theCanadian Museum of CivilizationCorporation (CMCC) now comprises theCanadian Museum of Civilization (CMC) —Canada’s national repository of social andcultural history, and its affiliate museums:the Canadian War Museum (CWM) —Canada’s national museum of militaryhistory — and the entirely virtual Museum ofNew France. The Canadian Museum ofCivilization complex is also home to theCanadian Postal Museum, the CanadianChildren’s Museum and an IMAX ® Theatre.As stated in the Museums Act, theCorporation is governed by a Board ofTrustees appointed by the Governor-in-Council. The Board is responsible for thefulfilment of the policies and the overallfinancial management of the Corporation’saffairs. To help carry out its work, the Board ofTrustees has seven committees which aresubject to by-laws and the direction of theBoard. In 2001–2002, these committees metregularly before Board Meetings to preparetheir recommendations to the Board. EachBoard Member serves on at least one Boardcommittee. During the year, the Board ofTrustees held seven meetings and fourteenteleconferences, and the Board committees heldnine meetings and ten teleconferences.The Board’s Executive Committee facilitatesthe Board’s decision-making process betweenBoard meetings, as required. This committeedid not meet during the past year.The Audit Committee fulfils the role requiredby the Financial Administration Act. ThisCommittee serves as the Board’s advisor onaudit-related matters, and ensures maintenanceof sound internal controls. During the past year,the Audit Committee held one meeting and oneteleconference.The Finance and Compensation Committeeserves as the Board’s advisor on accountabilityand planning in relation to finance andcompensation. It does not involve itself in theCorporation’s day-to-day financial operations,but does maintain appropriate controls oversignificant financial transactions, by requiringthat all financial transactions exceeding aquarter of a million dollars are reviewed by theCommittee prior to final approval by the Boardof Trustees. During the past year, thiscommittee held one meeting and sixteleconferences.5