Royal Commissions

Federal Royal Commissions and Commissions of Inquiry
Federal-level Commissions investigate and report on “any matter connected with the good government of Canada or the conduct of any part of the public business thereof.” While not binding, a Commission’s findings are highly influential. The final reports of Commissions are therefore among the most important publications produced in Canada and have highlighted and documented matters of importance to society since pre-Confederation.

Print or microform copies of Royal Commissions are held in the McPherson Library. Check the library catalogue by title to locate.
Privy Council Office Commissions of Inquiry
A selective listing of Canadian federal commisssion. For complete listing, see the "Index to Federal Royal Comissions". Commissions of Inquiry are established by the Governor in Council (Cabinet) to fully and impartially investigate issues of national importance.

A Commission of Inquiry's findings and recommendations are not binding. However, many have a significant impact on public opinion and the shape of public policy.

The provinces of Canada also conduct commissions of inquiry. Digital collections are avialble for most provinces:

Peel's Prairie Provinces - includes Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Recent Commissions

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
The TRCs archives divides into two parts. The first part of the collection are the documents that were created by the government and churches that ran the schools. Student records are mixed throughout these records. The second part of the collection are the statements that were given to the Commission. To search the collection use the Search button on top left of the home page.
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples database The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP) was established by Order in Council on August 26, 1991, and it submitted its report in October 1996. The RCAP was mandated to investigate and propose solutions to the challenges affecting the relationship between Aboriginal peoples (First Nations, Inuit, Métis), the Canadian government and Canadian society as a whole. This database provides access to documents, such as intervenor project submissions, publications, research reports and hearing transcripts that supported the writing of the report of the RCAP.
November 2016

Fraser River sockeye salmon : past declines, future sustainability? : interim report / Bruce I. Cohen, commissioner
Vancouver : Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River, 2010
Also available in print in the McPherson Library
Call Number SH349 B7C655
National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
The Government of Canada launched a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, independent of the federal government in 2015.

Indexed TRC Calls to Action
The Indexed TRC Calls to Action is a resource that connects the 94 Calls to Action to the relevant parts of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Final Report. The indexed pages provide an entry point into the Final Report for each of the subdivisions of the Calls to Action. This resource is an educational tool designed to enhance the accessibility of the Final Report, promote engagement with the Calls to Action, and thus help further the reconciliation project initiated by the TRC. Created by the University of Victoria Libraries.