Secrétariat aux institutions démocratiques et à la participation citoyenne
Mission
The mission of the Secrétariat aux institutions démocratiques et à la participation citoyenne (SIDPC) is to assist the Minister responsible for Democratic Institutions and Active Citizenship in making and implementing government decisions concerning democratic institutions, access to information, the protection of personal information, active citizenship and matters of secularism and identity.
Given its field of expertise, the SIDPC is also called to work with other departments and public bodies in analyzing and developing projects having an impact on these areas.
Democratic institutions
In terms of democratic institutions, the SIDPC regularly carries out analyses and studies aimed at their modernization. It is also called upon to formulate opinions and advise the Minister and various departments and bodies on aspects related to laws dealing with elections and referendums. The SIDPC also monitors the work performed by the Chief Electoral Officer of Québec, the Commission de la représentation électorale and the Advisory Committee.
Laws dealing with elections or referendums:
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- Election Act (RSQ, chapter E-3.3)
- Act Respecting Elections and Referendums in Municipalities (RSQ, chapter E-2.2)
- Act Respecting School Elections (RSQ, chapter E-2.3)
- Referendum Act (RSQ, chapter C-64.1)
Access to information and protection of personal information
The SIDPC assists departments and public bodies with the application of the Act respecting access to documents held by public bodies and the protection of personal information (Act respecting access) and the regulations adopted under that Act. It also coordinates the network of people in the government in charge of access to documents and the protection of personal information. Under the Act respecting access, the SIDPC is called upon to formulate opinions on access to information and the protection of personal information, in particular as regards proposed legislation and plans to develop information systems for various government entities.
Laws and regulations dealing with access to information and the protection of personal information:
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- Act Respecting Access to Documents Held By Public Bodies and the Protection of Personal Information (RSQ, chapter A-2.1)
- Regulation Respecting the Distribution of Information and the Protection of Personal Information (RRQ, c. A-2.1, r.2)
- Regulation Respecting Fees for the Transcription, Reproduction or Transmission of Documents or Personal Information (RRQ, c. A‑2.1, r.3)
- Regulation Respecting Public Bodies That Must Refuse to Release or to Confirm the Existence of Certain Information (RRQ, c. A-2.1, r.4)
- Act Respecting the Protection of Personal Information in the Private Sector (RSQ, chapter P-39.1)
The following three regulations fall specifically under the jurisdiction of the Commission d’accès à l’information (CAI):
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- Code of Ethics of the Members of the Commission d’accès à l’information (RRQ, c. A-2.1, r.1)
- Regulation Respecting the Procedure for Selecting Persons Qualified for Appointment as Members of the Commission d'accès à l'information (RRQ, c. A‑2.1, r.5)
- Rules of Proof and Procedure Before the Commission d’accès à l’information (RRQ, c. A-2.1, r.6).
Active citizenship
The SIDPC is responsible for finding innovative strategies for active citizenship. The aim is to strengthen the relationship between citizens and government to increase the participation of civil society in public policy development and to ensure that public services adequately address the needs of the people.
The SIDPC will play a critical role in developing and implementing government guidelines concerning active citizenship: it must provide support to department and government authorities and advise them on all issues and concerns related to active citizenship.
Secularism and identity
The SIDPC, more specifically the newly created Direction en matière de laïcité et d’identité, supports the Minister’s actions by working on matters of secularism and identity, with a particular view to developing a Québec charter of secularism.
Useful links:
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- CONSULTATION COMMISSION ON ACCOMMODATION PRACTICES RELATED TO CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, Building the Future: A Time for Reconciliation, report, Gérard Bouchard and Charles Taylor (co-chairs), Québec, 2008, 307 pp.
- COMMISSION DES DROITS DE LA PERSONNE ET DES DROITS DE LA JEUNESSE, Document de réflexion : La Chartre et la prise en compte de la religion dans l’espace public, 2008, 84 pp. (in French only).
- MINISTÈRE DE L’IMMIGRATION ET DES COMMUNAUTÉS CULTURELLES site, “Why Choose Québec” section, “Common values” sub-section
