About CMEC Council Of Ministers of Education, Canada

What is CMEC?

The Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) is an intergovernmental body founded in 1967 by ministers of education to serve as:

a forum to discuss policy issues;
a mechanism through which to undertake activities, projects, and initiatives in areas of mutual interest;
a means by which to consult and cooperate with national education organizations and the federal government; and
an instrument to represent the education interests of the provinces and territories internationally.

CMEC provides leadership in education at the pan-Canadian and international levels and contributes to the exercise of the exclusive jurisdiction of provinces and territories over education.

CMEC is governed by an Agreed Memorandum approved by all members. A Chair is elected every two years based on rotation among the provinces. The current Chair is the Honourable Gordon Wyant, Minister of Advanced Education, Saskatchewan. All 13 provinces and territories are members.

CMEC celebrated its 50th year in 2017. Our timeline provides an overview of CMEC’s milestones since 1967.