Ministers are certainly given a whole host of types of powers, duties, and functions under statute. Some have far more implications for individual Canadians in their daily lives. Whether this is consistent or not, the only point I would make is, again, that it's a power that has been given to a minister. There are parliamentary processes to which ministers account for the exercise of their powers and duties and functions under legislation, and there is, with respect to the jurisdiction of the decision-making of the minister, a judicial review possibility.
On June 7th, 2006. See this statement in context.