The Federal Bridge Corporation Limited (FBCL) was established specifically to provide the Government of Canada with oversight and accountability for bridges under its control.

This mandate places FBCL in a very unique position: among the various federal entities in charge of operating bridges in Canada, FBCL is the only Crown corporation specifically created as a parent company with a clear mandate to oversee and provide strategic direction to the asset operators under its jurisdiction, including in the areas of:

• Governance
  
• Risk Management
  
• Environmental Planning
  
• Safety and Security
  
• Financial Management
  
• Auditing
  

FBCL’s Certificate of Incorporation (Canada Business Corporations Act September 2, 1998) outlines that:

The business of the corporation shall be limited to the following:

1. acquiring lands for, and constructing, maintaining and operating, alone or jointly or in conjunction with an appropriate authority in the United States, bridges connecting Canada with the United States, and, as authorized by the St Lawrence Seaway Authority Act, in connection therewith or as incidental thereto,
   
2. acquiring shares or property of any bridge company and operating and managing bridges; acquiring lands for, and constructing or otherwise acquiring, maintaining, managing and operating such works or other property as the Governor in Council may deem necessary, and on such terms and conditions as the Governor in Council approves;
3. acquiring or becoming the transferee of all or part of The St. Lawrence Seaway Authority property, rights or undertakings transferred by The St. Lawrence Seaway Authority in accordance with a direction of the Minister of Transport issued pursuant to section 80 of the Canada Marine Act; 
4. and, with the approval of the Governor in Council, leasing to any person any lands, property or water-power held in its name or in the name of The St. Lawrence Seaway Authority or held in the name of Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada under the control of The St. Lawrence Seaway Authority or under its control.”
   

For the foregoing purposes, the Corporation has – subject to the Financial Administration Act, the Canada Business Corporations Act and these articles, as amended from time to time – the capacities and powers of a natural person.