On November 29, 1943, Canada took a significant step to efficiently manage surplus military supplies during World War II by approving Privy Council Order PC9108. This decision established the Crown Assets Allocation Committee (CAAC) and the War Assets Corporation (WAC) Ltd to handle the large volumes of surplus assets generated by the war effort.
In July 1944, Parliament passed the Surplus Crown Assets Act, providing clear rules for managing surplus government property. At the time, the Minister of Reconstruction led these efforts, underscoring the government’s focus on effective post-war recovery. The CAAC and WAC operated until 1949, when they were reorganized into the Crown Assets Disposal Corporation (CADC).
In 1984, CADC was merged into the Department of Supply and Services (DSS). Initially focused on selling surplus items, the Surplus Crown Assets Act was updated in 1993 to include options like refurbishment, transfers, and donations. That same year, DSS merged with the Department of Public Works to create Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), which later became Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC).
The modern era of GCSurplus began in 2009 with the launch of Canada’s first online closed bidding system. Rebranding as GCSurplus marked a shift towards becoming a reputable marketplace for surplus government assets, making them more accessible to Canadians nationwide. The addition of services like GCMil in 2010, GCTransfer in 2019, and GCDonate in 2021 further enhanced flexibility and transparency.
In 2020, open bidding was introduced, bringing a new level of transparency and excitement to the process. What began in 1943 as a wartime solution has evolved into a dynamic and modern program. Today, GCSurplus is dedicated to extending the life of government assets, minimizing waste, and leveraging digital innovations to efficiently manage and divest surplus assets across Canada.
