How we operate | Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia

How we operate

Governance and accountability

Being accountable means that you take responsibility for your actions and decisions.

The PGT is accountable to clients, the provincial government, the legislature and the public. Every year, the PGT creates a service delivery plan (SDP) for the next three years that the provincial government reviews and approves. The SDP outlines what the PGT wants and needs to achieve in its operations and each year, in our annual report, we make our results available to the public on our website. These reports and service plans can be found in Reports and publications.

The PGT is also audited by an independent auditor each year. The auditor verifies the PGT's reporting on its SDP results and assesses how well the PGT managed client and corporate funds. This helps ensure that the PGT is accurate when publicly reporting its activities.

Two advisory committees made up of professionals from the public and private sectors provide advice to the PGT:

The Investment Advisory Committee provides advice and recommendations about how the PGT invests client monies. The Committee also gives advice about how the PGT monitors those investments.
The Audit Advisory Committee provides advice to the PGT about internal and external audits and accountability. The Committee also gives advice about identifying and managing risks through internal controls.

Our commitment to truth and reconciliation, diversity and inclusivity

We are an inclusive organization that seeks to provide culturally safe and respectful services to each client.

We are committed to creating a meaningful workplace culture that pursues truth telling and reconciliation. Our Seeking Truth, Pursuing Reconciliation (PDF, 3.24MB) strategy sets out our plan to be an effective ally in tangible, measurable ways. It also outlines our goal of building knowledge and understanding amongst our staff.

Accessibility

The PGT is focused on reducing barriers to service delivery and employment and understands that improving accessibility is critical to the populations we serve and the success of our organization.

The PGT is developing an accessibility plan to identify, remove and prevent barriers to service and will review this plan every three years. This plan, once finished, will be available here on our website.

The PGT has an accessibility advisory committee that assists the PGT in identifying accessibility barriers in our organization and advises on removing and preventing them. The committee is comprised of PGT employees and external members who live with or support persons with disabilities and community members with accessibility challenges. The committee reflects the diversity of persons in B.C. and the populations the PGT serves.

Invoicing the PGT

The Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT) works with thousands of suppliers and vendors across B.C. To help us pay you in a timely way, please make sure you provide us with complete payment information.

Your invoice should include:

Vendor name, address, contact information and GST number
A unique invoice number and date
The client name and number that your goods or services apply to (you can use the PGT office address as the client’s address)
The date of the purchase
A description of the goods or services purchased. If it was a service, specify the location where the service was provided
The price per good and the quantity
The price per hour of service and the total number of hours provided
A breakdown of GST and PST. Please note that services related to real property are not subject to B.C. PST
A name of a person knowledgeable about the services or goods provided and/or the invoice details

Download a Sample Invoice (PDF, 128.7KB) as an example of the information we need for prompt payment.

Getting paid through direct deposit

The fastest way to receive payment is through direct deposit. Instead of mailing a cheque to you, payments are deposited into your bank account.

Services and goods on behalf of PGT clients
If you are a business, stakeholder or other provider of goods or services to PGT clients, please complete our Vendor Request Form (PDF, 173KB).
Corporate goods or services
If you provide the PGT with corporate goods or services, please complete the B.C. government's Direct Deposit Application (PDF, 440.1KB).

Where to send invoices

Invoices are processed in Vancouver, regardless of where the good or service was provided. Please send all invoices and direct deposit forms to invoices@trustee.bc.ca.

Timelines and questions about payments

We aim to pay invoices within 30 days of receipt of the invoice.

If you are experiencing a delay in receiving payment, or have another question about invoicing, please contact us at mail@trustee.bc.ca.

Legislation governing the PGT

The Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT) operates within the legislative authority and jurisdiction provided for under a number of provincial acts.

For the most up to date and complete set of B.C. laws and regulations, including changes and point in time charts, please visit BC Laws.

Numerous acts set out the responsibilities and duties of the PGT. Key provincial statutes and regulations include:

*As applicable under the transitional provisions of the Wills, Estates and Succession Act.