Functional Responsibility:
The Commission was established as an independent corporation whose primary functions were:

• to oversee the implementation of the purposes of the Act and any programs, policies, services and structures that fulfill those purposes;
• to assist the Métis Settlements General Council and the Settlement Councils with the administration and management of their respective powers, duties and rights;
• to assist Settlement Councils and residents to meet eligibility requirements for Alberta Government economic and development programs;
• where appropriate, to co-ordinate the implementation and administration of the policies, programs, procedures and services of federal and provincial departments and agencies, as well as those of local authorities, in Métis Settlement areas;
• to work with the Métis Settlements General Council and the Settlement Councils on the development of policies, programs, procedures and services;
• to perform any duties assigned to the office of the Commissioner by the Lieutenant Governor, a government agency or Minister (federal or provincial), or a local authority, with respect to any policy, procedure, program or service;
• to evaluate and report to the Minister and the Métis Settlements General Council on policies, programs, procedures and services in Settlement areas and the progress made toward fulfilling the purposes of the Act.

The Commission was also responsible for the collection, management, and control of the financial affairs of the Métis Settlements for the duration of the transition period. The Métis Settlements Transition fund was created under Part 3 Division 1 s. 25 of the Act, and was to be held and administered by the Commissioner during the transition period.

Predecessor and successor bodies:
Prior to the proclamation of the Métis Settlements Accord Implementation Act, the Métis Settlements were administered under the authority of the Métis Population Betterment Act (S.A. 1940 c6). Responsibility for this Act and the Métis Settlements fell to the Métis Rehabilitation Branch of the Department of Public Welfare (see R.S.A. 1955 c202 s4(3)) until 1969; the Department of Social Development (see S.A. 1969 c101 s7) until 1971; and then the Department of Health and Social Development (see S.A. 1971 c25 s19(2)). The name of this Department changed in 1975 to the Department of Social Services and Community Health (see S.A. 1975 c12). The Métis Settlements and the Act were administered by the Department's Métis Development Branch under the Social Services Division. In September of 1980, the Branch was transferred to the Department of Municipal Affairs, under the Improvement Districts and Operations Division that was established in June of that same year. The Branch later became part of the Native Services Unit, when it was amalgamated with the Native Affairs Secretariat in August of 1986.
In 1982 the MacEwan Commission, a joint committee of the Alberta Government and Métis authorities, was created to examine and review the concerns of the Alberta Métis Settlements and the Métis people. In 1984 the MacEwan Commission released a report, which called for new legislation that would grant more autonomy to the Métis Settlements. In 1985, a Resolution to Amend the Alberta Act (known as Resolution 18) was unanimously endorsed by the legislature. Resolution 18 called for the province to pursue two objectives: the entrenchment of Métis land through an amendment to the Alberta Act; and the development of a framework for democratic local government for the Métis Settlements.
On July 1, 1989 the Alberta-Métis Settlements Accord was signed. The Accord outlined the transfer of ownership (in fee simple) of 500,000 hectares of Crown land from the Alberta Government to the eight Métis Settlements; a 17-year financial agreement; the development of a system of autonomous local government for the Settlements; the co-management of mineral resources; and the establishment of the Transition Commission, headed by the Commissioner and the Transition Authority, to ensure that the provisions of the Accord were implemented over a seven year transition period (this time frame was later amended under O.C. 123/97). The Accord outlined several proposed acts and agreements including Resolution 18, the Métis Settlements Land Act, the Métis Settlements Act, a financial agreement, a Transition Commission agreement, and a sub-surface resource co-management agreement. In 1990, the Métis Population Betterment Act was repealed, and the Métis Settlements Act, the Métis Settlements Land Protection Act, the Constitution of Alberta Amendment Act, and the Métis Settlements Accord Implementation Act were all proclaimed. The staff and resources of the former Métis Settlements Branch were then transferred to the new Métis Settlements Transition Commission.
When the Commission was dissolved, the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development assumed responsibility for administration of the Métis Settlements Land Registry, a ministerial responsibility under the Métis Settlements Act. Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development and the Métis Settlements General council also assumed many functions of the former Commission.

Administrative Relationships:
The Commission was required to submit an annual report to both the Executive Council and the Métis Settlements General Council. The Commission also submitted its budget and reported to the Executive Council through the Ministry that was responsible for Aboriginal Affairs. These were: Municipal Affairs (1990-1991 and 1992-1993); the Solicitor General (1991-1992); Family and Social Services (1993-1997); Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs (1997-1998); International and Intergovernmental Relations (1998-1999); Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs (1999-2000); and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development (2000-2002).

Administrative Structure:
The Commission was composed of a Commissioner and two other members, known as the Transition Authority, who advised the Commissioner. One member of the Authority was appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and the other was appointed by the Métis Settlements General Council. The Commissioner was jointly selected by the Lieutenant Governor and the General Council. The Authority reported to the Executive Council through the Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs.

Names of Chief Officers:
Commissioners of the Métis Settlements Transition Commission:
Dennis Surrendi 1990-1994
Randall Hardy 1995-2002