Collins was promoted to Coadjutor Archbishop of Edmonton on February 18, 1999, and later succeeded Archbishop Joseph MacNeil as the sixth Archbishop of Edmonton on the following June 7. He served as president of the Conference of Bishops of Alberta.[8]
In Edmonton Collins initiated monthly lectio divina sessions at St. Joseph's Cathedral Basilica. He also established St. Benedict's Chapel in a vacant store in Edmonton's City Centre Mall for ministry to downtown shoppers and office workers.[2]
Within the CCCB, he served as Chairman of the National Commission of Theology (1999–2001) and Chairman of the National Commission on Christian Unity (2001–2003).[3] He was also a member of the organizing committee for World Youth Day 2002, which was held in Toronto. From 1999 to 2007, he was President of the Alberta Conference of Catholic Bishops. In addition to his duties as ordinary of the Edmonton Archdiocese, he was Apostolic Administrator of Saint Paul in Alberta from March 16 to September 8, 2001.[7]
Collins is a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. He has also served as the Delegate of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith for Anglicanorum Coetibus (providing for personal ordinariates for Anglicans entering into full communion with the Catholic Church).[8]
On February 11, 2023, Pope Francis accepted his resignation as archbishop of Toronto.[10] Collins remains a cardinal and eligible to vote in a papal conclave until the age of 80.
Honours
Scholastic
Chancellor, visitor, governor, rector and fellowships