Cabinet of Canada
The Cabinet of Canada (
For practical reasons, the Cabinet is informally referred to either in relation to the prime minister in charge of it or the number of ministries since Confederation. The current Cabinet is the Cabinet of Justin Trudeau, which is part of the 29th Ministry. The interchangeable use of the terms cabinet and ministry is a subtle inaccuracy that can cause confusion.
Composition
Governor-in-Council
The
In the context of constitutional monarchy and responsible government, the ministerial advice tendered is typically binding; though, it is important to note that the royal prerogative belongs to the Crown, not to any of the ministers,[6][7] and the royal and viceregal figures may unilaterally use these powers in exceptional constitutional crisis situations.[note 1][22] There are also a few duties which must be specifically performed by, or bills that require assent by, the King. Royal assent has never been denied to a law passed by the federal Parliament.[23]
One of the main duties of the Crown is to appoint as prime minister the individual most likely to maintain the confidence of the House of Commons; this is usually the leader of the political party with a plurality of seats in that house. But, when no party or coalition holds a majority (referred to as a hung parliament), or similar scenario, the governor general's judgment about the most suitable candidate for prime minister must be brought into play.[24] The prime minister thereafter heads the Cabinet. The King is informed by his viceroy of the acceptance of the resignation of a prime minister and the swearing-in of a new ministry[24] and he remains fully briefed through regular communications from his Canadian ministers and holds audience with them whenever possible.[25]
Selection and structure
The governor general appoints to the Cabinet persons chosen by the prime minister—
As with other
Cabinet itself—or full Cabinet—is further divided into committees. The
Ministers, secretaries, and deputies
This section needs additional citations for verification. (August 2020) |
Each minister of the Crown is responsible for the general administration of at least one government portfolio and heads a corresponding
Unique positions in Cabinet are those such as
Members of the Cabinet receive assistance from both
Responsibilities
Composed of advisors to the sovereign, the Cabinet has significant power in the Canadian system and, as the governing party usually holds a
Members of various executive agencies, heads of
All Cabinet meetings are held behind closed doors and the minutes are kept confidential for 30 years, Cabinet members being forbidden from discussing what transpires. Decisions made must be unanimous; though, this often occurs at the prime minister's direction and, once a decision has been reached, all Cabinet members must publicly support it. If any of these rules are violated, the offending minister is usually removed by the prime minister and, if the disagreement within the Cabinet is strong, a minister may resign, as did John Turner in 1975, over the subject of wage and price controls, and Michael Chong in 2006, over a parliamentary motion recognizing "the Québécois" as a nation within Canada.
However, the Cabinet's collective influence has been seen to be eclipsed by that of the prime minister alone. Former Prime Minister
Shadow cabinets
Each party in
Current Cabinet
The Liberal Party of Canada won the federal election of October 19, 2015, with a majority of seats in the House of Commons. The Cabinet, within the 29th Canadian Ministry, was sworn in on November 4, with Justin Trudeau appointed as prime minister.
The swearing-in of the new Cabinet also marked the first gender-balanced Cabinet in Canada's history, wherein an equal number of female and male ministers (15 of each, including the Prime Minister) were appointed.[41] Trudeau has continued to maintain a gender-balanced Cabinet throughout several Cabinet shuffles during his time in office.
Initially, five members of Cabinet were appointed by orders-in-council as
On July 18, 2018, Trudeau reshuffled Cabinet. This included adding five new ministry positions, expanding the size of Cabinet 35.[50] The Prime Minister shuffled Cabinet again on October 26, 2021, following the federal election that year, increasing Cabinet's membership to 39,[51] thus upsetting the gender balance.
On July 26, 2023. Trudeau re-shuffled cabinet, adding 7 new ministers:
Cabinet ministers | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
29th Canadian Ministry
| ||||||
Ministry | Date of creation | Incumbent | Province | Minister since | Precedence date[a] | |
Prime Minister of Canada | 1 July 1867 | Justin Trudeau | QC | 4 November 2015 | 4 November 2015[b] | |
Deputy Prime Minister of Canada | 16 September 1977 | Chrystia Freeland | ON | 20 November 2019 | 4 November 2015 | |
Minister of Finance | 1 July 1867 | 18 August 2020 | ||||
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food | 1 July 1867 | Lawrence MacAulay | PEI | 26 July 2023 | 11 June 1997 | |
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
|
26 October 2021 | Dominic LeBlanc | NB | 26 October 2021 | 20 July 2004 | |
Minister of Democratic Institutions | 4 November 2015 | 26 July 2023 | ||||
Minister of Public Safety
|
4 April 2005 | |||||
Minister of Public Services and Procurement | 12 July 1996 | Jean-Yves Duclos | QC | 26 July 2023 | 4 November 2015 | |
Minister of Sport and Physical Activity | 29 September 1961 | Carla Qualtrough | BC | 26 July 2023 | 4 November 2015 | |
Minister of Indigenous Services | 28 August 2017 | Patty Hajdu | ON | 26 October 2021 | 4 November 2015 | |
Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario | 3 August 1999 | |||||
Minister of Emergency Preparedness | 26 October 2021 | Harjit Sajjan | BC | 26 July 2023 | 4 November 2015 | |
President of the King's Privy Council for Canada | 1 July 1867 | 26 July 2023 | ||||
Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada | 26 October 2021 | 26 October 2021 | ||||
Minister of National Revenue
|
21 March 1927 | Marie-Claude Bibeau | QC | 26 July 2023 | 4 November 2015 | |
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard | 2 April 1979 | Diane Lebouthillier | QC | 26 July 2023 | 4 November 2015 | |
Minister of Foreign Affairs | 4 November 1993 | Mélanie Joly | QC | 26 October 2021 | 4 November 2015 | |
Minister of Veterans Affairs | 18 October 1944 | Ginette Petitpas Taylor | NB | 26 July 2023 | 28 August 2017 | |
Associate Minister of National Defence
|
12 July 1940 | |||||
Minister of International Development | 25 January 1996 | Ahmed Hussen | ON | 26 July 2023 | 10 January 2017 | |
Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry
|
29 March 1995 | François-Philippe Champagne | QC | 12 January 2021 | 10 January 2017 | |
Minister of Transport | 2 November 1936 | Pablo Rodriguez | QC | 26 July 2023 | 30 January 2017 | |
Quebec lieutenant | 1874 | 20 November 2019 | ||||
Minister of Health | 12 July 1996 | Mark Holland | ON | 26 July 2023 | 31 August 2018 | |
Minister of Labour | 2 June 1909 | Seamus O'Regan | NL | 26 October 2021 | 28 August 2017 | |
Minister of Seniors | 4 January 2011 | 26 July 2023 | ||||
Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, and Economic Development
|
26 October 2021 | Mary Ng | ON | 26 July 2023 | 18 July 2018 | |
Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario | 26 October 2021 | Filomena Tassi | ON | 31 August 2022 | 18 July 2018 | |
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
|
12 January 1995 | Jonathan Wilkinson | BC | 26 July 2023 | 18 July 2018 | |
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
|
14 October 1944 | Karina Gould | ON | 26 July 2023 | 14 September 2018 | |
Minister of National Defence | 1 January 1923 | Bill Blair | ON | 26 July 2023 | 18 July 2018 | |
President of the Treasury Board | 1 October 1966 | Anita Anand | ON | 26 July 2023 | 20 November 2019 | |
Minister of Environment and Climate Change | 11 June 1971 | Steven Guilbeault | QC | 26 October 2021 | 20 November 2019 | |
Minister of Northern Affairs | 20 November 2019 | Dan Vandal | MB | 20 November 2019 | 20 November 2019 | |
Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada | 26 October 2021 | 26 October 2021 | ||||
Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency | 26 October 2021 | |||||
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship | 30 June 1994 | Marc Miller | QC | 26 July 2023 | 20 November 2019 | |
Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities
|
26 October 2021 | Kamal Khera | ON | 26 July 2023 | 26 October 2021 | |
Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
|
4 November 2015 | Sean Fraser | NS | 26 July 2023 | 26 October 2021 | |
Minister of Housing | 26 July 2023 | |||||
Minister of Canadian Heritage | 12 July 1996 | Pascale St-Onge | QC | 26 July 2023 | 26 October 2021 | |
Minister of Official Languages | 12 December 2003 | Randy Boissonnault | AB | 26 July 2023 | 26 October 2021 | |
Minister of Employment and Workforce Development
|
20 November 2019 | |||||
Minister of Rural Economic Development | 14 January 2019 | Gudie Hutchings | NL | 26 October 2021 | 26 October 2021 | |
Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency | September 15, 1988 | 26 July 2023 | ||||
Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth | 11 June 1971 | Marci Ien | ON | 26 October 2021 | 26 October 2021 | |
Minister of Justice and Attorney General | 1 July 1867 | Arif Virani | ON | 26 July 2023 | 26 July 2023 | |
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
|
28 August 2017 | Gary Anandasangaree | ON | 26 July 2023 | 26 July 2023 | |
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions | 26 October 2021 | Ya'ara Saks | ON | 26 July 2023 | 26 July 2023 | |
Associate Minister of Health | 26 October 2021 | |||||
Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec | 25 June 1993 | Soraya Martinez Ferrada | QC | 26 July 2023 | 26 July 2023 | |
Minister of Small Business
|
30 September 1976 | Rechie Valdez | ON | 26 July 2023 | 26 July 2023 | |
Minister of Families, Children, and Social Development
|
12 December 2003 | Jenna Sudds | ON | 26 July 2023 | 26 July 2023 | |
Minister of Citizens' Services | 26 July 2023 | Terry Beech | BC | 26 July 2023 | 26 July 2023 |
- Notes
- ^ Ministers' positions in the order of precedence are determined as follows: the prime minister, the deputy prime minister, the remaining ministers in order that they were sworn into the King's Privy Council for Canada.
- ^ The Prime Minister has precedence over all other ministers.
Former portfolios
- Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction (2018–2019)
- Secretary of State for the Provinces(1867–1873)
- Minister of Public Works(1867–1996)
- Postmaster General(1867–1981)
- Minister of Customs(1867–1918)
- Minister of Inland Revenue(1867–1918)
- Secretary of State for Canada(1867–1996)
- Minister of Marine and Fisheries(1867–1930)
- Superintendent-General Indian Affairs(1868–1936)
- Minister of the Interior(1873–1936)
- Solicitor General(1892–2003)
- Minister of Mines (1907–1936)
- Secretary of State for External Affairs(1909–1993)
- Minister of Immigration and Colonization(1917–1936)
- Minister of Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment(1918–1928)
- Minister of Customs and Inland Revenue(1918–1921)
- Minister of Customs and Excise(1921–1927)
- Minister of Pensions and National Health(1928–1944)
- Minister of Fisheries(1930–1971)
- Minister of Mines and Resources(1936–1950)
- Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys (1950–1966)
- Minister of Resources and Development(1950–1953)
- Minister of Citizenship and Immigration(1950–1966)
- Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources(1953–1966)
- Minister of Manpower and Immigration(1966–1977)
- Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources(1966–1995)
- Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs(1968–1995)
- list) (1969–2013)
- Minister of Regional Economic Expansion(1969–1982)
- Minister of Economic Communications(1969–1996)
- Minister of Supply and Services(1969–1996)
- Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce(1969–1983)
- Minister of Employment and Immigration(1977–1996)
- Minister of Regional Industrial Expansion(1984–1990)
- Minister of Forestry(1990–1995)
- Minister of National Health and Welfare (1944–1996)
- Minister of Industry, Science and Technology (1990–1995)
- Minister responsible for Constitutional Affairs (1991–1993)
- Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship(1991–1996)
- Minister of Human Resources Development(1996–2003)
See also
Notes
- ^ Eugene Forsey said of this: "in Canada, the head of state can, in exceptional circumstances, protect Parliament and the people against a prime minister and ministers who may forget that 'minister' means 'servant' and may try to make themselves masters. For example, the head of state could refuse to let a Cabinet dissolve a newly elected House of Commons before it could even meet, or could refuse to let ministers bludgeon the people into submission by a continuous series of general elections,"[8] and Larry Zolf commented: "The governor general must take all steps necessary to thwart the will of a ruthless prime minister prematurely calling for the death of a Parliament."[9] Robert E. Hawkins summed up, "the governor general's role in times of crisis is to ensure that normal democratic discourse can resume.[10] Examples of such actions took place during the viceregal service of the Viscount Byng of Vimy, John C. Bowen,[11] Frank Lindsay Bastedo,[12] and Judith Guichon.[13]
- Team Canada flights, where first ministers can hold informal meetings, in the prime minister's office, in the Privy Council Office, in the Department of Finance, and in international organizations and international summits. There is no indication that the one person who holds all the cards, the prime minister, and the central agencies which enable him to bring effective political authority to the centre, are about to change things."[37]
References
Citations
- ^ MacLeod 2008, p. 18.
- Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada(ed.), "Relations With the United States", Documents on Canadian External Relations, 18–867, Ottawa
- Queen's Printerfor Canada, retrieved January 15, 2009
- ^ ISBN 2-89461-378-4.
- ^ Elizabeth II (April 1, 2005), Interpretation Act, 35.1, Ottawa: Queen's Printer for Canada, archived from the original on July 5, 2009, retrieved August 7, 2009
- ^ Cox, Noel (September 2002). "Black v Chrétien: Suing a Minister of the Crown for Abuse of Power, Misfeasance in Public Office and Negligence". Murdoch University Electronic Journal of Law. 9 (3). Perth: Murdoch University: 12. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
- ^ Neitsch, Alfred Thomas (2008). "A Tradition of Vigilance: The Role of Lieutenant Governor in Alberta" (PDF). Canadian Parliamentary Review. 30 (4). Ottawa: Commonwealth Parliamentary Association: 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 25, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
- ^ Forsey 2005, p. 26
- ^ Zolf, Larry (June 28, 2002). "Boxing in a Prime Minister". CBC. Archived from the original on January 20, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
- ISBN 978-1-55339-204-0, retrieved April 18, 2023
- ^ Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. "The Citizen's Guide to the Alberta Legislature". Queen's Printer for Alberta. Archived from the original on March 16, 2007. Retrieved July 29, 2007.
- ^ Jackson, Michael (2006). "Bastedo, Frank Lindsay (1886–1973)". The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan. University of Regina. Archived from the original on May 24, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
- ISBN 978-1-4597-4118-8
- ^ Russell, Peter H., "Discretion and the Reserve Powers of the Crown" (PDF), Canadian Parliamentary Review (Summer 2011), Commonwealth Parliamentary Association: 19, retrieved January 17, 2013
- ^ McWhinney 2005, pp. 16–17.
- ^ "The Governor General". By Executive Decree. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on August 11, 2009.
- ^ Dawson & Dawson 1989, pp. 68–69.
- ^ "Responsibilities". The Governor General of Canada. Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
- ^ Tidridge 2011, p. 57.
- ^ Forsey 2005, pp. 4, 34.
- ^ Forsey, Helen (October 1, 2010). "As David Johnson Enters Rideau Hall..." The Monitor. Ottawa: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
- ^ [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]
- ^ Brooks 2009, p. 234.
- ^ a b Office of the Governor-General of Canada. "Media > Fact Sheets > The Swearing-In of a New Ministry". Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from the original on June 16, 2008. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
- Queen's Printer. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
- ^ Privy Council Office. "Information Resources > About Cabinet". Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
- ^ "Cabinet". Prime Minister of Canada. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- ^ a b "Cabinet Committee Mandate and Membership". Prime Minister of Canada. January 1, 1970. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- ^ Office of the Prime Minister of Canada (October 30, 2008), Cabinet Committee Mandates and Membership (PDF), Ottawa: Queen's Printer for Canada, archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2009, retrieved October 18, 2009
- ^ Library of Parliament. "Federal government > The ministry". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
- ^ Curry, Bill; Walsh, Marieke (January 12, 2021). "Trudeau shuffles senior ministers, puts Champagne in Innovation and Garneau at Global Affairs". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- ^ Brooks 2009, p. 236.
- ISSN 0024-9262. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
- ^ Brooks 2009, p. 258.
- ^ Savoie 1999, p. 260.
- ^ Savoie, Donald (May 12, 2010), "Who has the power?", The Globe and Mail, retrieved May 12, 2010
- ^ Savoie 1999, p. 362
- ^ Simpson 2001, p. 248 248.
- ^ Coyne, Andrew (June 30, 2015). "Liberals' idea for gender quota in Cabinet leaves out the principle of merit". National Post. Post Media. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
- ^ Robson, John (November 2, 2015). "Trudeau's menacing promise of electoral reform". National Post. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
- ^ "'Because it's 2015': Trudeau forms Canada's 1st gender-balanced cabinet | CBC News".
- ^ Privy Council Office (November 4, 2015). "Order in Council 2015-1225". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ Privy Council Office (November 4, 2015). "Order in Council 2015-1226". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ Privy Council Office (November 4, 2015). "Order in Council 2015-1227". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ Privy Council Office (November 4, 2015). "Order in Council 2015-1228". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ Privy Council Office (November 4, 2015). "Order in Council 2015-1229". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ "Salaries Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. S-3)". Department of Justice Canada. Archived from the original on March 25, 2012.
- ^ "Ministries and Ministers of State Act". Justice Laws Canada. April 2005. Archived from the original on May 23, 2013.
- ^ Smith, Joanna (November 6, 2015). "Five Canadian female ministers of state to be full ministers, get raise". Toronto Star. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ "Trudeau adds 5 new ministers in cabinet shakeup that puts focus on seniors, border security | CBC News". CBC News. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
- ^ "PM Trudeau names new defence, health, foreign affairs ministers in sizable cabinet shakeup". CTVNews. October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ Parliament of Canada. "Ministry (Cabinet)". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
Sources
- Brooks, Stephen (2009). Canadian democracy (6th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195431032.
- Dawson, R. MacGregor; Dawson, W.F. (1989). Democratic Government in Canada (5th ed.). Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-6703-4.
- ISBN 0-662-39689-8. Archived from the original(PDF) on March 31, 2012. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
- ISBN 978-0-662-46012-1. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
- ISBN 1-55380-031-1.
- Savoie, Donald (1999). Governing from the Centre: The Concentration of Power in Canadian Politics. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978-0-8020-8252-7.
- ISBN 978-0-7710-8079-1.
- Tidridge, Nathan (2011). Canada's Constitutional Monarchy: An Introduction to Our Form of Government. Toronto: Dundurn Press. ISBN 9781459700840.