List of visible minority Canadian cabinet ministers

The Cabinet of Canada has had 21 visible minorities appointed members. A visible minority is defined as "persons, other than Aboriginal people, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour". ^[1]

Pierre De Bané became the first Visible Minority and Arab Canadian to hold a Cabinet position when he was appointed Minister of Supply and Services in 1978 by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. In 1979, Minister of Labour Lincoln Alexander became the first African Canadian appointed to the Cabinet. Hedy Fry became the first Visible Minority female cabinet member when she was appointed Minister for Status of Women and Multiculturalism in 1996. Raymond Chan became the first Chinese Canadian to hold a Cabinet Position when he was appointed Asia-Pacific Gateway Minister in 1993, while Herb Dhaliwal was the first South Asian Canadian minister, appointed Revenue Minister in 1997.

The Department of Multiculturalism has had the most Visible Minority Cabinet ministers, with four. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed a total of 15 ministers of Visible Minorities to cabinet, 10 ministers of Visible Minorities are serving in cabinet as of 2023.

J. Trudeau Cabinet (2015–current)

	Image	Minister	Took office	Left office	Duration	Mandates	Notes
		Omar Alghabra MP for Mississauga Centre	12 January 2021	26 July 2023	2 years, 195 days	Minister of Transport (2021–2023)	Alghabra was born in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia to a Syrian family. His father, an architect, moved their family to Saudi Arabia in 1968. [2] He moved to Toronto when he was 19 years old to attend school and completed his Bachelor of Engineering at Ryerson University. [3]
		Anita Anand MP for Oakville	20 November 2019	Incumbent	Incumbent	Minister of Public Services and Procurement (2019–2021) Minister of National Defence (2021–2023) President of the Treasury Board (2023–present)	Anand was born in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Her parents were both physicians; her mother Saroj D. Ram was an anesthesiologist, and her father S.V. (Andy) Anand. Her father was from Tamil Nadu and her mother was from Punjab. Her family relocated to Ontario in 1985.
		Gary Anandasangaree MP for Scarborough—Rouge Park	26 July 2023	Incumbent	Incumbent	Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations (2023–present)	Anandasangaree is a Sri Lankan Tamil Canadian. Born in Sri Lanka, his parents separated in 1980 and he and his mother moved to Ireland. Though they attempted to return to Sri Lanka in 1983, the outbreak of the Black July anti-Tamil riots changed their plans and Anandasangaree and his mother travelled to Canada as refugees from Sri Lanka in August 1983. His father is Sri Lankan Tamil politician V. Anandasangaree; Anandasangaree is estranged from his father and has only met him twice since 1983. [4]
		Navdeep Bains MP for Mississauga—Malton	4 November 2015	12 January 2021	5 years, 69 days	Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development (2015–2021)	Bains was born in Toronto in 1977 to Indian parents.
		Bardish Chagger MP for Waterloo	4 November 2015	26 October 2021	5 years, 366 days	Minister of Small Business and Tourism (2015–2018) Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (2016–2019) Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Youth (2019–2021)	Chagger's parents emigrated to Waterloo, Ontario from India in the 1970s. She is the first female Leader of Government in the House of Commons.
		Ahmed Hussen MP for York South—Weston	10 January 2017	Incumbent	Incumbent	Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (2017–2019) Minister of Families, Children and Social Development (2019–2021) Minister of Housing, Diversity and Inclusion (2021–2023) Minister of International Development (2023–present)	Hussen was born in Somalia. He immigrated to Canada as a refugee in 1993, settling in Toronto. Although not the first black Cabinet minister, Hussen is the first to be of immediate African descent.
		Marci Ien MP for Toronto Centre	26 October 2021	Incumbent	Incumbent	Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth (2021–present)	Ien is a Black Canadian [5] of Trinidadian descent. Ien was born in St. James Town and raised in Toronto.
		Kamal Khera MP for Brampton West	26 October 2021	Incumbent	Incumbent	Minister of Seniors (2021–2023) Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities (2023–present)	Khera is a first-generation Canadian who immigrated to Canada from Delhi, India, at a very young age. [6]
		Soraya Martinez Ferrada MP for Hochelaga	26 July 2023	Incumbent	Incumbent	Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec (2023–present)	Martinez Ferrada is Chilean Canadian and was born in Santiago, Chile in 1972. Her family came to Canada in 1980 after fleeing Chile, then controlled by dictator Augusto Pinochet. [4]
		Maryam Monsef MP for Peterborough—Kawartha	4 November 2015	26 October 2021	5 years, 356 days	Minister of Democratic Institutions (2015–2017) Minister of Status of Women (2017–2018) Minister of International Development (2019) Minister for Women and Gender Equality (2019–2021) Minister of Rural Economic Development (2019–2021)	Monsef is of Afghan descent and was born in 1985 in a hospital in Iran; [7] as her parents were Afghan refugees rather than Iranian citizens, Monsef has never held Iranian citizenship and has always been an Afghan citizen. [8] She immigrated to Canada with her family as a refugee in 1996.
		Mary Ng MP for Markham—Thornhill	18 July 2018	Incumbent	Incumbent	Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development (2018–2023) Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, and Economic Development (2023–present)	Ng was born in Hong Kong. In the 1970s, Ng's family immigrated to Toronto, Canada from Hong Kong.
		Harjit Sajjan MP for Vancouver South	4 November 2015	Incumbent	Incumbent	Minister of National Defence (2015–2021) Minister of International Development (2021–2023) President of the King's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Emergency Preparedness, and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (2023–present)	Harjit Singh Sajjan was born in Bombeli, in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, India. He along with his mother and older sister immigrated to Canada in 1976 when he was five years old to rejoin their father, who had left for British Columbia two years prior to establish entrepreneurial infrastructure and produce companies in the industrial and agriculture sectors, respectively.
		Amarjeet Sohi MP for Edmonton Mill Woods	4 November 2015	20 November 2019	4 years, 16 days	Minister of Infrastructure and Communities (2015–2018) Minister of Natural Resources (2018–2019)	Sohi was born in 1964 in the Banbhaura, Sangrur district in the Indian state of Punjab. Sponsored by an elder brother, he emigrated to Edmonton in 1981.
		Rechie Valdez MP for Mississauga—Streetsville	26 July 2023	Incumbent	Incumbent	Minister of Small Business (2023–present)	Valdez is the first Filipino Canadian woman elected to the House of Commons and the first to sit in cabinet. [4]
		Arif Virani MP for Parkdale—High Park	26 July 2023	Incumbent	Incumbent	Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada (2023–present)	Virani is an Ismaili Muslim who was born in Kampala, Uganda in 1971, from a family with roots in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. His family came to Canada as refugees in 1972, after the expulsion of the Indian minority in Uganda by then-president Idi Amin. [4]

Harper Cabinet (2006–2015)

	Image	Minister	Took office	Left office	Duration	Mandates	Notes
		Michael Chong MP for Wellington-Halton Hills	6 February 2006	27 November 2006	0 years, 294 days	Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (2006) Minister of State (Sport) (2006)	Michael Chong was born in rural Ontario to a Chinese father and Dutch mother.
		Tony Clement MP for Parry Sound-Muskoka	6 February 2006	4 November 2015	9 years, 271 days	Minister of Health (2006–2008) Minister of Industry (2008–2011) President of the Treasury Board (2011-2015)	Tony Clement was born in England and is of mixed Cypriot and Syrian descent. [9]
		Bal Gosal MP for Bramalea-Gore-Malton	18 May 2011	4 November 2015	4 years, 157 days	Minister of State (Sport) (2011–2015)	Gosal is of Indian descent and emigrated to Canada in 1981.
		Bev Oda MP for Durham	6 February 2006	4 July 2012	6 years, 148 days	Minister of Canadian Heritage (2006–2007) Minister of State (Status of Women) (2006–2007) Minister for International Cooperation (2007–2012)	Bev Oda was born to Japanese parents in Thunder Bay. Bev Oda is the first Japanese Canadian woman to serve in cabinet.
		Tim Uppal MP for Edmonton-Sherwood Park	18 May 2011	4 November 2015	4 years, 157 days	Minister for Democratic Reform (2011–2013) Minister for Multiculturalism (2013–2015)	Tim Uppal is a Sikh born in New Westminster to Indian immigrant parents. [10]
		Alice Wong MP for Richmond	18 May 2011	4 November 2015	4 years, 157 days	Minister for Seniors (2011–2015)	Alice Wong is a Chinese Canadian who immigrated to Canada in 1980. Alice Wong is the first Chinese Canadian woman to serve in cabinet. [11]

Martin Cabinet (2003–2006)

	Image	Minister	Took office	Left office	Duration	Mandates	Notes
		Jean Augustine MP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore	12 December 2003	19 July 2004	0 years, 219 days	Minister for Multiculturalism (2003–2004) Minister of State (Status of Women) (2003–2004)	First elected in 1993, she became the first black woman elected to Canadian Parliament. She was born in Grenada and immigrated to Canada in her youth. [12]
		Raymond Chan MP for Richmond	20 July 2004	5 February 2006	1 year, 199 days	Minister for Multiculturalism (2004–2006)	Chan was the first Chinese-Canadian to serve in Cabinet. He also served in Jean Chrétien's cabinet. [13]
		Ujjal Dosanjh MP for Vancouver South	20 July 2004	5 February 2006	1 year, 199 days	Minister of Health (2004–2006)	Dosanjh was born in India and emigrated to Canada when he was 17. He served as Premier of British Columbia from 2000–2001 and was elected as an MP in 2004. [14]
		Rey Pagtakhan MP for Winnipeg North	12 December 2003	19 July 2004	0 years, 219 days	Minister of Western Economic Diversification (2003–2004) Minister for Science & Technology (2003–2004)	Pagtakhan is a Filipino Canadian. He also served in Jean Chrétien's cabinet. [15]

Chrétien Cabinet (1993–2003)

	Image	Minister	Took office	Left office	Duration	Mandates	Notes
		Jean Augustine MP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore	26 May 2002	12 December 2003	1 year, 200 days	Minister for Multiculturalism (2002–2003) Minister of State (Status of Women) (2002–2003)	First elected in 1993, she became the first black woman elected to Canadian Parliament. She was born in Grenada and immigrated to Canada in her youth. She also served in Paul Martin's cabinet. [12]
		Raymond Chan MP for Richmond	4 November 1993	8 January 2001	7 year, 65 days	Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway (1993–2001)	Chan was the first Chinese-Canadian to serve in Cabinet. He also served in Paul Martin's cabinet. [13]
		Herb Dhaliwal MP for Vancouver-Burnaby	11 June 1997	12 December 2003	6 years, 184 days	Minister of National Revenue (1997–1999) Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (1999–2002) Minister of Natural Resources (2002–2003)	Raised in Canada since the age of six, Dhaliwal was Canada's first Indo-Canadian cabinet minister. [16]
		Hedy Fry MP for Vancouver Centre	25 January 1996	27 January 2002	6 years, 2 days	Minister for Multiculturalism (1996–2002) Minister of State (Status of Women) (1996–2002)	First elected in 1993, Fry is of Trinidadian ancestry. [17]
		Rey Pagtakhan MP for Winnipeg North	9 January 2001	12 December 2003	2 years, 338 days	Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway (2001–2002) Minister for Science & Technology (2002–2003) Minister of Veterans Affairs (2002–2003)	Pagtakhan is a Filipino Canadian. He also served in Paul Martin's cabinet. [15]

P. Trudeau Cabinet II (1980–1984)

	Image	Minister	Took office	Left office	Duration	Mandates	Notes
		Pierre De Bané MP for Matapédia—Matane	3 March 1980	29 June 1984	4 years, 118 days	Minister of Industrial Expansion (1980–1982) Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (1982–1984)	De Bané was born in Palestine of Lebanese descent. [18]

Clark Cabinet (1979–1980)

	Image	Minister	Took office	Left office	Duration	Mandates	Notes
		Lincoln Alexander MP for Hamilton West	4 June 1979	2 March 1980	0 years, 271 days	Minister of Labour (1979–1980)	Lincoln Alexander was Canada's first black Cabinet Minister. He later served as Ontario's first black Lieutenant Governor between 1985 and 1991. [19]

P. Trudeau Cabinet I (1968–1979)

	Image	Minister	Took office	Left office	Duration	Mandates	Notes
		Pierre De Bané MP for Matapédia—Matane	24 November 1978	3 June 1979	0 years, 191 days	Minister of Supply and Services (1978–1979)	De Bané was born in Palestine of Lebanese descent. [18] He became Canada's first Visible Minority Cabinet minister upon his appointment in 1978.

See also

• List of Asian-Canadian First Ministers
• List of visible minority politicians in Canada
• Cabinet of Canada

References

1. Visible Minority Population and Population Group Reference Guide, 2006 Census Archived 2008-12-11 at the Wayback Machine from StatsCan
2. "Senator Invokes MP's Birthplace To Question His Judgment On Saudi Spat". HuffPost Canada. 2018-08-09. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
3. "Omar Alghabra". OpenCanada. 6 April 2012. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
4. "Meet the new faces in Prime Minister Trudeau's cabinet". 26 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
5. Marci Ien Archived 2014-03-12 at the Wayback Machine . Who's Who in Black Canada, January 4, 2011.
6. "Biography | Kamalpreet Khera | Federal Liberal Candidate for Brampton West".
7. "Heralded as Canada's first Afghan-born MP, Maryam Monsef shocked to discover truth of roots". The Globe and Mail , September 22, 3016.
8. "Liberal MP Maryam Monsef, Canada's first Afghan cabinet minister, was actually born in Iran". National Post. September 22, 2016.
9. "Industry minister is halachically Jewish". 2011-03-24.
10. "Uppal changes roles in cabinet shuffle". Fort Saskatchewan Online. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
11. "Alice Wong". Government of Canada. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
12. "Jean Augustine". Fairness Commission. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
13. "Raymond Chan". Open Parliament. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
14. "Dosanjh new federal health minister" (PDF). Health Edition. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
15. "Rey Pagtakhan". Open Parliament. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
16. "Herb Dhaliwal". Herb Dhaliwal. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
17. "Hedy Fry won't speculate on portfolio loss". CBC. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
18. "Pierre De Bane on Campus". Macleans. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
19. "Lincoln Alexander". Canada's Heroes.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)