Minister of Northern Affairs

Last updated
Minister of Northern Affairs
Ministre des Affaires du Nord
Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Style The Honourable
Member of
Reports to
Appointer Monarch (represented by the governor general); [3]
on the advice of the prime minister [4]
Term length At His Majesty's pleasure
Precursor Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
Inaugural holder Dan Vandal
Formation20 November 2019
Salary CA$269,800 (2019) [5]
Website www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca

The minister of northern affairs (French : ministre des Affaires du Nord) was a minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet.

Contents

In 1953, the role of Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources was created as a formal successor to the Minister of Resources and Development, receiving the previous position's roles with an additional focus on territorial and Inuit relations. [6] Similarly, the Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources was created in the same legislation to replace the previous Department of Resources and Development.

In 1966, the portfolio's responsibilities were divided between the new posts of Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, which were given the majority of the northern affairs and national resources portfolios, respectively. [7]

In 2019, the northern affairs portfolio of Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) was assigned back to a separate Minister of Northern Affairs. This position lasted until 2024, at which point responsibility for northern affairs was returned to the Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs.

List of ministers

No.PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical partyMinistry
Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources
1 Assemblee nationale - Statue Jean Lesage2.jpg Jean Lesage 16 December 195321 June 1957 Liberal 17 (St. Laurent) [8]
2 No image.svg Douglas Harkness 21 June 195718 August 1957 Progressive Conservative 18 (Diefenbaker) [9]
Vacant19 August 195721 August 1957
3 Alvin Hamilton.jpg Alvin Hamilton 22 August 195710 October 1960 Progressive Conservative
4 No image.svg Walter Dinsdale 11 October 196022 April 1963 Progressive Conservative
5 Canadas-Minister-of-Northern-Affairs-visit-to-Sweden-142352846895.jpg Arthur Laing 22 December 196330 September 1966 Liberal 19 (Pearson) [10]
Responsibilities under Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (1966–2019) [a]
Minister of Northern Affairs
6 Dan Vandal.jpg Dan Vandal 20 November 201920 December 2024 Liberal 29 (J. Trudeau)
Responsibilities given to Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs (2024–present)

Notes

  1. The role was referred to as Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development for most of this period (1966–2011), then evolved through a series of other titles including:
    • Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development (2011–2015)
    • Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs (2015–2017)
    • Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs (2017–2018)
    • Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade (2018–2019)

References

  1. "The Canadian Parliamentary system – Our Procedure – House of Commons". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  2. "Review of the Responsibilities and Accountabilities of Ministers and Senior Officials" (PDF).
  3. "Constitutional Duties". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  4. "House of Commons Procedure and Practice – 1. Parliamentary Institutions – Canadian Parliamentary Institutions". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  5. "Indemnities, Salaries and Allowances". Library of Parliament. April 11, 2018. Archived from the original on June 1, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  6. An Act respecting the Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources , S.C. 1953–1954, c. 4
  7. Government Organization Act, 1966 , S.C. 1966–1967, c. 25, s. 40–41,45
  8. "Seventeenth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  9. "Eighteenth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  10. "Nineteenth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.