Minister of Transport (Canada)

Last updated
Minister of Transport
Ministre des Transports
Chrystia Freeland 2023 (cropped).jpg
since 14 March 2025
Transport Canada
Style The Honourable
Member of
Reports to
Appointer Monarch (represented by the governor general)
on the advice of the prime minister
Term length At His Majesty's pleasure
PrecursorMinister of Railways and Canals Minister of Marine
Inaugural holder C. D. Howe
Formation2 November 1936
Deputy Deputy Minister of Transport
Salary$299,900 (2024) [1]
Website www.tc.gc.ca

The minister of transport (French : ministre des transports) is a minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet. The minister is responsible for overseeing the federal government's transportation regulatory and development department, Transport Canada, the Saint Lawrence Seaway, Nav Canada, and the Port Authority system. [2] Since March 14, 2025, the position has been held by Chrystia Freeland of the Liberal Party.

Contents

History

The Constitution Act, 1867 under section 92(10) established federal responsibility for land and sea transportation between provinces and internationally. Most transportation duties and powers were placed under the minister of public works, [3] with responsibilities for ports and harbours going to the minister of marine and fisheries. [4] In 1879, the Department of Public Works was divided in two, with powers and duties over rail and inland sea transport going to the newly formed minister of railways and canals. [5] The minister of railways and canals was one of the most important cabinet posts because of the importance of railways to the economic development of Canada, with three prime ministers assuming the position either before or during their premiership.

In Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King's third cabinet in 1935, C. D. Howe was appointed to both the minister of railways and canals and the minister of marine, which was a short-lived position split from the minister of marine and fisheries in 1930. [6] The office of Minister of Transport was created by Mackenzie King in 1936, which was formally a successor to the minister of railways and canals, [7] and C. D. Howe was appointed as the first Minister of Transport. [8]

From 2006 to 2013, the position was styled Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, a name change corresponding with responsibility for Infrastructure Canada being transferred to the portfolio at that time. "Minister of Transport" remained the title for legal purposes. With the Cabinet shuffle of July 15, 2013, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio was separated from Transport and assigned to the minister of intergovernmental affairs. [9]

Transport Canada used to manage most of Canada's major airports, but in the 1990s, most airports were off-loaded to non-profit private airport authorities. The department is now responsible for transportation safety, appointments to Boards of Governors, and regulation management.

Portfolio

In addition to Transport Canada, the minister of transport is responsible for overseeing 55 other entities, [2] the majority of which are port authorities and airport authorities:

Minister of Railways and Canals (1879–1936)

Key:

   Liberal Party of Canada
  Historical conservative parties: Liberal-Conservative, Conservative (historical), Unionist, National Liberal and Conservative
PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical partyMinistry
TupperUniform.jpg Sir Charles Tupper 20 May 187928 May 1884 Liberal-Conservative 3 (Macdonald) [10]
John Henry Pope.jpg John Henry Pope (acting)29 May 188424 September 1885 Liberal-Conservative
John Henry Pope.jpg John Henry Pope 25 September 18851 April 1889 Liberal-Conservative
No image.svg vacant2 April 18899 April 1889–
John A Macdonald (ca. 1875).jpg John A. Macdonald (acting)10 April 188927 November 1889 Liberal-Conservative
John A Macdonald (ca. 1875).jpg John A. Macdonald 28 November 18896 June 1891 Liberal-Conservative
No image.svg vacant7 June 189116 June 1891– 4 (Abbott) [11]
SirMackenzieBowell.jpg Mackenzie Bowell (acting)17 June 189110 January 1892 Conservative (historical)
John Graham Haggart.jpg John Graham Haggart 11 January 18924 December 1892 Conservative (historical)
5 December 189220 December 1894 5 (Thompson) [12]
21 December 18945 January 1896 6 (Bowell) [13]
No image.svg Joseph-Aldric Ouimet (acting)6 January 189614 January 1896 Conservative (historical)
John Graham Haggart.jpg John Graham Haggart 15 January 189630 April 1896 Conservative (historical)
1 May 18968 July 1896 7 (Tupper) [14]
No image.svg vacant6 January 189614 January 1896– 8 (Laurier) [15]
Andrew George Blair.jpg Andrew George Blair 20 July 189620 July 1903 Liberal
William Stevens Fielding, premier of Nova Scotia.jpg William Stevens Fielding (acting)21 July 190314 January 1904 Liberal
HREmmersonWIK.jpg Henry Emmerson 15 January 19042 April 1907 Liberal
No image.svg vacant3 April 19078 April 1907–
William Stevens Fielding, premier of Nova Scotia.jpg William Stevens Fielding (acting)9 April 190729 August 1907 Liberal
HREmmersonWIK.jpg George Perry Graham 30 August 190710 October 1911 Liberal
Francis Cochrane.jpg Francis Cochrane 10 October 191112 October 1917 Conservative (historical) 9 (Borden) [16]
John Dowsley Reid.jpg John Dowsley Reid 12 October 19179 July 1920 Unionist 10 (Borden) [17]
10 July 192020 September 1921 11 (Meighen) [18]
No image.svg John Alexander Stewart 21 September 192129 December 1921 Unionist
No image.svg William Costello Kennedy 29 December 192118 January 1923 Liberal 12 (King) [19]
No image.svg vacant19 January 192327 April 1923–
Hon. Geo. P. Graham, 7-13-22 LCCN2016846558 (cropped).jpg George Perry Graham 28 April 192319 February 1926 Liberal
No image.svg vacant20 February 192628 February 1926–
People-Dunning.jpg Charles Avery Dunning 1 March 192628 June 1926 Liberal
Henry Lumley Drayton.jpg Henry Lumley Drayton (acting)29 June 192612 July 1926 Conservative (historical) 13 (Meighen) [20]
No image.svg William Anderson Black (acting)13 July 192625 September 1926 Conservative (historical)
People-Dunning.jpg Charles Avery Dunning 25 September 192625 November 1929 Liberal 14 (King) [6]
People-Dunning.jpg Charles Avery Dunning (acting)26 November 192929 December 1929 Liberal
CRERAR.jpg Thomas Crerar 30 December 19297 August 1930 Liberal
MP Robert Manion.jpg Robert James Manion 7 August 193023 October 1935 Conservative (historical) 15 (Bennett) [21]
C.D. Howe, wartime.jpg C. D. Howe 23 October 19351 November 1936 Liberal 16 (King) [8]
Railways and Canals portfolio moved to Minister of Transport.

Minister of Marine (1930–1936)

Key:

   Liberal
   Conservative (historical)
PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical partyMinistry
Arthur Cardin.jpg Arthur Cardin 14 June 19307 August 1930 Liberal 14 (King) [6]
Alfred Duranleau.png Alfred Duranleau 7 August 193019 July 1935 Conservative (historical) 15 (Bennett) [21]
No image.svg vacant20 July 193529 August 1935—
No image.svg Lucien Henri Gendron 30 August 193523 October 1935 Conservative (historical)
C.D. Howe, wartime.jpg C. D. Howe 23 October 19351 November 1936 Liberal 16 (King) [8]
Marine portfolio moved to Minister of Transport.

Minister of Transport (1936–present)

Key:

   Liberal
   Progressive Conservative
   Conservative
PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical partyMinistry
Minister of Transport
C.D. Howe, wartime.jpg C. D. Howe 2 November 19367 July 1940 Liberal 16 (King) [8]
Arthur Cardin.jpg Arthur Cardin 8 July 194012 May 1942 Liberal
C.D. Howe, wartime.jpg C. D. Howe (acting)13 May 19425 October 1942 Liberal
Joseph Enoil Michaud.jpg Joseph-Enoil Michaud 6 October 194217 April 1945 Liberal
Lionel Chevrier.jpg Lionel Chevrier 18 April 194514 November 1948 Liberal
15 November 194830 June 1954 17 (St. Laurent) [22]
No image.svg George Carlyle Marler 1 July 195420 June 1957 Liberal
George Hees.jpg George Hees 21 June 195710 October 1960 Progressive Conservative 18 (Diefenbaker) [23]
Leon Balcer portrait.jpg Léon Balcer 11 October 196021 April 1963 Progressive Conservative
George McIlraith portrait.jpg George McIlraith 22 April 19632 February 1964 Liberal 19 (Pearson) [24]
Jack Pickersgill portrait.jpg Jack Pickersgill 3 February 196418 September 1967 Liberal
Paul Hellyer portrait.jpg Paul Hellyer 19 September 196719 April 1968 Liberal
20 April 196829 April 1969 20 (P. E. Trudeau) [25]
No image.svg James Armstrong Richardson (acting)30 April 19694 May 1969 Liberal
Don Jamieson portrait.jpg Don Jamieson 5 May 196926 November 1972 Liberal
Jean Marchand1.jpg Jean Marchand 27 November 197225 September 1975 Liberal
No image.svg Otto Lang 26 September 19753 June 1979 Liberal
No image.svg Don Mazankowski 4 June 19792 March 1980 Progressive Conservative 21 (Clark) [26]
Jean-Luc Pepin portrait 1968 (edited).jpg Jean-Luc Pépin 3 March 198011 August 1983 Liberal 22 (P. E. Trudeau) [27]
No image.svg Lloyd Axworthy 12 August 198329 June 1984 Liberal
30 June 198416 September 1984 23 (Turner) [28]
No image.svg Don Mazankowski (2nd time)17 September 198429 June 1986 Progressive Conservative 24 (Mulroney) [29]
Crosbie 1983-2 crop.jpg John Crosbie 30 June 198630 March 1988 Progressive Conservative
No image.svg Benoît Bouchard 31 March 198822 February 1990 Progressive Conservative
No image.svg Doug Lewis 23 February 199020 April 1991 Progressive Conservative
No image.svg Jean Corbeil 21 April 199124 June 1993 Progressive Conservative
25 June 19933 November 1993 25 (Campbell) [30]
No image.svg Doug Young 4 November 199324 January 1996 Liberal 26 (Chrétien) [31]
David Anderson April 2011.jpg David Anderson 25 January 199610 June 1997 Liberal
No image.svg David Collenette 11 June 199711 December 2003 Liberal
No image.svg Tony Valeri 12 December 200319 July 2004 Liberal 27 (Martin) [32]
No image.svg Jean Lapierre 20 July 20045 February 2006 Liberal
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities
Lawrence Cannon on March 29, 2010.jpg Lawrence Cannon 6 February 200630 October 2008 Conservative 28 (Harper) [33]
John Baird cropped 2011-08-04.jpg John Baird 30 October 20086 August 2010 Conservative
Chuck Strahl 2014.jpg Chuck Strahl 6 August 201018 May 2011 Conservative
Denis Lebel 2017.jpg Denis Lebel 18 May 201115 July 2013 Conservative
Minister of Transport
Lisa Raitt - 2017 (36917974502) (cropped)2.jpg Lisa Raitt 15 July 20134 November 2015 Conservative 28 (Harper) [33]
Marc Garneau - 2018 (42748534304) (cropped).jpg Marc Garneau 4 November 201512 January 2021 Liberal 29 (J. Trudeau)
Canada bilateral at COP 26 (51671787786) (cropped).jpg Omar Alghabra 12 January 202126 July 2023 Liberal
Reseau Express Metropolitain (inauguration) 12 - Pablo Rodriguez (3-4 crop).jpg Pablo Rodriguez 26 July 202319 September 2024 Liberal
US Secretary of Defense hosts world leaders during UDCG 001 - Anita Anand (cropped).jpg Anita Anand 19 September 202420 December 2024 Liberal
Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
US Secretary of Defense hosts world leaders during UDCG 001 - Anita Anand (cropped).jpg Anita Anand 20 December 202414 March 2025 Liberal 29 (J. Trudeau)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Indemnities, Salaries and Allowances". Parliament of Canada.
  2. 1 2 "The Transport Canada Portfolio". Transport Canada. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  3. ↑ An Act respecting the office of Receiver-General and Minister of Public Works , S.C. 31 Victoria, c. 12, s. 12
  4. ↑ An Act for the organization of the Department of Marine and Fisheries of Canada , S.C. 31 Victoria, c. 57, Sch. 1
  5. ↑ An Act respecting the offices of Receiver-General and Minister of Public Works , S.C. 42 Victoria, c. 7, s. 4-5
  6. 1 2 3 "Fourteenth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  7. ↑ The Department of Transport Act, 1936 , S.C. 1 Edward VIII, c. 34
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Sixteenth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  9. ↑ Technically it was assigned to the President of the Privy Council, which also had responsibility for intergovernmental affairs. http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/oic-ddc.asp?lang=eng&txtToDate=2013-07-15&txtPrecis=&Page=&txtOICID=&txtAct=&txtBillNo=&txtFromDate=2013-07-15&txtDepartment=&txtChapterNo=&txtChapterYear=&rdoComingIntoForce=&DoSearch=Search+/+List&pg=2&viewattach=28125&blnDisplayFlg=1
  10. ↑ "Third Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  11. ↑ "Fourth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  12. ↑ "Fifth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  13. ↑ "Sixth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  14. ↑ "Seventh Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  15. ↑ "Eighth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  16. ↑ "Ninth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  17. ↑ "Tenth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  18. ↑ "Eleventh Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  19. ↑ "Twelfth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  20. ↑ "Thirteenth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  21. 1 2 "Fifteenth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  22. ↑ "Seventeenth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  23. ↑ "Eighteenth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  24. ↑ "Nineteenth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  25. ↑ "Twentieth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  26. ↑ "Twenty-First Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  27. ↑ "Twenty-Second Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  28. ↑ "Twenty-Third Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  29. ↑ "Twenty-Fourth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  30. ↑ "Twenty-Fifth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  31. ↑ "Twenty-Sixth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  32. ↑ "Twenty-Seventh Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  33. 1 2 "Twenty-Eighth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
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