Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade

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Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Ministère du Développement économique, de la Création d’emplois et du Commerce (French)
MinistryofECON.png
Ministry overview
Formed1985
Jurisdiction Government of Ontario
Minister responsible
  • Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Deputy Minister responsible
Website www.ontario.ca/page/ministry-economic-development-and-growth

The Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (formally known as Ministry of Economic Development and Growth) in the Canadian province of Ontario is responsible for programs to attract and retain business and economic development in the province. This is pursued through research and development funding, business advisory services, career exploration opportunities and business startup programs for youth, skills development and marketing Ontario to potential international business investors. [ citation needed ]

Contents

It was previously responsible for the Liquor Control Board of Ontario and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, though this responsibility has been shifted to the Ministry of Government Services.[ citation needed ][ needs update ]

Ministry Agencies

According to the Public Appointments Secretariat, As of January 5,2025 the Ministry is affiliated with the following Agencies: [1]

History

Responsibilities for economic development in the Ontario government shifted over time as the province's economy evolved.

Prior to confederation, the Bureau of Agriculture of the Province of Canada was responsible for collecting facts and statistics relating to the agricultural, mechanical and manufacturing interests.

On March 4, 1868, the Act for the Encouragement of Agriculture, Horticulture, Arts, and Manufactures received royal assent, establishing the Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works. "Arts", at the time, referred to the practical application of an industrial, manufacturing, or scientific pursuit, rather than to its current meaning. In 1877, the department was renamed the Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Arts. The industrial, or "arts", functions of the department were carried out through the Bureau of Agriculture and Arts from 1877 until 1882, and the Bureau of Industries from 1882. Although the Bureau was under the general direction of the Commissioner of Agriculture (or the Minister of Agriculture after 1888), the day to day operations were carried out by a small staff under the direction of the Secretary of the Bureau of Industries. From 1880 on however, the focus of that bureau was agricultural in nature. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the responsibilities for various manufacturing industrial matters were carried out at various times by the Department of the Provincial Secretary, Department of Education, and the Bureau of Labour among others.

The Department of Planning and Development was established in 1944. Initially, its mandate was focused in postwar rehabilitation efforts. Over time, the department was mandated to work with agricultural, industrial, labour, mining, trade and other associations and organisations and with public and private sector enterprises in order to create and maintain productive employment and to develop the human and material resources of the province. In addition to trade and industry, the department at various times also had responsibilities over immigration, community planning, conservation, civil defence/emergency management.

For most of 1961, the department was briefly renamed the Department of Commerce and Development. In December 1961, the department took over certain functions of the Department of Economics and Federal and Provincial Relations (predecessor of the Ministry of Finance) and was renamed the Department of Economics and Development.

In 1968, the department was renamed the Department of Trade and Development. In April 1972, the department merged with the Department of Tourism and Information to form the Ministry of Industry and Tourism.

A standalone economic portfolio was recreated in 1982, named Ministry of Industry and Trade. The ministry subsequently went through frequent name changes in the following decades, reflecting shifting economic and political priorities of the governments of the day. For example in 1985, it was renamed Ministry of Industry, Trade and Technology to reflect the growing importance of technology in Ontario's economy.

Since 1993, the department was mostly named the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade or some similar variations, except between 2002 and 2003 when it was briefly named Ministry of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation.

A related Ministry of Research and Innovation, and later Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science, existed between 2005 and 2018. While politically a standalone ministry, it shared a deputy minister (civil service head) with the main economic development ministry, and was supported by civil servants of the economic development ministry.

A related Ministry of International Trade existed between 2008 and 2009, and again from 2016 and 2018.

List of ministers

Principal MinistersTerm of officeSecondary MinisterTerm of officeOther MinistersPolitical party
(Ministry)
Note
Minister of Planning and Development PC
(Drew)
Dana Porter May 8, 1944October 19, 1948
Art Welsh October 19, 1948May 4, 1949 PC
(Kennedy)
William Griesinger May 4, 1949January 20, 1953 PC
(Frost)
Bill Warrender January 20, 1953August 17, 1955
William Nickle August 17, 1955November 8, 1961
Minister of Commerce and Development PC
(Robarts)
Robert Macaulay November 8, 1961December 15, 1961
Minister of Economics and Development
Robert Macaulay December 15, 1961October 16, 1963
James Allan October 16, 1963November 8, 1963
Stan Randall November 8, 1963April 11, 1968
Minister of Trade and Development
Stan Randall April 11, 1968March 1, 1971
Allan Grossman March 1, 1971February 2, 1972 PC
(Davis)
John White February 2, 1972April 7, 1972
Minister of Industry and Tourism
John White April 10, 1972January 15, 1973
Claude Bennett January 15, 1973January 21, 1978
John Reginald Rhodes January 21, 1978September 25, 1978
Larry Grossman October 18, 1978February 13, 1982
Minister of Industry and Trade Development
Gordon Walker February 13, 1982July 6, 1983
Frank Miller July 6, 1983February 8, 1985Elected leader of the Progressive Conservatives and became Premier while minister
Minister of Industry and Trade PC
(Miller)
Andy Brandt February 8, 1985June 26, 1985
Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology Liberal
(Peterson)
Hugh O'Neil June 26, 1985September 29, 1987
Monte Kwinter September 29, 1987October 1, 1990
Allan Pilkey October 1, 1990July 31, 1991 NDP
(Rae)
Ed Philip July 31, 1991February 3, 1993
Minister of Economic Development and Trade
Frances Lankin February 3, 1993June 26, 1995
Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism PC
(Harris)
Bill Saunderson June 26, 1995October 10, 1997 Minister of Energy, Science and Technology
Al Palladini October 10, 1997June 17, 1999 Jim Wilson October 10, 1997April 14, 2002
Minister of Economic Development and Trade
Al Palladini June 17, 1999February 7, 2001Resigned for personal reasons, died in office a month later.
Bob Runciman February 8, 2001April 14, 2002
Minister of Enterprise, Opportunity and InnovationAssociate Minister PC
(Eves)
Jim Flaherty April 15, 2002October 22, 2003 David Turnbull April 15, 2002October 22, 2003)
Minister of Economic Development and Trade Minister of Research and Innovation Liberal
(McGuinty)
Joseph Cordiano October 23, 2003September 18, 2006 Dalton McGuinty June 29, 2005October 15, 2007
Cordiano resigned from cabinet and legislature
Sandra Pupatello September 16, 2006September 18, 2008 John Wilkinson October 30, 2007June 24, 2009
John Milloy June 24, 2009August 18, 2010
Michael Bryant September 18, 2008May 25, 2009Minister of International Trade and Investment
Sandra Pupatello (September 18, 2008 to June 24, 2009)
Bryant resigned to become CEO of Invest Toronto
Dalton McGuinty May 25, 2009June 24, 2009McGuinty is acting Minister while Premier
Minister of Economic Development and Trade
Sandra Pupatello June 24, 2009October 20, 2011Pupatello did not seek re-election
Minister of Economic Development and Innovation
Brad Duguid October 20, 2011February 11, 2013
Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Employment Minister of Research and Innovation Liberal
(Wynne)
Eric Hoskins February 11, 2013June 24, 2014 Reza Moridi February 11, 2013June 13, 2016
Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure
Brad Duguid June 24, 2014June 13, 2016
Minister of Economic Development and Growth Minister of Research, Innovation and Science
Brad Duguid June 13, 2016January 17, 2018 Reza Moridi June 13, 2016June 2, 2018Minister of International Trade
Michael Chan (June 13, 2016 to June 29, 2018)
Minister Responsible for Small Business
Jeff Leal (January 12, 2017 – June 29, 2018)
Steven Del Duca January 17, 2018June 29, 2018
Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade PC
(Ford)
Jim Wilson June 29, 2018November 2, 2018
Todd Smith November 2, 2018June 20, 2019Interim minister prior to November 5, 2018
Vic Fedeli June 20, 2019presentAssociate Minister for Small Business & Red Tape ReductionFedeli is Chair of Cabinet
Prabmeet Sarkaria June 20, 2019June 18, 2021
Nina Tangri June 18, 2021June 24, 2022
Minister of Red Tape Reduction

Parm Gill
June 24, 2022January 25, 2024 [2] [3] Associate Minister for Small Business
Nina Tangri (September 4, 2023 to Present) [4]
Mike Harris Jr. June 2024Present [5]

References

  1. "Agencies and current appointees - Public Appointments Secretariat".
  2. "Who's in, who's out: A look at Ontario Premier Doug Ford's new cabinet | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Canadian Press. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  3. "Ontario PCs' Parm Gill resigns from cabinet to run for Poilievre's Conservatives". CBC News. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  4. "Ontario Premier Doug Ford shuffles cabinet after housing minister resigns". CBC News. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  5. Callan, Issac; D'Mello, Collin. "Ontario Premier Doug Ford announces new education minister, cabinet reshuffle | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 5 January 2025.