Minister of Communications (Canada) facts for kids
The Minister of Communications was an important job in the Canadian government. This person was part of the Cabinet, which is a group of top advisors to the Prime Minister. The Minister of Communications was in charge of things like radio, television, and telephone services across Canada. This role existed from 1969 to 1996.
What Was the Minister of Communications?
This government job was created by a special law called the Department of Communications Act. The Minister of Communications made sure that rules for things like radio, television, and telephone services were followed. They also oversaw the CRTC, which is a group that sets rules for broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.
In 1996, the job of Minister of Communications was ended. Its responsibilities were split up. The part about telecommunications (like phones and internet) went to the Minister of Industry. The part about culture (like Canadian TV shows and music) went to the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
Who Were the Ministers of Communications?
Many different people held the job of Minister of Communications during its time. Below is a list of the people who served in this role. Sometimes, a minister was "Acting," which means they temporarily filled the role.
Key:
Liberal Party of Canada Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
| No. | Name | Time in Office | Political Party | Ministry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eric Kierans | April 1, 1969 | April 28, 1971 | Liberal | 20 (P. E. Trudeau) |
| * | Jean-Pierre Côté (Acting) | April 29, 1971 | May 10, 1971 | Liberal | |
| * | Gérard Pelletier (Acting) | May 11, 1971 | August 11, 1971 | Liberal | |
| 2 | Robert Stanbury | August 12, 1971 | November 26, 1972 | Liberal | |
| 3 | Gérard Pelletier | November 27, 1972 | August 28, 1975 | Liberal | |
| 4 | Pierre Juneau | August 29, 1975 | October 24, 1975 | Liberal | |
| * | Otto Lang | October 25, 1975 | December 4, 1975 | Liberal | |
| 5 | Jeanne Sauvé | December 5, 1975 | June 3, 1979 | Liberal | |
| 6 | David MacDonald | June 4, 1979 | March 2, 1980 | Progressive Conservative | 21 (Clark) |
| 7 | Francis Fox | March 3, 1980 | June 29, 1984 | Liberal | 22 (P. E. Trudeau) |
| 8 | Ed Lumley | June 30, 1984 | September 16, 1984 | Liberal | 23 (Turner) |
| 9 | Marcel Masse | September 17, 1984 | September 25, 1985 | Progressive Conservative | 24 (Mulroney) |
| * | Benoît Bouchard (Acting) | September 26, 1985 | November 29, 1985 | Progressive Conservative | |
| (9) | Marcel Masse (Second time) | November 30, 1985 | June 29, 1986 | Progressive Conservative | |
| 10 | Flora MacDonald | June 30, 1986 | December 7, 1988 | Progressive Conservative | |
| * | Lowell Murray (Acting) | December 8, 1988 | January 29, 1989 | Progressive Conservative | |
| (9) | Marcel Masse (Third time) | January 30, 1989 | April 20, 1991 | Progressive Conservative | |
| 11 | Perrin Beatty | April 21, 1991 | June 24, 1993 | Progressive Conservative | |
| 12 | Monique Landry | June 25, 1993 | November 3, 1993 | Progressive Conservative | 25 (Campbell) |
| 13 | Michel Dupuy | November 4, 1993 | January 24, 1996 | Liberal | 26 (Chrétien) |
| 14 | Sheila Copps | January 25, 1996 | May 1, 1996 | Liberal | |
| June 19, 1996 | July 11, 1996 | ||||
On July 12, 1996, the job of the Minister of Communications was officially ended. Its duties were combined with other roles to create the new job of Minister of Canadian Heritage (list).
