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Minister of Finance (Canada) facts for kids

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Minister of Finance
Chrystia Freeland MSC 2018 (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Chrystia Freeland

since August 18, 2020
Department of Finance
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
Inaugural holder Alexander Galt
Formation July 1, 1867
Salary CA$269,800 (2019)


The minister of finance (French: ministre des Finances) is the minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet, who is responsible for overseeing the Department of Finance and presenting the federal government's budget each year. It is one of the most important positions in the Cabinet.

Chrystia Freeland is the 40th and current finance minister, assuming the role in August 2020 following the resignation of Bill Morneau. She concurrently is the deputy prime minister of Canada.

Because of the prominence and responsibility of this cabinet position, it is not uncommon for former ministers of finance to later become prime minister. Charles Tupper, R. B. Bennett, John Turner, Jean Chrétien, and Paul Martin all became prime minister after previously serving as minister of finance.

Responsibilities

In addition to being the head of the Department of Finance, the minister of finance is also the minister responsible for:

  • Bank of Canada
  • Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation
  • Canada Development Investment Corporation
  • Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
  • Canadian International Trade Tribunal
  • Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions
  • Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada
  • Mission to the International Monetary Fund (serving as "Governor" voter)
  • Serving as a permanent member of the Treasury Board of Canada

List of ministers

Key:

     Liberal Party of Canada      Historical conservative parties: Liberal-Conservative, Conservative (historical), Unionist, National Liberal and Conservative, Progressive Conservative      Conservative Party of Canada

No. Portrait Name Term of office Political party Ministry
1 Sir Alexander Galt (cropped).jpg Alexander Galt July 1, 1867 November 7, 1867 Liberal-Conservative 1 (Macdonald)
2 Sir John Rose.jpg Sir John Rose November 18, 1867 September 29, 1869 Liberal-Conservative
3 Sir Francis Hincks.jpg Sir Francis Hincks October 9, 1869 February 21, 1873 Liberal-Conservative
4 Samuel Leonard Tilley 1864.jpg Samuel Leonard Tilley
(1st time)
February 22, 1873 November 5, 1873 Liberal-Conservative
5 Richard John Cartwright.jpg Richard John Cartwright November 7, 1873 October 16, 1878 Liberal 2 (Mackenzie)
(4) Samuel Leonard Tilley 1864.jpg Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley
(2nd time)
October 17, 1878 November 11, 1885 Liberal-Conservative 3 (Macdonald)
Vacant November 11, 1885 December 10, 1885
6 Archibald Woodbury McLelan.jpg Archibald McLelan December 10, 1885 January 27, 1887 Conservative (historical)
7 Tupper Portrait.jpg Sir Charles Tupper January 27, 1887 May 22, 1888 Conservative (historical)
8 George Eulas Foster.jpg George Foster
(1st time)
May 29, 1888 June 6, 1891 Conservative (historical)
June 16, 1891 November 24, 1892 4 (Abbott)
December 5, 1892 December 12, 1894 5 (Thompson)
December 21, 1894 January 6, 1896 6 (Bowell)
SirMackenzieBowell.jpg Mackenzie Bowell
(Acting)
January 6, 1896 January 15, 1896 Conservative (historical)
(8) George Eulas Foster.jpg George Foster
(2nd time)
January 15, 1896 April 27, 1896 Conservative (historical)
May 1, 1896 July 8, 1896 7 (Tupper)
Vacant July 8, 1896 July 20, 1896 8 (Laurier)
9 William Stevens Fielding, premier of Nova Scotia.jpg William Stevens Fielding
(1st time)
July 20, 1896 October 6, 1911 Liberal
10 Sir William Thomas White.jpg Sir Thomas White October 10, 1911 August 2, 1919 Conservative (historical) 9•10 (Borden)
11 Henry Lumley Drayton.jpg Sir Henry Drayton
(1st time)
August 2, 1919 July 10, 1920 Conservative (historical)
July 10, 1920 December 29, 1921 11 (Meighen)
(9) William Stevens Fielding, premier of Nova Scotia.jpg William Stevens Fielding
(2nd time)
December 29, 1921 September 5, 1925 Liberal 12 (King)
12 James Alexander Robb.jpg James Robb
(1st time)
September 5, 1925 June 29, 1926 Liberal
Henry Lumley Drayton.jpg Sir Henry Drayton
(2nd time; Acting)
June 29, 1926 July 13, 1926 Conservative (historical) 13 (Meighen)
13 Richard Bedford Bennett.jpg Richard Bedford Bennett
(1st time)
July 13, 1926 September 25, 1926 Conservative (historical)
(12) James Alexander Robb.jpg James Robb
(2nd time)
September 25, 1926 November 11, 1929 Liberal 14 (King)
14 People-Dunning.jpg Charles Avery Dunning November 26, 1929 August 7, 1930 Liberal
(13) Richard Bedford Bennett.jpg Richard Bedford Bennett
(2nd time)
August 7, 1930 February 2, 1932 Conservative (historical) 15 (Bennett)
15 Edgar Nelson Rhodes.jpg Edgar Nelson Rhodes February 3, 1932 October 24, 1935 Conservative (historical)
(14) People-Dunning.jpg Charles Avery Dunning
(2nd time)
October 24, 1935 September 6, 1939 Liberal 16 (King)
16 James Ralston3.png James Ralston September 6, 1939 July 4, 1940 Liberal
17 James Lorimer Ilsley1.jpg James Lorimer Ilsley July 8, 1940 December 10, 1946 Liberal
18 Douglas Charles Abbott.jpg Douglas Abbott December 10, 1946 November 15, 1948 Liberal
November 15, 1948 June 30, 1954 17 (St. Laurent)
19 Walter Edward Harris.jpg Walter Harris July 1, 1954 June 21, 1957 Liberal
20 Donald Fleming.jpg Donald Fleming June 21, 1957 August 9, 1962 Progressive Conservative 18 (Diefenbaker)
21 George Clyde Nowlan.jpg George Nowlan August 9, 1962 April 22, 1963 Progressive Conservative
22 Walter L. Gordon sitting on the corner of a desk (F0563 fl0036 it0002) (cropped).jpg Walter L. Gordon April 22, 1963 November 11, 1965 Liberal 19 (Pearson)
23 Mitchell Sharp 1962 Toronto Star (Restored) (cropped 3-4).jpg Mitchell Sharp November 11, 1965
(Acting until Dec.18)
April 20, 1968 Liberal
24 Edgar John Benson.jpg Edgar Benson April 20, 1968 January 28, 1972 Liberal 20 (P. E. Trudeau)
25 John Turner January 28, 1972 September 10, 1975 Liberal
No image.svg Charles Drury
(Acting)
September 10, 1975 September 26, 1975 Liberal
26 No image.svg Donald Stovel Macdonald September 26, 1975 September 16, 1977 Liberal
27 Jean Chrétien1.jpg Jean Chrétien September 16, 1977 June 4, 1979 Liberal
28 Crosbie 1983-2 crop.jpg John Crosbie June 4, 1979 March 3, 1980 Progressive Conservative 21 (Clark)
29 Allan MacEachen.jpg Allan MacEachen March 3, 1980 September 10, 1982 Liberal 22 (P. E. Trudeau)
30 No image.svg Marc Lalonde September 10, 1982 June 30, 1984 Liberal
June 30, 1984 September 17, 1984 23 (Turner)
31 Diplomat Michael Wilson.png Michael Wilson September 17, 1984 April 21, 1991 Progressive Conservative 24 (Mulroney)
32 No image.svg Don Mazankowski April 21, 1991 June 25, 1993 Progressive Conservative
33 No image.svg Gilles Loiselle June 25, 1993 November 4, 1993 Progressive Conservative 25 (Campbell)
34 Paul Martin.jpg Paul Martin November 4, 1993 June 2, 2002 Liberal 26 (Chrétien)
35 John Manley IMF.jpg John Manley June 2, 2002 December 12, 2003 Liberal
36 Ralph Goodale free alternative.jpg Ralph Goodale December 12, 2003 February 6, 2006 Liberal 27 (Martin)
37 Jim Flaherty 2007.JPG Jim Flaherty February 6, 2006 March 18, 2014 Conservative 28 (Harper)
38 Joe Oliver.JPG Joe Oliver March 19, 2014 November 4, 2015 Conservative
39 Bill Morneau 2015.jpg Bill Morneau November 4, 2015 August 18, 2020 Liberal 29 (J. Trudeau)
40 Chrystia Freeland in Ukraine - 2017 (cropped).jpg Chrystia Freeland August 18, 2020 Incumbent Liberal
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