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Minister of Labour (Canada) facts for kids

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Minister of Labour
Seamus O’Regan June 2018 cropped (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Seamus O'Regan

since October 26, 2021
Employment and Social Development 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
Inaugural holder William Lyon Mackenzie King
Formation 2 June 1909
Salary CA$269,800 (2019)
Website www.canada.ca/labour


The minister of Labour (French: Ministre du Travail) is the minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for the labour portfolio of Employment and Social Development Canada. From 2015 to 2019, the portfolio was included in that of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, but was split in 2019 during the government of Justin Trudeau. The office has been held by Seamus O'Regan since 2021, who is also the Minister of Seniors.

History

The Department of Labour was created in 1900. Previously, the responsibility for labour affairs was handled by the postmaster general.

The Department of Labour was created in 1900 through the efforts of postmaster general William Mulock and William Lyon Mackenzie King, becoming, respectively, the first minister and deputy minister. Until June, 1909, the postmaster general acted as minister of labour.

The Ministry of Labour oversaw a variety of issues, including union riots against immigration in 1907, post-war promotion of the federal Labour-Management Cooperation Service, and legislation surrounding the formation of unions.

In 1996, the Department of Labour was abolished, but the ministerial position continued within Human Resources Development Canada from 1996 to 2003 and Human Resources and Social Development Canada from 2003 to date.

From 1993 to 1996, the Department of Labour was amalgamated with the Department of Employment and Immigration to create Human Resources Development Canada. Although the intent was to replace two Cabinet posts with a single minister of human resources development, the desire to appoint "star candidate" Lucienne Robillard's to Cabinet in 1995 gave the position a reprieve from amalgamation—Robillard was given the title and positioned as a second minister inside HRDC, responsible for the Labour Program.

A December, 2003, reorganization had seen HRDC dismantled and labour responsibilities passing to a successor department, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, again with two ministers: a minister of labour and a minister of human resources and skills development. The name change to Labour and Housing occurred seven months later. The Ministry of HRDC was reconstituted in February, 2006, as Human Resources and Social Development Canada, but still with two ministers.

In 2004, the portfolio was renamed from Labour to Labour and Housing.

From 2004 to 2006, the position was styled the minister of labour and housing (French: ministre du travail et du logement), a name change corresponding with responsibility for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation being transferred to the portfolio at that time. Minister of labour remains the title for legal purposes.

In 2015, the Labour portfolio was merged into the expanded ministry of Employment, Workforce, and Labour, gaining some responsibilities previously held by the minister of employment and social development.

In 2019, following the 2019 Canadian federal election, the portfolio was split between the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, with Filomena Tassi being appointed the new minister of Labour on November 20.

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
Minister of Labour
1 WilliamLyonMackenzieKing.jpg William Lyon Mackenzie King June 2, 1909 October 6, 1911 Liberal 8 (Laurier)
2 Thomas Wilson Crothers.jpg Thomas Wilson Crothers October 10, 1911 October 12, 1917 Conservative (historical) 9 (Borden)
October 12, 1917 November 6, 1918 Unionist 10 (Borden)
3 Gideon Robertson.jpg Gideon Robertson
1st time
November 8, 1918 July 10, 1920 Unionist
July 10, 1920 December 29, 1921 National Liberal and Conservative 11 (Meighen)
4 Noimage.svg James Murdock December 29, 1921 November 13, 1925 Liberal 12 (King)
* James Horace King.jpg James Horace King
Acting
November 13, 1925 March 8, 1926 Liberal
5 John Campbell Elliott.jpg John Campbell Elliott March 8, 1926 June 29, 1926 Liberal
* MP Robert Manion.jpg Robert James Manion
Acting
June 29, 1926 July 13, 1926 Conservative (historical) 13 (Meighen)
6 Noimage.svg George Burpee Jones July 13, 1926 September 25, 1926 Conservative (historical)
7 Peter Heenan MIKAN 3216661.jpg Peter Heenan September 25, 1926 August 7, 1930 Liberal 14 (King)
(3) Gideon Robertson.jpg Gideon Robertson
2nd time
August 7, 1930 February 3, 1932 Conservative (historical) 15 (Bennett)
8 Noimage.svg Wesley Ashton Gordon February 3, 1932 October 23, 1935 Conservative (historical)
9 Norman McLeod Rogers.jpg Norman McLeod Rogers October 23, 1935 September 18, 1939 Liberal 16 (King)
10 Norman Alexander McLarty.jpg Norman Alexander McLarty September 18, 1939 December 14, 1941 Liberal
11 Humphrey Mitchell.jpg Humphrey Mitchell December 14, 1941 November 15, 1948 Liberal
November 15, 1948 August 2, 1950 17 (St. Laurent)
* PJJ Martin.jpg Paul Martin Sr.
Acting
August 2, 1950 August 6, 1950 Liberal
12 Noimage.svg Milton Fowler Gregg August 6, 1950 June 21, 1957 Liberal
13 Michael Starr June 21, 1957 April 22, 1963 Progressive Conservative 18 (Diefenbaker)
14 Allan MacEachen.jpg Allan MacEachen April 22, 1963 December 18, 1965 Liberal 19 (Pearson)
15 Noimage.svg John Robert Nicholson December 18, 1965 April 20, 1968 Liberal
16 Noimage.svg Jean-Luc Pépin April 20, 1968 July 6, 1968 Liberal 20 (P. E. Trudeau)
17 Noimage.svg Bryce Mackasey July 6, 1968 January 28, 1972 Liberal
18 Noimage.svg Martin O'Connell January 28, 1972 November 27, 1972 Liberal
19 Noimage.svg John Munro November 27, 1972 September 8, 1978 Liberal
* Noimage.svg André Ouellet
Acting
September 8, 1978 November 24, 1978 Liberal
(18) Noimage.svg Martin O'Connell
2nd time
November 24, 1978 June 4, 1979 Liberal
20 Lincoln Alexander.jpg Lincoln Alexander June 4, 1979 March 3, 1980 Progressive Conservative 21 (Clark)
21 Noimage.svg Gerald Regan March 3, 1980 September 22, 1981 Liberal 22 (P. E. Trudeau)
22 Noimage.svg Charles Caccia September 22, 1981 August 12, 1983 Liberal
23 Noimage.svg André Ouellet August 12, 1983 June 30, 1984 Liberal
June 30, 1984 September 17, 1984 23 (Turner)
24 Bill McKnight.jpg Bill McKnight September 17, 1984 June 30, 1986 Progressive Conservative 24 (Mulroney)
25 Noimage.svg Pierre Cadieux June 30, 1986 January 30, 1989 Progressive Conservative
26 Noimage.svg Jean Corbeil January 30, 1989 April 21, 1991 Progressive Conservative
27 Noimage.svg Marcel Danis April 21, 1991 June 25, 1993 Progressive Conservative
28 Noimage.svg Bernard Valcourt June 25, 1993 November 4, 1993 Progressive Conservative 25 (Campbell)
29 Noimage.svg Lloyd Axworthy November 4, 1993 February 22, 1995 Liberal 26 (Chrétien)
30 Noimage.svg Lucienne Robillard February 22, 1995 January 25, 1996 Liberal
31 Noimage.svg Alfonso Gagliano January 25, 1996 June 11, 1997 Liberal
32 Lawrence McAulay 01-14-2016.jpg Lawrence MacAulay June 11, 1997 November 23, 1998 Liberal
33 Claudette Bradshaw - 2003 (cropped).jpg Claudette Bradshaw November 23, 1998 December 12, 2003 Liberal
December 12, 2003 July 20, 2004 27 (Martin)
Minister of Labour and Housing
34 Joe Fontana 2012.jpg Joe Fontana July 20, 2004 February 6, 2006 Liberal
Minister of Labour
35 Jean-Pierre Blackburn February 6, 2006 October 30, 2008 Conservative 28 (Harper)
36 Rona Ambrose at the 67th World Health Assembly - 2014 (cropped).jpg Rona Ambrose October 30, 2008 January 19, 2010 Conservative
37 Lisa Raitt - 2017 (36917974502) (cropped)2.jpg Lisa Raitt January 19, 2010 July 15, 2013 Conservative
38 KellieLeitch2014.jpg Kellie Leitch July 15, 2013 November 4, 2015 Conservative
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
39 Noimage.svg MaryAnn Mihychuk November 4, 2015 January 10, 2017 Liberal 29 (J. Trudeau)
40 Patty Hajdu, 2016 (cropped).jpg Patty Hajdu January 10, 2017 November 20, 2019 Liberal
Minister of Labour
41 Minister of Seniors Filomena Tassi (cropped).jpg Filomena Tassi November 20, 2019 October 26, 2021 Liberal 29 (J. Trudeau)
42 Seamus O’Regan June 2018 cropped (cropped).jpg Seamus O'Regan October 26, 2021 Incumbent Liberal
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