Minister of Northern Affairs
Ministre des Affaires du Nord
Incumbent
Dan Vandal
since 20 November 2019
Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
StyleThe Honourable
Member of
Reports to
AppointerMonarch (represented by the governor general);[3]
on the advice of the prime minister[4]
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
PrecursorMinister of Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
Inaugural holderDan Vandal
Formation20 November 2019
SalaryCA$269,800 (2019)[5]
Websitewww.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca
Politics of Canada
Government (structure)
The Crown
Executive (King-in-Council)
Legislative (King-in-Parliament)
Judicial (King-on-the-Bench)
Elections
Local government
Foreign relations
Crown and Indigenous peoples
Related topics

The minister of northern affairs (French: ministre des Affaires du Nord) is a minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet. The position has been held by Dan Vandal since 20 November 2019.

In 1953, the role of Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources was created as a formal successor to the Minister of Resources and Development, receiving the previous position's roles with an additional focus on territorial and Inuit relations.[6] Similarly, the Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources was created in the same legislation to replace the previous Department of Resources and Development.

In 1966, the portfolio's responsibilities were divided between the new posts of Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, which were given the majority of the northern affairs and national resources portfolios, respectively.[7]

In 2019, the northern affairs portfolio of Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) was assigned back to a separate Minister of Northern Affairs, who works within CIRNAC with the Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations.

List of ministers

No. Portrait Name Term of office Political party Ministry
Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources
1 Jean Lesage 16 December 1953 21 June 1957 Liberal 17 (St. Laurent)[8]
2 Douglas Harkness 21 June 1957 18 August 1957 Progressive Conservative 18 (Diefenbaker)[9]
Vacant 19 August 1957 21 August 1957
3 Alvin Hamilton 22 August 1957 10 October 1960 Progressive Conservative
4 Walter Dinsdale 11 October 1960 22 April 1963 Progressive Conservative
5 Arthur Laing 22 December 1963 30 September 1966 Liberal 19 (Pearson)[10]
Responsibilities under Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (1966–2019)[a]
Minister of Northern Affairs
6 Dan Vandal 20 November 2019 Incumbent Liberal 29 (J. Trudeau)

Notes

  1. ^ The role was referred to as Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development for most of this period (1966–2011), then evolved through a series of other titles including:
    • Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development (2011–2015)
    • Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs (2015–2017)
    • Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs (2017–2018)
    • Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations (2018–2019)

References

  1. ^ "The Canadian Parliamentary system – Our Procedure – House of Commons". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  2. ^ "Review of the Responsibilities and Accountabilities of Ministers and Senior Officials" (PDF).
  3. ^ "Constitutional Duties". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  4. ^ "House of Commons Procedure and Practice – 1. Parliamentary Institutions – Canadian Parliamentary Institutions". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  5. ^ "Indemnities, Salaries and Allowances". Library of Parliament. April 11, 2018. Archived from the original on June 1, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  6. ^ An Act respecting the Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources, S.C. 1953–1954, c. 4
  7. ^ Government Organization Act, 1966, S.C. 1966–1967, c. 25, s. 40–41,45
  8. ^ "Seventeenth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  9. ^ "Eighteenth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
  10. ^ "Nineteenth Ministry – The Ministries – Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
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