Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
Female Members of the Cabinet of Canada
See also Canada_Ministers
and Canada_Parliament
1957 Secretary of State for Canada
The Hon. Ellen Lourkes Fairclough
1958 Acting Prime Minister (19.02-20.02)
1958-62 Minister for Citizenship and Immigration
1962-63 Postmaster General
Progressive Conservative MP 1950-63,
Privy Councillor 1957-2004, Ambassador Extraordinary to the inauguration
of President Fondizi of Argentina 1958. She was the only women to
serve as acting Prime Minister until the 1980s. In 1992 Queen Elizabeth
bestowed her with the title of "The Right Honorable".
Both her husband and only son predeceased her. She lived (1905-2004)
1963-65 Minister of National Health
and Welfare The Hon. Julia Verlyn La March
1965-67 Secretary of State for Canada
Liberal MP 1960-67. She lived (1920-80)
1972 Minister of State responsible for Science The Hon. Jeanne Bentoît Sauvé, Ph.D
1974-75 Minister of Environment
1975-79 Minister of Communication and Culture
1980-84 Speaker of the House of Commons (The Rt. Hon.)
1984-90 24th Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada
(15.5.84-29.1.90)
A former journalist and broadcaster, she was liberal MP 1972-84. Lived (1922-93)
1976-79 Minister of State
responsible for
Fitness
and Amateur Sport Hon. Iona Campagnlo
MP 1974-79, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and
Northern Development 1974-76
and 1983-91 President of the
Liberal Party of Canada. (1932-)
1976-77 Minister of the Treasury
and National Revenue The Hon. Monique Bégin
1977-79 Minister of National Health and Welfare
1980-83 Minister of National Health and Welfare
Progressive Conservative MP 1972-84 and 1975-76 Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister for External Affairs
(b. 1936-)
1979-80 Secretary of State for External Affairs The Hon. Flora I. MacDonald
(Second in the Cabinet)
1984-86 Minister of Labour and Immigration (Forth in cabinet)
1987-88 Acting Prime Minister (a number of days)
1986-89 Minister of Culture and Communication (Third in cabinet)
She was Executive Director of the Progressive Conservative Party 1957-66,
1966-69 National Secretary of the Party, MP 1972-89 and 1976 she was candidate
for the Leadership of the Social Credit Party. She lived (1926-2015)
1980-83 Minister of State
responsible for
Mines
The Hon. Judy A. Erola
1981-84 Minister Responsible for the Status of Women
1983-84 Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs and Vice-Chairperson of the
Committee on Economic and Regional Development
1984 Minister of State of Social Development
Liberal MP 1980-84
1982-84 Minister of State
responsible for
Amateur
Sport Hon. Céline Hervieux-Payette
1984 Minister of State
responsible for
Youth
Liberal MP 1979-85, 1980-82 Parliamentary Secretary to the Solicitor General and
Senator from 1995. (b. 1922-)
1983-84
and 1984-86Minister of State
(Environment and the Quality of Life) The Hon. Huguette Bouchardeau
Since 1995 Mayor of Aigues-Vives in Quebec. (b. 1935-)
1984 Minister of the Environment
The Hon. Suzanne Blais-Grenier
1985-86 Minister of State
responsible for
Transport
1984-86 Minister of External
Relations The Hon. Monique Vézina
1986-87 Minister of Supply Service
1988 Minister of State
responsible for
Employment and Seniors
1988-93 Minister of State
responsible for Transport and Immigration
1993 Minister of External Relations and Minister of State for Seniors and Health
(July-October)
Progressive Conservative MP 1984-93. (b. 1935-)
1984 Minister of State
responsible for
Finance
The Hon. Patricia Carney
1984-87 Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources
1986-87 Minister of International Trade
1988 Minister of Foreign Trade
1988-89 President of The Treasury Board (in Cabinet)
Progressive Conservative 1980-84, Since 1990 Senator. (b. 1935-)
1984-86 Minister of State
responsible for
Finance
The Hon. Barbara Jean McDougall
1986-88 Minister of State
responsible for
Privatization
1986-90 Minister Responsible for the Status of Women
1988-91 Minister of Employment and
Immigration
1990 Acting
Minister of State
responsible for
Youth
1991-93 Secretary of State of External Affairs (Foreign Minister)
Progressive Conservative MP 1984-93. (b. 1937- )
1984-86 Minister of State
responsible for
Youth
The Hon. Andrée Champagne
She was Assistant Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House 1986-90
and Deputy Speaker of House of Commons 1990-93.
Progressive Conservative MP 1984-93 (b. 1939-)
1986-93 Minister of External
Relations The Hon. Monique Landrey
1991-93 Minister of State
responsible for Indian Affairs and Northern
Development
1993 Secretary of State of Canada (Jan.-Oct.)
1993 Minister of Communication and Heritage and Minister responsible for the
Francophonie (July-Oct.)
1999 Secretary of State of Canada (October-November)
Progressive Conservative MP 1984-93 and 1984-85 Parliamentary Secretary to the
Secretary of State of Canada 1985-86 Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of
International Trade. , The Minister of External Affairs ranked below the
Secretary of External Affairs (Foreign Minister). (b. 1937-)
1988-93 Minister of State
responsible for
Transport The Hon. Shirley Martin
1989-91 Minister of State
responsible for
for Indian Affairs and Northern Development
1991-93 Minister of State
responsible for
Transport)
Progressive Conservative MP 1984-93 and 1987-89 Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister of Public Works (b. 1932-)
1989-90 Minister of State
responsible for
Indian
Affairs and Northern Development The Hon. A. Kim Campbell
1990-93 Minister of Justice, Attorney-General & Leader of the Government in
the House of Commons
1993 Minister of Defence and Minister of Veteran Affairs
1993 Prime Minister (23.6-4.11.93) (Rt. Hon.)
1993 Minister responsible for Federal-Provincial Relations
From 1985-86 Executive Director Office of the Prime Minister, Progressive
Conservative MP 1988-93 and1993-94 Party Leader, 1994-97 University lecturer,
since 1997 Consul General to Los Angeles. (b. 1947-)
1989-93 Associate Minister of
National Defence Hon. Mary Collins
1990-93 Minister Responsible for the Status of Women
1993 Minister of State
responsible for Environment
1993 Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State for
Environment
1993 Minister of National Health and Welfare (July-October)
1991-93 Minister of State
responsible for
Environment The Hon Pauline Browes
1993 Minister of State
responsible for Employment and Immigration
1993 Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Progressive Conservative MP 1984-93 and 1986-89 Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister of Environment 1989-91 Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of
State of Canada and to the Minister of State (Multiculturalism and Citizenship)
(b. 1938-)
1993 Minister of Energy, Mines,
Resources and Minister of Forestry Welfare Hon. Bobbie Sparrow (July-October)
Progressive Conservative MP 1984-93 and 1991-93 Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister of National Health and Welfare (b. 1935-)
1993-96 Deputy Prime Minister The
Hon. Sheila Copps
1993-96 Minister of Environment
1993 Minister of Communication and Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship
1996-2003 Minister of Canadian Heritage (1997-99 third in the Cabinet)
1996-97 Deputy Prime Minister
MP from 1984, 1990 Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party 1990-96. In May 1996 she
resigned from Parliament, as she had promised to do if the government had to
raise taxes. She was reelected at a by-election in June and re-installed in her
government posts. She is unmarried and mother of a daughter and she was the
first sitting MP to give birth to a child in 1987. (b. 1952-)
1993-96 Minister of National Health
and Welfare The Hon. Diane Marleau
1996-97 Minister of Public Works and Government Service, Receiver General of
Canada
1997-99 Minister of International Co-operation and Minister for the Francophonie
MP from 1988. Between 1991-93 Deputy Opposition Whip (Liberal Party), 1992-93
Deputy Chairperson of Standing Committee for Finance.
From 2004 Parliamentary Secretary to the
President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat
Board.
(b. 1943-)
1993-95 Minister of Energy, Mines,
Forestry The Hon. Anne McLellan
1994-97
Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians
1995-97 Minister of National Resources (Energy, Mines, Forestry)
1997-2002 Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
2002-03 Minister of Health
2003- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Liberal MP from 1993 (b. 1950-)
1993-97 Leader of the Government in
the Senate and Minister with Special Responsibility for Literacy The Hon.
Senator Joyce Fairbarn
From 1981-83 Communication Co-ordinator in P.M's Office (P. Trudeau), 1984-
Senator for Alberta, 1984-90 Deputy Chairperson of National Liberal Caucus
(Parliamentary Group). (b. 1939-)
1993-97 Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs for Africa and Latin America
1997-99 Minister of Environment The Hon. Christine Stewart
Before becoming Vice-Foreign Minister she had been liberal MP since 1988. (b.
1941-)
1993-96 Minister of State
responsible for
Multiculturalism and Status of Women The Hon. Shiela Finestone
Liberal MP 1984-99, Senator from 1999, Chairperson of a number of committees and
Parliamentary Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on Anti-Personnel
Landmines (b. 1927-)
1993-94 Parliamentary Secretary to
the President of the Treasury Board Hon. Marlene Catteval
1994-2001 Deputy Government Whip in the House of Commons
2001-03
Government Whip in the House
of Commons
Liberal MP from 1988 (b. 1939-)
1994-96 Minister of State
responsible for
Training and Youth The Hon. Ethel Blondin-Andrews
1996-2004 Minister of State
responsible for
Children and Youth
2004-06 Minister of State responsible for
Northern
Development
Former Assistant Deputy Minister of Culture and Communication of the North West
Territories (Before 1988).
Liberal MP from 1988 as the first Indian-American woman elected to the House of
Commons. (b. 1954-)
1995-96 Minister of Labour and
Minister responsible for the federal campaign in the Quebec Referendum
1996-99 Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
1996 Acting Minister of Communication, Multiculturalism and Immigration
(May-June)
1999-2003 President of the Treasury Board and Minister Responsible for
Infrastructure
2003-04 Minister of
Industry and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada
for the Regions of Quebec
2004-06 President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
2005
Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development The Hon. Lucienne Robillard
In 1989 Minister of Culture, 1989-94 Minister of Education and Science, 1994-95
Minister of Heath of Quebec.
The Privy Council Office is the Prime
Minister’s department and the Cabinet Secretariat, and as
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs she is responsible for the
cooperation with provincial and territorial
governments. Liberal MP from 1993 and
Deputy Opposition Leader in the House from
2006. (b. 1945-).
1996-97 Minister of National
Revenue The Hon. Jane Stewart
1997-99 Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
1999-2003 Minister of Human Resources Development
MP from 1993 and 1994-96 Chairperson of The National Liberal Caucus
(Parliamentary Group). (b. 1955-)
1996-2002 Minister of State responsible for
Multiculturalism
and Status of Women The Hon. Hedy Fry
Liberal MP from 1993 and 1993-96 Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of
National Heritage
and from 2003 Parliamentary Secretary to
the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration with special emphasis on Foreign
Credentials (b. 1941-)
1998-2004 Minister of Labour The Hon.
Claudette Bradshaw
1999-2004 Federal Coordinator on Homelessness
2002 Minister of State
responsible for
Multiculturalism and Status of
Women
2004-06 Minister of State responsible for
Human Resources Development
Liberal MP from 1997 and 1997-98 Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of
International Cooperation and The Minister Responsible for the Francophonie. (b.
1949-)
1999-2002 Minister of Citizenship
and Immigration Elinor Caplan
2002-03 Minister of National Revenue
Minister of Government Service and Health in Ontario 1985-90. Liberal MP from
1997 and 1998-99 Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health (b. 1944-).
1999-2002 Minister for
International Co-operation Maria Minna
Liberal MP from 1993 and 1996-98 Parliamentary Secretary of Citizenship and
Immigration (b. 1948-).
2002-03 Minister of International Cooperation Susan Wehan
Liberal MP and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Resources
1993-96.
2002-04 Minister of State responsible for
Multiculturalism and Status of Women
Jean Augustine
Liberal MP 1993-2006 as the first black woman elected to the House of Commons, she
was Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister 1993-96, and later chaired
various committees, among other that of Foreign Affairs and was Assistant Deputy Chair of the
Committees of the Whole House (3. Deputy Speaker) 2004-06. (b. 1937-)
2003-04 Minister of
Canadian Heritage The Hon. Hélène Chalifour Scherrer
She lost her mandate in the 2004-elections.
2003-04 Associate Minister of National Defence
and Minister of State (Civil Preparedness)
2004-06 Minister of Veteran Affairs The Hon. Albina Guarnieri
Liberal MP 1988-2011
and
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Communication (Canadian Heritage) and
to the Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship
1993-96.
(1953-)
2003-06
Minister for International Cooperation The Hon. Aileen Carrol
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
2001-03. (b. 1944-)
2003-05 Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Judy Sgro
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister
of Public Works and Government Services 2003. (b. 1952-).
2005-06 Minister of
Human Resources and Skills Development Belinda Stronach
Candidate for the leadership of the Conservatives in 2004. In 2004 she left the
party and joined the Liberals and the cabinet in protest of the party leaders
rightwing politics.
2006-13 Leader of
the Government in the Senate Marjory LeBreton
2007-08 Secretary of State responsible for Seniors
2008-11 Minister of State responsible for
Seniors
2011-13 (Third in the Cabinet)
Conservative Senator from 1993 and Opposition Whip in the Senate 2004-06. (b. 1940-).
2006-07 Minister of
National Revenue and Minister of Western Economic Diversification Carol Skelton
Conservative MP from 2000, Former Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition,
Deputy House Leader for the Official Opposition (b. 1945-)
2006-07 Minister of
International Cooperation Josée Verner
2007 Minister for the Francophonie
2007-08 Minister for the Official Languages
2007-08 Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Status of Women
2008-11 Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs,
President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister for the
Francophonie
Conservative MP 2006-11. She was Minister in the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and International Trade. (b. 1960-).
2006-07 Minister of
Environment Rona Ambrose
2007-08 President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of
Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification
2008-10 Minister of Labour
2010-13 Minister of Public Works and Minister for
the Status of Women
2013-15 Minister of Health
Conservative MP from 2004. (b. 1969-).
2006-07 Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Diane Finley
2007-08 Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
2008-13 Minister of Human Resources and Skills
Development
2013-15 Minister of Public Works and Government Services
Conservative MP from 2004. (b. 1958-).
2006-07 Minister of
Canadian Heritage and the Status of Women Beverly J. Oda
2007-12 Minister of International Cooperation.
Conservative MP 2004-12. Bev Oda was the first Japanese-Canadian Cabinet minister. (b. 1944-).
2008-13 Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq
2011-15 Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
2013-15
Minister of the Environment and Minister for the Arctic Council
Former Assistant Deputy Minister of Human Resources of the North West Territory,
Minister of Finance and later of Health in Nunavut. MP from 2008.
2008-10 Minister of Natural Resources Lisa Raitt
2010-13 Minister of Labour
2013-15 Minister of Transport
Conservative MP from 2008.
2008-11 Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Gail Shea
2011-13 Minister of National
Revenue
2012-13 Acting Minister
of Fisheries and Oceans
2013 Minister for the Atlantic Canada
Opportunities Agency
2013-15 Minister of Fisheries and Ocean
Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs in Prince Edwards Island 2000-03 and
Minister of Transportation and Public Works 2003-07, and Conservative MP
2008-15. (b. 1948- in Hong-Kong)
2008-13 Minister of State
responsible for
Western Economic Diversification
Lynne Yelich
2013-15 Minister of State
responsible for Foreign Affairs and Consular Service
MP for the Canadian Alliance 2000-03 and since then for the Conservatives
and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Social
Development
2006-08. (b.
1953-).
2008-10
Minister of State responsible for the
Status of Women
Helena Guergis
Conservative MP 2004-10 and an independent 2010-11. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of
International Trade 2006-07 and Secretary of State (Foreign Affairs and International Trade) and Minister
of State (Sport)
2007-08. (b. 1969-).
2008-11 Minister of State
responsible for Small Business and Tourism Diane Ablonczy
2011-13 Minister of State
of Foreign Affairs esponsible for Americas
and Consular Affairs
MP since 1993, she was chairperson of the Reform Party in the 1990s, Candidate for Leader of the Alliance in 2002
and joined the Conservatives in 2003. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of
Finance 2006-07 and Secretary of State responsible for Small Business and
Tourism 2007-08. (b. 1949-).
2011-15 Minister of State responsible for
Seniors Alice Wong
Conservative MP from 2008 and Parliamentary Secretary for
Multiculturalism. (b. 1948-).
2013-15 Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Shelly Glover
Conservative MP from 2008,
Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages 2008-11, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian
Affairs and Northern Development 2010-11 and Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister of Finance 2011-13
2013-15 Minister of Labour and
Minister of Status of Women Kellie Leitch
Conservative MP from 2011 and Parliamentary Secretary to
the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Parliamentary
Secretary to the Minister of Labour 2011-13
2013-15
Minister of State responsible for Social Development Candice Bergen
Conservative MP from 2008 and Parliamentary Secretary to
the Minister of Public Safety 2011-13.
2015-
Minister of Justice and Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould
Liberal MP and
former Assembly of First Nations regional chief in British Colombia as member of
the We Wai Kai Nation
2015- Minister of Public Services and Procurement
Judy Foote
Deputy House Leader and Liberal Whip 2011-15.
2015-17
Minister of International Trade Chrystia Freeland
2017- Minister of Foreign
Affairs
Liberal MP
2015-
Minister of Small Business and Tourism Bardish Chagger
Liberal MP
2015- Minister of Health Jane Philpott
Liberal MP
2015- Minister of
International Development and La francophonie Marie-Claude Bibeau
Liberal MP
2015- Minister of Heritage Mélanie Joly
Liberal MP
2015- Minister
of National Revenue Diane Lebouthillier
Liberal MP
2015- Minister of
Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna
Liberal MP
2015-17
Minister of Employment Workforce Development and Labour MaryAnn Mihychuk
Liberal MP and former Minister iManitoba
2015-17 Minister of Democratic
Institutions and President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada Maryam Monsef
2017- Minister of the Status of Women
Liberal MP
(b. 1984-)
2015- Minister of Sport, and
Persons with Disabilities Carla Qualtrough
Liberal MP
2015- Minister
of Science Kirsty Duncan
Liberal MP
2015-17 Minister of the Status of
Women Patricia Hajdu
2017- Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and
Labour
Liberal MP
2017-
Minister of Democratic Institutions and President of the Queen's Privy Council
for Canada Karina Gould
Liberal MP and Parliamentary
Secretary to the Minister of International Development 2014-17
Last update 05.12.16