Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation

The Ministries


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Fifteenth Ministry

Conservative 1
7 Aug. 1930 - 23 Oct. 1935

Prime Minister
Right Honourable Richard Bedford Bennett 2

The Ministry
Position Title
NameService Date /
Termination Date
Minister of Agriculture
Vacant  7 Aug. 1930 - 7 Aug. 1930
Hon. Robert Weir   8 Aug. 1930 - 23 Oct. 1935

Secretary of State for External Affairs3  
Rt Hon. Richard Bedford Bennett   7 Aug. 1930 - 23 Oct. 1935

Minister of Finance and Receiver General
Rt Hon. Richard Bedford Bennett   7 Aug. 1930 - 2 Feb. 1932
Hon. Edgar Nelson Rhodes  Senator  3 Feb. 1932 - 23 Oct. 1935

Minister of Fisheries
Hon. Edgar Nelson Rhodes  4   7 Aug. 1930 - 2 Feb. 1932
Hon. Alfred Duranleau   3 Feb. 1932 - 16 Nov. 1934
Hon. Grote Stirling   17 Nov. 1934 - 13 Aug. 1935
Hon. William Gordon Ernst   14 Aug. 1935 - 23 Oct. 1935

Minister of Immigration and Colonization5  
Hon. Wesley Ashton Gordon  6   7 Aug. 1930 - 2 Feb. 1932
Hon. Wesley Ashton Gordon   3 Feb. 1932 - 23 Oct. 1935

Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs7  
Hon. Thomas Gerow Murphy   7 Aug. 1930 - 23 Oct. 1935

Minister of the Interior7  
Hon. Thomas Gerow Murphy   7 Aug. 1930 - 23 Oct. 1935

Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Hon. Hugh Guthrie   7 Aug. 1930 - 11 Aug. 1935
Vacant  12 Aug. 1935 - 13 Aug. 1935
Hon. George Reginald Geary   14 Aug. 1935 - 23 Oct. 1935

Minister of Labour5  
Hon. Gideon Decker Robertson  Senator  7 Aug. 1930 - 2 Feb. 1932
Hon. Wesley Ashton Gordon  6   3 Feb. 1932 - 23 Oct. 1935

Minister of Marine
Hon. Alfred Duranleau   7 Aug. 1930 - 19 July 1935
Vacant  20 July 1935 - 29 Aug. 1935
Hon. Lucien Henri Gendron   30 Aug. 1935 - 23 Oct. 1935

Minister of Mines5  
Hon. Wesley Ashton Gordon   7 Aug. 1930 - 23 Oct. 1935

Minister without Portfolio
Hon. John Alexander Macdonald  Senator  7 Aug. 1930 - 13 Aug. 1935
Rt Hon. Sir George Halsey Perley   7 Aug. 1930 - 23 Oct. 1935
Rt Hon. Arthur Meighen  Senator  3 Feb. 1932 - 23 Oct. 1935
Hon. Onésime Gagnon   30 Aug. 1935 - 23 Oct. 1935
Hon. William Earl Rowe   30 Aug. 1935 - 23 Oct. 1935

Minister of National Defence
Hon. Donald Matheson Sutherland  8   7 Aug. 1930 - 16 Nov. 1934
Hon. Grote Stirling   17 Nov. 1934 - 23 Oct. 1935

Minister of National Revenue
Hon. Edmond Baird Ryckman   7 Aug. 1930 - 1 Dec. 1933
Vacant  2 Dec. 1933 - 5 Dec. 1933
Hon. Robert Charles Matthews   6 Dec. 1933 - 13 Aug. 1935
Hon. James Earl Lawson   14 Aug. 1935 - 23 Oct. 1935

Minister of Pensions and National Health
Hon. Murray MacLaren   7 Aug. 1930 - 16 Nov. 1934
Hon. Donald Matheson Sutherland   17 Nov. 1934 - 23 Oct. 1935

Postmaster General
Hon. Arthur Sauvé   7 Aug. 1930 - 13 Aug. 1935
Vacant  14 Aug. 1935 - 15 Aug. 1935
Hon. Samuel Gobeil   16 Aug. 1935 - 23 Oct. 1935

President of the Privy Council
Rt Hon. Richard Bedford Bennett   7 Aug. 1930 - 23 Oct. 1935

Minister of Public Works
Hon. Hugh Alexander Stewart   7 Aug. 1930 - 23 Oct. 1935

Minister of Railways and Canals
Hon. Robert James Manion   7 Aug. 1930 - 23 Oct. 1935

Secretary of State of Canada9  
Hon. Charles Hazlitt Cahan   7 Aug. 1930 - 23 Oct. 1935

Solicitor General of Canada
Hon. Maurice Dupré   7 Aug. 1930 - 23 Oct. 1935

Minister of Trade and Commerce
Hon. Henry Herbert Stevens   7 Aug. 1930 - 26 Oct. 1934
Vacant  27 Oct. 1934 - 16 Nov. 1934
Hon. Richard Burpee Hanson   17 Nov. 1934 - 23 Oct. 1935

Footnotes

  • [1] On August 7, 1930, after the defeat of the Government in the general election of July 28, King formally tendered his resignation. On the same day the Fifteenth Ministry took office. In relation to the election of ministers, it is of interest to note that, pursuant to Statute 21 -22 Geo. V, c. 52, assented to on August 3, 1931, an amendment to the Senate and House of Commons Act, members of the House of Commons were no longer required to seek re-election when appointed to an office in the ministry.
  • [2] Bennett was also President of the Privy Council, Minister of Finance, and Receiver General.
  • [3] The Prime Minister was ex officio the Secretary of State for External Affairs.
  • [4] Rhodes was appointed Minister of Finance and Receiver General on February 3, 1932.
  • [5] The Department of Mines was presided over by the minister of another department, who was to be named by the Governor in Council and who was to be called "The Minister of Mines". The Minister of Immigration and Colonization and the Minister of Labour were designated to be ex officio the Minister of Mines on August 7, 1930 and February 3, 1932, respectively.
  • [6] Gordon was also Minister of Mines. He was appointed Minister of Labour on February 3, 1932.
  • [7] On June 19, 1930, the office of Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs was transferred from the Minister of the Interior to the Minister of Immigration and Colonization. On August 7, 1930 the Governor in Council cancelled the Order in Council and thus the Minister of the Interior once again held the office ex officio.
  • [8] Sutherland was appointed Minister of Pensions and National Health on November 17, 1934.
  • [9] The Secretary of State of Canada was ex officio the Registrar General of Canada.