Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation

The Ministries

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Sixteenth Ministry

Liberal 1
23 Oct. 1935 - 15 Nov. 1948

Prime Minister
Right Honourable William Lyon Mackenzie King 2

The Ministry
Position Title
NameService Date /
Termination Date
Minister of Agriculture
Vacant  23 Oct. 1935 - 24 Oct. 1935
Hon. Thomas Alexander Crerar   25 Oct. 1935 - 3 Nov. 1935
Rt Hon. James Garfield Gardiner  3   4 Nov. 1935 - 15 Nov. 1948

Secretary of State for External Affairs4  
Rt Hon. William Lyon Mackenzie King   23 Oct. 1935 - 3 Sept. 1946
Rt Hon. Louis Stephen St-Laurent  5   4 Sept. 1946 - 9 Sept. 1948
Hon. Lester Bowles Pearson   10 Sept. 1948 - 15 Nov. 1948

Minister of Finance and Receiver General
Hon. Charles Avery Dunning   23 Oct. 1935 - 5 Sept. 1939
Hon. James Layton Ralston  6   6 Sept. 1939 - 4 July 1940
Vacant  5 July 1940 - 7 July 1940
Rt Hon. James Lorimer Ilsley  7   8 July 1940 - 9 Dec. 1946
Hon. Douglas Charles Abbott  8   10 Dec. 1946 - 15 Nov. 1948

Minister of Fisheries
Hon. Joseph-Enoil Michaud  9   23 Oct. 1935 - 5 Oct. 1942
Vacant  6 Oct. 1942 - 6 Oct. 1942
Hon. Ernest Bertrand  10   7 Oct. 1942 - 28 Aug. 1945
Vacant  29 Aug. 1945 - 29 Aug. 1945
Hon. Hedley Francis Gregory Bridges   30 Aug. 1945 - 10 Aug. 1947
Vacant  11 Aug. 1947 - 13 Aug. 1947
Hon. Ernest Bertrand   14 Aug. 1947 - 1 Sept. 1947
Hon. Milton Fowler Gregg  11   2 Sept. 1947 - 18 Jan. 1948
Hon. James Angus MacKinnon  12   19 Jan. 1948 - 10 June 1948
Hon. Robert Wellington Mayhew   11 June 1948 - 15 Nov. 1948

Minister of Immigration and Colonization13  
Hon. Thomas Alexander Crerar  14   23 Oct. 1935 - 30 Nov. 1936

Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs15  13  
Hon. Thomas Alexander Crerar  14   23 Oct. 1935 - 30 Nov. 1936

Minister of the Interior15  13  
Hon. Thomas Alexander Crerar  14   23 Oct. 1935 - 30 Nov. 1936

Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Rt Hon. Ernest Lapointe   23 Oct. 1935 - 26 Nov. 1941
Hon. Joseph-Enoil Michaud   27 Nov. 1941 - 9 Dec. 1941
Rt Hon. Louis Stephen St-Laurent  5   10 Dec. 1941 - 9 Dec. 1946
Rt Hon. James Lorimer Ilsley  7   10 Dec. 1946 - 30 June 1948
Rt Hon. Louis Stephen St-Laurent   1 July 1948 - 9 Sept. 1948
Rt Hon. Louis Stephen St-Laurent  5   10 Sept. 1948 - 15 Nov. 1948

Minister of Labour
Hon. Norman McLeod Rogers  16   23 Oct. 1935 - 18 Sept. 1939
Hon. Norman Alexander McLarty  17   19 Sept. 1939 - 14 Dec. 1941
Hon. Humphrey Mitchell   15 Dec. 1941 - 15 Nov. 1948

Minister of Marine18  
Hon. Clarence Decatur Howe  19   23 Oct. 1935 - 1 Nov. 1936

Minister of Mines20  13  
Hon. Thomas Alexander Crerar  14   23 Oct. 1935 - 30 Nov. 1936

Minister of Mines and Resources13  
Hon. Thomas Alexander Crerar  14   1 Dec. 1936 - 17 April 1945
Hon. James Allison Glen   18 April 1945 - 10 June 1948
Hon. James Angus MacKinnon  12   11 June 1948 - 15 Nov. 1948

Minister without Portfolio
Rt Hon. Raoul Dandurand  Senator  23 Oct. 1935 - 11 March 1942
Hon. James Angus MacKinnon  12   23 Jan. 1939 - 8 May 1940
Hon. James Horace King  Senator  26 May 1942 - 23 Aug. 1945
Hon. Wishart McLea Robertson  Senator  4 Sept. 1945 - 15 Nov. 1948

Minister of Munitions and Supply21  22  
Hon. Clarence Decatur Howe  19   9 April 1940 - 31 Dec. 1945

Associate Minister of National Defence23  
Hon. Charles Gavan Power  24   12 July 1940 - 26 Nov. 1944

Minister of National Defence
Hon. Ian Alistair Mackenzie  25   23 Oct. 1935 - 18 Sept. 1939
Hon. Norman McLeod Rogers   19 Sept. 1939 - 10 June 1940
Hon. Charles Gavan Power   11 June 1940 - 4 July 1940
Hon. James Layton Ralston   5 July 1940 - 1 Nov. 1944
Hon. Andrew George Latta McNaughton   2 Nov. 1944 - 20 Aug. 1945
Hon. Douglas Charles Abbott  8   21 Aug. 1945 - 11 Dec. 1946
Hon. Brooke Claxton   12 Dec. 1946 - 15 Nov. 1948

Minister of National Defence for Air26  23  
Vacant  22 May 1940 - 22 May 1940
Hon. Charles Gavan Power  24   23 May 1940 - 26 Nov. 1944
Vacant  27 Nov. 1944 - 29 Nov. 1944
Hon. Angus Lewis Macdonald   30 Nov. 1944 - 10 Jan. 1945
Hon. Colin William George Gibson   11 Jan. 1945 - 7 March 1945
Hon. Colin William George Gibson  27   8 March 1945 - 11 Dec. 1946

Minister of National Defence for Naval Services28  23  
Hon. Angus Lewis Macdonald   12 July 1940 - 17 April 1945
Hon. Douglas Charles Abbott  8   18 April 1945 - 11 Dec. 1946

Minister of National Health and Welfare29  
Hon. Brooke Claxton  30   18 Oct. 1944 - 11 Dec. 1946
Hon. Paul Joseph James Martin   12 Dec. 1946 - 15 Nov. 1948

Minister of National Revenue
Hon. James Lorimer Ilsley  7   23 Oct. 1935 - 7 July 1940
Hon. Colin William George Gibson  27   8 July 1940 - 7 March 1945
Hon. James Angus MacKinnon   8 March 1945 - 18 April 1945
Hon. David Laurence MacLaren   19 April 1945 - 29 July 1945
Hon. James Angus MacKinnon   30 July 1945 - 28 Aug. 1945
Hon. James Joseph McCann  31   29 Aug. 1945 - 15 Nov. 1948

Minister of National War Services32  
Hon. James Garfield Gardiner  3   12 July 1940 - 10 June 1941
Hon. Joseph Thorarinn Thorson   11 June 1941 - 5 Oct. 1942
Vacant  6 Oct. 1942 - 6 Oct. 1942
Hon. Léo Richer Laflèche   7 Oct. 1942 - 17 April 1945
Hon. James Joseph McCann  31   18 April 1945 - 18 Jan. 1948
Vacant  19 Jan. 1948 - 15 Nov. 1948

Minister of Pensions and National Health29  
Hon. Charles Gavan Power  24   23 Oct. 1935 - 18 Sept. 1939
Hon. Ian Alistair Mackenzie  25   19 Sept. 1939 - 17 Oct. 1944

Postmaster General
Hon. John Campbell Elliott   23 Oct. 1935 - 22 Jan. 1939
Hon. Norman Alexander McLarty  17   23 Jan. 1939 - 18 Sept. 1939
Hon. Charles Gavan Power  24   19 Sept. 1939 - 22 May 1940
Hon. James Lorimer Ilsley   23 May 1940 - 7 July 1940
Hon. William Pate Mulock   8 July 1940 - 8 June 1945
Vacant  9 June 1945 - 28 Aug. 1945
Hon. Ernest Bertrand   29 Aug. 1945 - 15 Nov. 1948

President of the Privy Council
Rt Hon. William Lyon Mackenzie King   23 Oct. 1935 - 15 Nov. 1948

Minister of Public Works
Hon. Pierre Joseph Arthur Cardin  33   23 Oct. 1935 - 12 May 1942
Hon. Joseph-Enoil Michaud   13 May 1942 - 6 Oct. 1942
Hon. Alphonse Fournier   7 Oct. 1942 - 15 Nov. 1948

Minister of Railways and Canals18  
Hon. Clarence Decatur Howe  19   23 Oct. 1935 - 1 Nov. 1936

Minister of Reconstruction34  22  
Vacant  30 June 1944 - 12 Oct. 1944
Hon. Clarence Decatur Howe  19   13 Oct. 1944 - 31 Dec. 1945

Minister of Reconstruction and Supply22  
Hon. Clarence Decatur Howe  19   1 Jan. 1946 - 15 Nov. 1948

Secretary of State of Canada35  
Hon. Fernand Rinfret   23 Oct. 1935 - 12 July 1939
Vacant  13 July 1939 - 25 July 1939
Rt Hon. Ernest Lapointe   26 July 1939 - 8 May 1940
Hon. Pierre-François Casgrain   9 May 1940 - 14 Dec. 1941
Hon. Norman Alexander McLarty  17   15 Dec. 1941 - 17 April 1945
Hon. Paul Joseph James Martin  36   18 April 1945 - 11 Dec. 1946
Hon. Colin William George Gibson  27   12 Dec. 1946 - 15 Nov. 1948

Solicitor General of Canada
Vacant  23 Oct. 1935 - 17 April 1945
Hon. Joseph Jean   18 April 1945 - 15 Nov. 1948

Minister of Trade and Commerce
Hon. William Daum Euler   23 Oct. 1935 - 8 May 1940
Hon. James Angus MacKinnon  12   9 May 1940 - 18 Jan. 1948
Rt Hon. Clarence Decatur Howe  19   19 Jan. 1948 - 15 Nov. 1948

Minister of Transport18  
Hon. Clarence Decatur Howe  19   2 Nov. 1936 - 7 July 1940
Hon. Pierre Joseph Arthur Cardin  33   8 July 1940 - 12 May 1942
Hon. Clarence Decatur Howe   13 May 1942 - 5 Oct. 1942
Hon. Joseph-Enoil Michaud   6 Oct. 1942 - 17 April 1945
Hon. Lionel Chevrier   18 April 1945 - 15 Nov. 1948

Minister of Veterans Affairs29  
Rt Hon. Ian Alistair Mackenzie  25   18 Oct. 1944 - 18 Jan. 1948
Hon. Milton Fowler Gregg   19 Jan. 1948 - 15 Nov. 1948

Footnotes

  • [1] The Government having been defeated in the general election of October 14, 1935, Bennett formally tendered his resignation to the Governor General on October 23, 1935. The Sixteenth Ministry assumed office the same day. It was returned to office in the general elections of both 1940 and 1945 but on the latter the Prime Minister failed to be re-elected. He was subsequently elected in a by-election on August 6, 1945.
  • [2] King was also Secretary of State for External Affairs and President of the Privy Council.
  • [3] Gardiner was appointed Minister of Agriculture on November 4, 1935; and Minister of National War Services on July 12, 1940;.
  • [4] The Prime Minister was ex officio the Secretary of State for External Affairs until 28 May 1946. Statute 10 Geo. VI, c, 6, assented to on May 28, 1946, terminated this ex officio relationship.
  • [5] St-Laurent was appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General on December 10, 1941; Secretary of State for External Affairs on September 4, 1946; and Minister of Justice and Attorney General on September 10, 1948.
  • [6] Ralston was appointed Minister of National Defence on July 5, 1940.
  • [7] Ilsley was appointed Minister of National Revenue on October 23, 1935; Minister of Finance and Receiver General on July 8, 1940; and Minister of Justice and Attorney General on December 10, 1946.
  • [8] Abbott was appointed Minister of National Defence for Naval Services on April 18, 1945; Minister of National Defence on August 21, 1945; and Minister of Finance and Receiver General on December 10, 1946.
  • [9] Michaud was appointed Minister of Transport on October 6, 1942.
  • [10] Bertrand was appointed Postmaster General on August 29, 1945.
  • [11] Gregg was appointed Minister of Veterans Affairs on January 19, 1948.
  • [12] MacKinnon was appointed Minister without Portfolio on January 23, 1939; Minister of Trade and Commerce on May 9, 1940; Minister of Fisheries on January 19, 1948; and Minister of Mines and Resources on June 11, 1948.
  • [13] The offices of Minister of immigration and Colonization, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Mines and Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs were abolished and the office of Minister of Mines and Resources was created by Statute 1 Edw. VIII, c. 33, assented to on June 23, 1936 and proclaimed in force on December 1, 1936.
  • [14] Crerar was appointed Minister of Immigration and Colonization, Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs, Minister of the Interior and Minister of Mines on October 23, 1935; and Minister of Mines and Resources on December 1, 1936.
  • [15] The Minister of the Interior was ex officio the Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs.
  • [16] Rogers was appointed Minister of National Defence on September 19, 1939.
  • [17] McLarty was appointed Postmaster General on January 23, 1939; Minister of Labour on September 19, 1939; and Secretary of State of Canada on December 15, 1941.
  • [18] The offices of Minister of Marine and Minister of Railways and Canals were abolished and the office of Minister of Transport created by Statute 1 Edw. VIII, c. 34, assented to on June 23, 1936 and proclaimed in force on November 2, 1936.
  • [19] Howe was appointed Minister of Marine and Minister of Railways and Canals on October 23, 1935; Minister of Transport on November 2, 1936; Minister of Munitions and Supply on April 9, 1940; Minister of Reconstruction on October 13, 1944; Minister of Reconstruction and Supply on January 1, 1946; and Minister of Trade and Commerce on January 19, 1948.
  • [20] The Department of Mines was to be 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". During the Sixteenth Ministry Crerar, who was both Minister of Immigration and Colonization and Minister of the Interior, was named Minister of Mines.
  • [21] The office of Minister of Munitions and Supply was created by Statute 3 Geo. VI, c. 3, assented to on September 13, 1939 and proclaimed in force on April 9, 1940.
  • [22] The offices of Minister of Munitions and Supply and Minister of Reconstruction were abolished and the office of Minister of Reconstruction and Supply created by Statute 9-10 Geo. VI, c. 16, and assented to on December 18, 1945. The section of the Act creating the office was proclaimed in force on January 1, 1946.
  • [23] The office of Associate Minister of National Defence was created by Statute 4 Geo. VI, c. 21, and assented to on July 12, 1940. By this Act an Associate Minister of National Defence, a Minister of National Defence for Naval Services and a Minister of National Defence for Air could be appointed on the issuance by the Sovereign or the Governor in Council, pursuant to the War Measures Act, of a proclamation declaring the existence of war, invasion or insurrection, real or apprehended. Appointments to these three offices could be made until six months after the issuance of a further proclamation declaring that the war, invasion or insurrection no longer existed.
    Proclamations declaring the existence of wars were issued on both September 1 and September 10, 1939. Active hostilities generally ceased in 1945. However, unlike after World War I, no proclamation was issued declaring an end to the state of war, though in 1947 the remaining Orders in Council approved pursuant to the War Measures Act were rescinded, thus in effect recognizing the termination of the state of war. Moreover, on, July 10, 1951 a proclamation was issued proclaiming an end to the formal state of war between Canada and Germany, and in 1952 a Treaty of Peace with Japan was proclaimed in force. Consequently, it is difficult to determine when appointments to these offices could not have any longer been made. Nevertheless, on February 15, 1952, pursuant to the National Defence Act of 1950 (14 Geo. VI, c. 43), a proclamation was issued repealing the relevant sections of the Act creating these offices and, indeed, they had in effect been superseded by sections of the National Defence Act of 1950 which had been proclaimed in force on August 1, 1950.
  • [24] Power was appointed Minister of Pensions and National Health on October 23, 1935; Postmaster General on September 19, 1939; Minister of National Defence for Air on May 23, 1940; and Associate Minister of National Defence on July 12, 1940.
  • [25] Mackenzie was appointed Minister of National Defence on October 23, 1935; Minister of Pensions and National Health on September 19, 1939; and Minister of Veterans Affairs on October 18, 1944.
  • [26] The office of Minister of National Defence for Air was created by Statute 4 Geo. VI, c. 1, assented to on May 22, 1940, abolished and re-created by Statute 4 Geo. VI, c. 21, and assented to on July 12, 1940.
  • [27] Gibson was appointed Minister of National Revenue on July 8, 1940; Minister of National Defence for Air on March 8, 1945; Secretary of State of Canada on December 12, 1946.
  • [28] The office of Minister of National Defence for Naval Services was created by Statute 4 Geo. VI, c. 21, and assented to on July 12, 1940.
  • [29] The office of Minister of Pensions and National Health was abolished and the offices of Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of National Health and Welfare created by Statute 8 Geo. VI, c. 19, assented to on June 30, 1944, and Statute 8 Geo. VI, c. 22, assented to on July 24, 1944, respectively. Both Acts were proclaimed in force on October 18, 1944.
  • [30] Claxton was appointed Minister of National Defence on December 12, 1946.
  • [31] McCann was appointed Minister of National War Services on April 18, 1945; and Minister of National Revenue on August 29, 1945.
  • [32] The office of Minister of National War Services was created by Statute 4 Geo. VI. c. 22, and assented to on July 12, 1940. The Act was not included in the 1952 Revised Statutes of Canada as it was considered spent.
  • [33] Cardin was appointed Minister of Public Works on October 23, 1935; and Minister of Transport on July 8, 1940.
  • [34] The office of Minister of Reconstruction was created by Statute 8 Geo. VI, c. 18, and assented to on June 30, 1944.
  • [35] The Secretary of State of Canada was ex officio the Registrar General of Canada.
  • [36] Martin was appointed Minister of National Health and Welfare on December 12, 1946.

The Canadian Ministry was prepared using an earlier publication (Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation) and new information compiled by the Orders in Council Division of the Privy Council Office.

Any inaccuracy or general inquiries should be brought to the attention of the Orders in Council Division at oica-ndec@pco-bcp.gc.ca.