Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation

The Ministries

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Twenty-First Ministry

Progressive-Conservative 1
4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Prime Minister
Right Honourable Charles Joseph Clark

The Ministry
Position Title
NameService Date /
Termination Date
Minister of Agriculture
Hon. John Wise   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of Communications
Hon. David S. H. MacDonald  2   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs
Hon. Allan Frederick Lawrence  3   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of State for Economic Development
Hon. Robert René de Cotret  Senator 4   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of Employment and Immigration
Hon. Ronald George Atkey   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources
Hon. Ramon John Hnatyshyn  5   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of the Environment
Hon. John Allen Fraser  6   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Secretary of State for External Affairs
Hon. Flora Isabel MacDonald   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of Finance
Hon. John C. Crosbie   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Hon. James Aloysius McGrath   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Hon. Arthur Jacob Epp   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce
Hon. Robert René de Cotret  Senator 4   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Hon. Jacques Flynn  Senator 7   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of Labour
Hon. Lincoln Alexander   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Leader of the Government in the Senate
Hon. Jacques Flynn  Senator 7   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of State
Hon. Martial Asselin  Senator 8   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980
Hon. William Jarvis  9   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980
Hon. William Heward Grafftey  10   4 June 1979 - 8 Oct. 1979
Hon. Perrin Beatty  11   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980
Hon. J. Robert Howie  12   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980
Hon. Steven Eugene Paproski  13   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980
Hon. Ronald Huntington  14   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980
Hon. Michael H. Wilson  15   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Associate Minister of National Defence
Vacant  4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of National Defence
Hon. Allan Bruce McKinnon  16   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of National Health and Welfare
Hon. David Crombie   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of National Revenue
Hon. Walter David Baker  17   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Postmaster General
Hon. John Allen Fraser  6   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

President of the Privy Council
Hon. Walter David Baker  17   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of Public Works
Hon. Erik H. Nielsen   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of Regional Economic Expansion
Hon. Elmer MacIntosh MacKay   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of State for Science and Technology
Hon. Ramon John Hnatyshyn  5   4 June 1979 - 8 Oct. 1979
Hon. William Heward Grafftey   8 Oct. 1979 - 2 March 1980

Secretary of State of Canada
Hon. David S. H. MacDonald  2   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Solicitor General of Canada
Hon. Allan Frederick Lawrence  3   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of Supply and Services
Hon. Roch LaSalle   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of Transport
Hon. Donald F. Mazankowski   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

President of the Treasury Board
Hon. Sinclair McKnight Stevens   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Minister of Veterans Affairs
Hon. Allan Bruce McKinnon  16   4 June 1979 - 2 March 1980

Footnotes

  • [1] On June 4, 1979, Trudeau resigned as Prime Minister and the Twenty-First Ministry assumed office. It was composed of 30 ministers.
  • [2] MacDonald was Minister of Communications and Secretary of State Canada.
  • [3] Lawrence was Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs and Solicitor General of Canada.
  • [4] René de Cotret was Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce and Minister of State for Economic Development. He was summoned to the Senate on June 5, 1979.
  • [5] Hnatyshyn was appointed Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources and Minister of State for Science and Technology.
  • [6] Fraser was appointed Minister of the Environment and Postmaster General.
  • [7] Flynn was appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Leader of the Government in the Senate.
  • [8] Asselin was assigned by Order in Council P.C. 1979-1630 of June 5, 1979 to assist the Secretary of State for External Affairs in the carrying out of the latter's responsibilities in respect of the Canadian International Development Agency and matters related thereto. He was given the title "Minister of State for the Canadian International Development Agency".
  • [9] Jarvis was assigned by Order in Council P.C. 1979-1631 of June 5, 1979 to assist the Prime Minister in respect of matters relating to federal-provincial relations. He was given the title "Minister of State for Federal-Provincial Relations".
  • [10] Grafftey was assigned by Order in Council P.C. 1979-1632 of June 5, 1979 to assist the Minister of National Health and Welfare in the carrying out of the latter's responsibilities in respect of social programs. He was given the title "Minister of State for Social Programmes". He was appointed Minister of State for Science and Technology on October 8, 1979.
  • [11] Beatty was assigned by Order in Council P.C. 1979-1633 of June 5, 1979 to assist the President of the Treasury Board. He was given the title "Minister of State (Treasury Board)".
  • [12] Howie was assigned by Order in Council P.C. 1979-1634 of June 5, 1979 to assist the Minister of Transport. He was given the title "Minister of State (Transport)".
  • [13] Paproski was assigned by Order in Council P.C. 1979-1635 of June 5, 1979 to assist the Secretary of State of Canada in carrying out of the latter's responsibilities in respect of the policies and programs related to fitness and amateur sport and to multiculturalism. He was given the title "Minister of State for Fitness and Amateur Sport and Multiculturalism".
  • [14] Huntington was assigned by Order in Council P.C. 1979-1636 of June 5, 1979 to assist the Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce in the carrying out of the latter's responsibilities in respect of small businesses and industry. He was given the title "Minister of State for Small Businesses and Industry".
  • [15] Wilson was assigned by Order in Council P.C. 1979-1637 of 5 June 1979 to assist the Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce in the carrying out of the latter's responsibilities in respect of international trade. He was given the title "Minister of State for International Trade".
  • [16] McKinnon was Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs.
  • [17] Baker was appointed Minister of National Revenue and President of the Privy Council.

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.