View source for Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages

{{Short description|Canadian cabinet official (1966–2025)}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
| body = 
| flag = 
| flagsize = 
| flagcaption = 
| insignia = 
| insigniasize = 200px
| insigniacaption = 
| image = 
| incumbent = 
| incumbentsince = 
| department = [[Employment and Social Development Canada]]
| style = [[The Honourable]]
| member_of = {{hlist|[[House of Commons of Canada|House of Commons]]|[[Privy Council of Canada|Privy Council]]|{{nowrap|[[Cabinet of Canada|Cabinet]]}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/About/OurProcedure/ParliamentaryFramework/c_g_parliamentaryframework-e.htm|title=The Canadian Parliamentary system - Our Procedure - House of Commons|website=www.ourcommons.ca|access-date=2020-04-20}}</ref>}}
| reports_to = {{hlist|[[Parliament of Canada|Parliament]]|{{nowrap|[[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]]}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/report/rev-exa/ar-er-eng.pdf|title=Review of the Responsibilities and Accountabilities of Ministers and Senior Officials}}</ref>}}
| residence = 
| seat = 
| appointer = [[Monarchy of Canada|Monarch]] (represented by the [[Governor General of Canada|governor general]]);<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gg.ca/en/role/responsibilities/constitutional-duties|title=Constitutional Duties|website=The Governor General of Canada|access-date=2020-04-20}}</ref>
| appointer_qualified = on the [[Advice (constitutional)|advice]] of the prime minister<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/procedure-book-livre/Document.aspx?sbdid=73CC891E-0676-4773-850B-CCDCB472AD8C&sbpid=BE842475-5632-4969-835B-FC015CE50169&Language=E&Mode=1|title=House of Commons Procedure and Practice - 1. Parliamentary Institutions - Canadian Parliamentary Institutions|website=www.ourcommons.ca|access-date=2020-04-20}}</ref>
| termlength = [[At {{ucfirst:{{Canadian monarch, current|genderp=~}}}} Majesty's pleasure]]
| termlength_qualified = 
| formation = October 1, 1966
| inaugural = [[Jean Marchand]]
| salary = {{nowrap|[[Canadian dollar|CA$]]299,900 (2024)<ref name="salary">{{cite web |url = https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Salaries?ggCheckbox=false&senateCheckbox=false&HocCheckbox=true |title=Indemnities, Salaries and Allowances |date=April 1, 2024 |access-date=March 15, 2025 }}</ref>}}
| website = {{URL|http://esdc-edsc.gc.ca}}
| native_name = {{small|{{nobold|{{lang|fr|ministre de l’emploi, du développement de la main-d’œuvre et du travail}}}}}}
}}{{Politics of Canada}}
The '''minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour''' ({{Langx|fr|ministre de l’emploi, du développement de la main-d’œuvre et du travail}}) was the [[minister of the Crown]] in the [[Cabinet of Canada|Canadian Cabinet]] who was responsible for [[Employment and Social Development Canada]], the [[Government of Canada]] department that oversees programs such as [[Employment Insurance|employment insurance]], the [[Canada Pension Plan|Canada pension plan]], [[Old Age Security|old age security]], and [[Canada Student Loans|Canada student loans]]. On March 14, 2025 the position was abolished, its responsibilities being consolidated into the new position of [[Minister of Jobs and Families]].

== History ==
The ministerial responsibility for employment has its origins in the October 1, 1966 [[cabinet reshuffle]], when [[Jean Marchand]]'s portfolio was renamed from [[Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship|Minister of Immigration and Citizenship]] to [[Minister of Manpower and Immigration]], Along with this change, minister Marchand was tasked by [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Lester B. Pearson|Lester Pearson]] to draft a [[White paper]] to renew Canada's immigration policy. Pearson wanted to removed all discriminatory clauses remaining in Canada's immigration regulations, and instead facilitate the immigration of qualified workers from Asia.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 20, 1966|title=Ottawa fera un meilleur accueil aux immigrants japonais et philippins|work=[[La Presse (Canadian newspaper)|La Presse]]|publisher=[[Reuters]]|url=https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2698171?docsearchtext=immigration|access-date=December 15, 2020}}</ref>

The following year, Canada introduced its first point system to rank potential immigrants for eligibility. It originally consisted of 9 categories: education, occupation, professional skills, age, arranged employment, knowledge of English and/or French, relatives in Canada and "personal characteristics". To qualify for immigration 50 points out of 100 were necessary in 1967.<ref>Gogia, N., and Slade, B. (2011), About Canada: Immigration, Fernwood Pub, Halifax, NS</ref>

In 1977, the portfolio was renamed [[Minister of Employment and Immigration]], a move that reflected the importance of attracting and retaining economic immigrants for Canadian governments in the 1980s and 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Immigration Policy in Canada {{!}} The Canadian Encyclopedia|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/immigration-policy|access-date=2020-12-15|website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca}}</ref>

On 12 July 1996, the office of the Minister of Employment and Immigration was abolished and replaced with the office of Minister of Human Resources Development. The portfolio for immigration was transferred to the office of [[Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship|Minister of Citizenship]] and Immigration following the reorganization of the government and formation of the department for [[Citizenship and Immigration Canada]].<ref name=":0">"[https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/Federal/areasResponsibility/profile?depId=2821 Employment and Immigration (1977-08-15 - 1996-07-11)]." ''ParlInfo''. Ottawa: [[Library of Parliament]]. Retrieved 2020 October 30.</ref><ref name=":1">"[https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SI-93-142/page-1.html Order Transferring to the Department of Employment and Immigration...and Transferring to the Minister of Employment and Immigration...and Combining the Department of Employment and Immigration and the Department of Labour Under the Minister of Employment and Immigration]."</ref><ref name=":2">"[https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n78034786.html Canada. Employment and Immigration Canada (Department)]." Library of Congress.</ref>

On February 6, 2006, Prime Minister Stephen Harper transferred the responsibilities of the [[Minister of Social Development (Canada)|Minister of Social Development]] into this portfolio. Although the legislated names did not change, in accordance with this amalgamation the Minister was for a while styled the ''Minister of Human Resources and Social Development'' and the department [[Operating as|operated as]] ''Human Resources and Social Development Canada''. This ceased on October 30, 2008, and the name returned to the legislated one.

In 2015, the Employment portfolio was merged into the expanded ministry of ''Employment, Workforce Development and Labour''.<ref>[https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/heres-what-the-new-liberal-cabinet-looks-like "Here are all 30 cabinet ministers at a glance"].''The Ottawa Citizen	'', November 11, 2015</ref>

In 2019, following the [[2019 Canadian federal election]], the portfolio was split between the [[Minister of Labour (Canada)|Minister of Labour]]  and Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, with Carla Qualtrough being appointed the new minister on November 20.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.straight.com/news/1327416/vancouver-area-mps-jonathan-wilkinson-carla-qualtrough-harjit-sajjan-and-joyce-murray|title=Vancouver-area MPs Jonathan Wilkinson, Carla Qualtrough, Harjit Sajjan, and Joyce Murray back in Trudeau cabinet|date=2019-11-20|website=The Georgia Straight|language=en|access-date=2019-11-21}}</ref>

In 2023, the Official Languages portfolio was merged into the expanded ministry of ''Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages'', with [[Randy Boissonnault]] being appointed the new minister on July 26, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prime Minister announces changes to the Ministry |url=https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2023/07/26/prime-minister-announces-changes-ministry |website=Prime Minister of Canada |access-date=2 August 2023 |language=en |date=26 July 2023}}</ref>

In 2024, responsibility for labour was folded back into the portfolio while responsibility for official languages was split off; consequently, the position reverted to its former title of Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, with incumbent Labour minister [[Steven MacKinnon]] being appointed to the post. The position was abolished the following year and its responsibilities consolidated into the new position of [[Minister of Jobs and Families]], with MacKinnon becoming its inaugural holder.

==List of ministers==
{{legend|{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}|[[Liberal Party of Canada]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}|[[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}|[[Conservative Party of Canada]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{| class="wikitable"
!No.
!Portrait
!Name
! colspan="2" |Term of office
!Political party
!Ministry
|-
! colspan="7" style="background: #ececec; color: #2C2C2C; vertical-align: middle;" |Minister of Manpower and Immigration
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" rowspan="2" |1
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Jean Marchand1.jpg|66x66px]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Jean Marchand]]
|October 1, 1966
|April 20, 1968
| rowspan="7" |[[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
|[[19th Canadian Ministry|19]] <small>([[Lester B. Pearson|Pearson]])</small>
|-
|April 20, 1968
|July 5, 1968
| rowspan="6" |[[20th Canadian Ministry|20]] <small>([[Pierre Trudeau|P. E. Trudeau]])</small>
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" | 2
|[[File:Allan MacEachen.jpg|66x66px]]
|[[Allan MacEachen]]
|July 5, 1968
|September 23, 1970
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" | 3
|
|[[Otto Lang]]
|September 24, 1970
|January 27, 1972
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" | 4
|
|[[Bryce Mackasey]]
|January 28, 1972
|November 26, 1972
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" | 5
|
|[[Bob Andras]]
|November 27, 1972
|September 13, 1976
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" | 6
|
|[[Bud Cullen]]
|September 14, 1976
|August 14, 1977
|-
! colspan="7" |Minister of Employment and Immigration
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" | (6)
|
|[[Bud Cullen]]
|August 15, 1977
|June 3, 1979
|Liberal
|[[20th Canadian Ministry|20]] <small>(P. E. Trudeau)</small>
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; color:white" | 7
|
|[[Ron Atkey]]
|June 4, 1979
|March 2, 1980
|[[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative]]
|[[21st Canadian Ministry|21]] <small>([[Joe Clark|Clark]])</small>
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" | 8
|
|[[Lloyd Axworthy]]
|March 3, 1980
|August 11, 1983
| rowspan="3" |Liberal
| rowspan="2" |[[22nd Canadian Ministry|22]] <small>(P. E. Trudeau)</small>
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" rowspan="2" |9
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |[[John Roberts (Canadian politician)|John Roberts]]
|August 12, 1983
|June 29, 1984
|-
|June 30, 1984
|September 16, 1984
|[[23rd Canadian Ministry|23]] <small>([[John Turner|Turner]])</small>
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; color:white" | 10
|[[File:Flora MacDonald 1979 (cropped).jpg|66x66px]]
|[[Flora MacDonald (politician)|Flora MacDonald]]
|September 17, 1984
|June 29, 1986
| rowspan="5" |Progressive Conservative
| rowspan="4" |[[24th Canadian Ministry|24]] <small>([[Brian Mulroney|Mulroney]])</small>
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; color:white" | 11
|
|[[Benoît Bouchard]]
|June 30, 1986
|March 30, 1988
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; color:white" | 12
|
|[[Barbara McDougall]]
|March 31, 1988
|April 20, 1991
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; color:white" rowspan="2" | 13
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |[[Bernard Valcourt]]
|April 21, 1991
|June 24, 1993
|-
|June 25, 1993
|November 3, 1993
|[[25th Canadian Ministry|25]] <small>([[Kim Campbell|Campbell]])</small>
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" | (8)
|
|Lloyd Axworthy ''(second time)''
|November 4, 1993
|January 24, 1996
| rowspan="2" |Liberal
| rowspan="2" |[[26th Canadian Ministry|26]] <small>([[Jean Chrétien|Chrétien]])</small>
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" | 14
|
|[[Doug Young (politician)|Doug Young]]
|January 25, 1996
|July 11, 1996
|-
! colspan="7" |Minister of Human Resources Development
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" | (14)
|
|Doug Young
|July 12, 1996
|October 3, 1996
| rowspan="3" |Liberal
| rowspan="3" |[[26th Canadian Ministry|26]] <small>(Chrétien)</small>
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" | 15
|[[File:Pierre Pettigrew at the 21st Annual CAF Conference (37109754875) (cropped).jpg|66x66px]]
|[[Pierre Pettigrew]]
|October 4, 1996
|August 2, 1999
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" | 16
|
|[[Jane Stewart (politician)|Jane Stewart]]
|August 3, 1999
|December 11, 2003
|-
! colspan="7" |Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" | 17
|[[File:Volpe.jpg|67x67px]]
|[[Joe Volpe]]
|December 12, 2003
|January 14, 2005
|Liberal
| rowspan="3" |[[27th Canadian Ministry|27]] <small>([[Paul Martin|Martin]])</small>
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" | 18
|[[File:No_image.svg|50x50px]]
|[[Lucienne Robillard]]
|January 14, 2005
|May 17, 2005
|Liberal
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" | 19
|[[File:Belinda_Head_Shot_-_Golf_Rocks.JPG|66x66px]]
|[[Belinda Stronach]]
|May 17, 2005
|February 5, 2006
|Liberal
|-
! colspan="7" |Minister of Human Resources and Social Development
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; color:white" |20
|[[File:MPDianeFinley.jpg|70x70px]]
|[[Diane Finley]]
|February 6, 2006
|January 3, 2007
|[[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]]
| rowspan="2" |[[28th Canadian Ministry|28]] <small>([[Stephen Harper|Harper]])</small>
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; color:white" |21
|[[File:Monte_Solberg.jpg|63x63px]]
|[[Monte Solberg]]
|January 4, 2007
|October 29, 2008
|Conservative
|-
! colspan="7" |Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; color:white" |(20)
|[[File:MPDianeFinley.jpg|70x70px]]
|[[Diane Finley]]
|October 30, 2008
|July 15, 2013
|Conservative
| rowspan="1" |[[28th Canadian Ministry|28]] <small>(Harper)</small>
|-
! colspan="7" |Minister of Employment and Social Development
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; color:white" |22
|[[File:Jason_Kenney_in_2019_-_cropped.jpg|66x66px]]
|[[Jason Kenney]]
|July 15, 2013
|February 9, 2015
|Conservative
| rowspan="2" |[[28th Canadian Ministry|28]] <small>(Harper)</small>
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; color:white" |23
|[[File:Pierre_Poilievre.jpg|65x65px]]
|[[Pierre Poilievre]]
|February 9, 2015
|November 4, 2015
|Conservative
|-
! colspan="7" scope="row" |Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" | 24
|
| [[MaryAnn Mihychuk]]
| November 4, 2015 || January 10, 2017
| [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
| rowspan="2" |[[29th Canadian Ministry|29]] <small>([[Justin Trudeau|J. Trudeau]])</small>
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" | 25
|[[File:Patty Hajdu.jpg|66x66px]]
| [[Patty Hajdu]]<ref>[https://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/justin-trudeau-adds-fresh-faces-in-cabinet-shuffle/ "Justin Trudeau adds fresh faces in cabinet shuffle"]. ''Maclean's'',  Joan Bryden, Jan 10, 2017</ref>
| January 10, 2017 || November 20, 2019
| Liberal
|-
! colspan="7" |Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; color:white" | 26
|[[File:Carla Qualtrough MP.jpg|66x66px]]
|[[Carla Qualtrough]]
|November 20, 2019
|July 26, 2023
|Liberal
|[[29th Canadian Ministry|29]] <small>(J. Trudeau)</small>
|-
! colspan="7" |Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}};color:white" |27
|[[File:Randy_Boissonnault.jpg|66x66px]]
|[[Randy Boissonnault]]
|July 26, 2023
|November 20, 2024
|Liberal
|[[29th Canadian Ministry|29]] <small>(J. Trudeau)</small>
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}};color:white" |28
|[[File:Ginette Petitpas Taylor 0Q2A8363 (cropped).jpg|66x66px]]
|[[Ginette Petitpas Taylor]]
|November 20, 2024
|December 20, 2024
|Liberal
|[[29th Canadian Ministry|29]] <small>(J. Trudeau)</small>
|-
! colspan="7" |Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
|-
! scope="row" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}};color:white" |29
|[[File:REUNIÓN CON STEVEN MACKINNON, MINISTRO DE ASUNTOS PARLAMENTARIOS, 05 DE MARZO DE 2024 (cropped).jpg|66x66px]]
|[[Steven MacKinnon]]
|December 20, 2024
|''Incumbent''
|Liberal
|[[29th Canadian Ministry|29]] <small>(J. Trudeau)</small>
|-
! colspan=7|Position discontinued, replaced by the [[Minister of Jobs and Families]]
|}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web|title=Ministers of the Crown|url=http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/FederalGovernment/MinisterProvincial.aspx|access-date=24 December 2010}}

{{Cabinet of Canada}}

[[Category:Ministers of labour of Canada| ]]
[[Category:Ministerial offices in Canada|Employment Workforce And Labour]]
[[Category:Labour relations in Canada]]
[[Category:Employment and Social Development Canada]]