The Minister of Labour is the Minister of the Crown

Minister of the Crown

Minister of the Crown is the formal constitutional term used in the Commonwealth realms to describe a minister to the reigning sovereign. The term indicates that the minister serves at His/Her Majesty's pleasure, and advises the monarch, or viceroy, on how to exercise the Crown prerogatives...

 in the Canadian Cabinet

Cabinet of Canada

The Cabinet of Canada is a body of ministers of the Crown that, along with the Canadian monarch, and within the tenets of the Westminster system, forms the government of Canada...

 who is responsible for setting national labour standards and federal labour dispute mechanisms. Most of the responsibility for labour belongs with the provinces, however the federal government is responsible for labour issues in industries under its jurisdiction.

From 2004 to 2006 the position was styled the Minister of Labour and Housing , a name change corresponding with responsibility for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation is a Crown corporation, owned by the Government of Canada, founded after World War II to provide housing for returning soldiers...

 being transferred to the portfolio at that time. "Minister of Labour" remains the title for legal purposes.

The Department of Labour was created in 1900. Previously, the responsibility for labour affairs was handled by the Postmaster General.

From 1993 to 1996 the Department of Labour was amalgamated with the Department of Employment and Immigration to create Human Resources Development Canada. Although the intent was to replace two cabinet posts with a single Minister of Human Resources Development

Minister of Human Resources Development (Canada)

The Minister of Human Resources Development is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the federal government's human resources department, Human Resources Development Canada .-Ministers:Prior to 1996, the post was known as Minister of Employment and...

, the desire to appoint "star candidate" Lucienne Robillard

Lucienne Robillard

Lucienne Robillard, PC is a Canadian politician and a member of the Liberal Party of Canada. She sat in the Canadian House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Westmount—Ville-Marie in Montreal....

's to cabinet in 1995 gave the position received a reprieve from amalgamation—Robillard was given the title and positioned as a second minister inside HRDC, responsible for the "Labour Program."

A Dec. 2003 reorganization had seen HRDC dismantled and labour responsibilities passing to a successor department, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

The Department of Human Resources and Skills Development , operating under the FIP applied title Human Resources and Skills Development Canada , is the department of the Government of Canada responsible for developing, managing and delivering a variety of social programs and services...

, again with two ministers, a Minister of Labour and a Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development

Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development (Canada)

The Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the federal department that oversees programs such as Employment Insurance and Canada Student Loans...

. The name change to "Labour and Housing" occurred seven months later. The Ministry of HRDC was reconstituted in February 2006 as Human Resources and Social Development Canada, but still with two ministers.

The Minister of Labour and Housing is responsible for HRSDC's "Labour Program" and thus is responsible for the Canada Labour Code, the Employment Equity Act, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service as well as the implementation of health and safety legislation. Other Acts the Minister retains responsibility for include the Fair Wages and Hours of Labour Act, Government Employees Compensation Act and Merchant Seamen Compensation Act. The Minister is also responsible for the Strategic Policy and International Labour Affairs (SPILA) Directorate which focuses on workplace trends and changes, including work-life balanceand the reformation of employment relationships and the Workplace Information Directorate (WID) which provides information on workplace conditions, trends and innovative practices through direct personal services, electronic means, and various publications, including the Workplace Gazette and the Wage Settlements Bulletin.

Ministers

1.	William Mulock William Mulock Sir William Mulock, PC, KCMG, MP, QC, LL.D was a Canadian lawyer, businessman, educator, farmer, politician, judge, and philanthropist....	Cabinet of Laurier Wilfrid Laurier Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....	1900 – May 19, 1905
2.	Allen Bristol Aylesworth Allen Bristol Aylesworth Sir Allen Bristol Aylesworth, PC, KCMG was a Canadian lawyer and parliamentarian.Born in Newburgh, Ontario of United Empire Loyalist ancestry, Aylesworth was educated at the University of Toronto, and called to the Ontario Bar in 1878...	Cabinet of Laurier Wilfrid Laurier Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....	October 16, 1905 – June 1906
3.	Rodolphe Lemieux Rodolphe Lemieux Rodolphe Lemieux, PC, FRSC was a Canadian parliamentarian and long time Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons ....	Cabinet of Laurier Wilfrid Laurier Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....	June 4, 1906 – May 18, 1909
4.	William Lyon Mackenzie King William Lyon Mackenzie King William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...	Cabinet of Laurier Wilfrid Laurier Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....	June 2, 1909 – October 6, 1911
5.	Thomas Wilson Crothers Thomas Wilson Crothers Thomas Wilson Crothers, was a Canadian politician.Born in Northport, Canada West, he was a lawyer and teacher before being elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the Ontario riding of Elgin West in the 1908 federal election. A Conservative, he was re-elected in 1911 and as a Unionist in 1917...	Cabinet of Borden	October 10, 1911 – November 6, 1918
6.	Gideon Decker Robertson	Cabinet of Borden	November 8, 1918 – July 10, 1920
		Cabinet of Meighen Arthur Meighen Arthur Meighen, PC, QC was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served two terms as the ninth Prime Minister of Canada: from July 10, 1920 to December 29, 1921; and from June 29 to September 25, 1926. He was the first Prime Minister born after Confederation, and the only one to represent a riding...	July 10, 1920 – December 29, 1921
7.	James Murdock James Murdock James Murdock, PC was a Canadian politician.Born in Brighton, England, Murdock first ran for the Canadian House of Commons as the Liberal candidate in the 1921 federal election in the Ontario riding of Toronto South. Although defeated, he was appointed Minister of Labour in the cabinet of...	Cabinet of King William Lyon Mackenzie King William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...	December 29, 1921 – November 12, 1925
*	James Horace King James Horace King James Horace King, PC was a physician and Canadian parliamentarian.Born in Chipman, New Brunswick, James King was the son of George Gerald King, a businessman and Canadian politician in his own right...  (Acting)	Cabinet of King William Lyon Mackenzie King William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...	November 13, 1925 – March 7, 1926
8.	John Campbell Elliott John Campbell Elliott John Campbell Elliott, PC was a Canadian lawyer and politician.He was born in Ekfrid Township, Ontario, the son of George Campbell and Jane Elliott. He was educated at the University of Trinity College in the University of Toronto, studied law at Osgoode Hall and was called to the bar in 1896.J. C...	Cabinet of King William Lyon Mackenzie King William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...	March 8, 1926 – June 28, 1926
*	Robert James Manion Robert James Manion Robert James Manion, PC, MC was leader of the Conservative Party of Canada from 1938 until 1940....  (Acting)	Cabinet of Meighen Arthur Meighen Arthur Meighen, PC, QC was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served two terms as the ninth Prime Minister of Canada: from July 10, 1920 to December 29, 1921; and from June 29 to September 25, 1926. He was the first Prime Minister born after Confederation, and the only one to represent a riding...	June 29, 1926 – July 12, 1926
9.	George Burpee Jones George Burpee Jones George Burpee Jones was a Canadian merchant and politician.Born in Belleisle Bay, New Brunswick, Jones represented King's COunty in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1908 to 1921. He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the riding of Royal in the 1921 federal election...	Cabinet of Meighen Arthur Meighen Arthur Meighen, PC, QC was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served two terms as the ninth Prime Minister of Canada: from July 10, 1920 to December 29, 1921; and from June 29 to September 25, 1926. He was the first Prime Minister born after Confederation, and the only one to represent a riding...	July 13, 1926 – September 25, 1926
10.	Peter Heenan Peter Heenan Peter Heenan, PC was a Canadian politician.Born in Tullaree, County Monaghan, Ireland, he was a locomotive engineer before being elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as the Labour candidate for the riding of Kenora in the 1919 election...	Cabinet of King William Lyon Mackenzie King William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...	September 25, 1926 – August 7, 1930
	Gideon Decker Robertson (2nd time)	Cabinet of Bennett	August 7, 1930 – February 2, 1932
11.	Wesley Ashton Gordon Wesley Ashton Gordon Wesley Ashton Gordon, was a Canadian politician.Born in Owen Sound, Ontario, he was a barrister before being elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the riding of Timiskaming South in 1930. He was defeated by Walter Little in 1935. From 1930 to 1932, he was the Minister of Immigration and...	Cabinet of Bennett	February 3, 1932 – October 23, 1935
12.	Norman McLeod Rogers Norman McLeod Rogers Norman McLeod Rogers, PC was a Canadian lawyer and statesman. He served as the member of parliament for Kingston, Ontario, Canada and as a cabinet minister in the government of Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King. He was also an early biographer of King.Rogers was born in Amherst, Nova...	Cabinet of King William Lyon Mackenzie King William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...	October 24, 1935 – September 18, 1939
13.	Norman Alexander McLarty Norman Alexander McLarty Norman Alexander McLarty, PC was a Canadian politician.Born in St. Thomas, Ontario, he was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons representing the riding of Essex West in the 1935 federal election....	Cabinet of King William Lyon Mackenzie King William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...	September 19, 1939 – December 14, 1941
14.	Humphrey Mitchell Humphrey Mitchell Humphrey Mitchell, PC was a Canadian politician and trade unionist.A land surveyor employed with Hamilton Hydro, Mitchell was active with the union movement in the city...	Cabinet of King William Lyon Mackenzie King William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...	December 15, 1941 – November 15, 1948
		under St-Laurent	November 15, 1948 – August 2, 1950
*	Paul Joseph James Martin Paul Joseph James Martin Joseph James Guillaume Paul Martin, PC, CC, QC , often referred to as Paul Martin, Sr, was a noted Canadian politician. He was the father of Paul Martin , who served as Prime Minister of Canada from 2003 - 2006.-Early life:Martin was born in Ottawa, Ontario, the son of Lumina and Joseph...  (Acting)	Cabinet of St-Laurent	August 3, 1950 – August 6, 1950
15.	Milton Fowler Gregg Milton Fowler Gregg Milton Fowler Gregg, VC, PC, OC, CBE, MC, ED, CD was a Canadian officer, and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest Commonwealth award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy", during the First World War...	Cabinet of St-Laurent	August 7, 1950 – June 21, 1957
16.	Michael Starr Michael Starr Michael Starr, PC was a Canadian politician and the first Canadian cabinet minister of Ukrainian descent, his parents having immigrated from Ukraine, then a part of the Russian Empire....	Cabinet of Diefenbaker	June 21, 1957 – April 21, 1963
17.	Allan MacEachen Allan MacEachen Allan Joseph MacEachen, PC, OC is a retired Canadian politician, a many-time Cabinet minister, a retired Senator, one of Canada's elder statesmen, and was the first Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, serving from 1977 to 1979 and 1980 to 1984.-Early life:Born in Inverness on Nova Scotia's Cape...	Cabinet of Pearson	April 22, 1963 – December 17, 1965
18.	John Robert Nicholson John Robert Nicholson John Robert "Jack" Nicholson, was a Canadian lawyer, businessman, politician and the 21st Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia....	Cabinet of Pearson	December 18, 1965 – April 20, 1968
19.	Jean-Luc Pépin Jean-Luc Pépin Jean-Luc Pépin, PC, CC was a Canadian academic, politician and Cabinet minister.Pepin was a political science professor at the University of Ottawa when he was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1963 election as a Liberal Member of Parliament from Quebec.From 1965 to 1972, he...	Cabinet of Trudeau	April 20, 1968 – July 5, 1968
20.	Bryce Stuart Mackasey	Cabinet of Trudeau	July 6, 1968 – January 27, 1972
21.	Martin Patrick O'Connell	Cabinet of Trudeau	January 28, 1972 – November 26, 1972
22.	John Carr Munro	Cabinet of Trudeau	November 27, 1972 – September 7, 1978
*	André Ouellet André Ouellet André Ouellet, P.C., Q.C. is a former Chairman of Canada Post, and a long time Liberal politician in Canada.First elected to the Canadian House of Commons in a 1967 by-election, Ouellet served in a number of different positions in the cabinets of Prime Ministers Pierre Trudeau and Jean Chrétien...  (Acting)	Cabinet of Trudeau	September 8, 1978 – November 23, 1978
	Martin Patrick O'Connell (2nd time)	Cabinet of Trudeau	November 24, 1978 – June 3, 1979
23.	Lincoln Alexander Lincoln Alexander -External links:* * *...	Cabinet of Clark Joe Clark Charles Joseph "Joe" Clark, is a Canadian statesman, businessman, and university professor, and former journalist and politician...	June 4, 1979 – March 2, 1980
24.	Gerald Regan Gerald Regan Gerald Augustine Regan, PC is a Canadian politician, who served as the 19th Premier of Nova Scotia from 1970 to 1978....	Cabinet of Trudeau	March 3, 1980 – September 21, 1981
25.	Charles Caccia Charles Caccia Charles L. Caccia, PC was a Canadian politician.Caccia was a Liberal member of the Canadian House of Commons. He represented the Toronto riding of Davenport between 1968 and 2004.Caccia was born in 1930 in Milan, Italy...	Cabinet of Trudeau	September 22, 1981 – August 11, 1983
26.	André Ouellet André Ouellet André Ouellet, P.C., Q.C. is a former Chairman of Canada Post, and a long time Liberal politician in Canada.First elected to the Canadian House of Commons in a 1967 by-election, Ouellet served in a number of different positions in the cabinets of Prime Ministers Pierre Trudeau and Jean Chrétien...	Cabinet of Trudeau	August 12, 1983 – June 29, 1984
		Cabinet of Turner	June 30, 1984 – September 16, 1984
27.	William Hunter McKnight	Cabinet of Mulroney Brian Mulroney Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...	September 17, 1984 – June 29, 1986
28.	Pierre H. Cadieux	Cabinet of Mulroney Brian Mulroney Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...	June 30, 1986 – January 29, 1989
29.	Jean Corbeil Jean Corbeil Jean Corbeil, was a Canadian politician.Born in Montreal, Quebec, he was mayor of the city of Anjou from 1973 to 1988. In 1987-1988 he served a term as chairman of the Canadian Federation of Municipalities...	Cabinet of Mulroney Brian Mulroney Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...	January 30, 1989 – April 20, 1991
30.	Marcel Danis Marcel Danis Marcel Danis, PC is a university administrator, lawyer and former Canadian politician.Danis completed a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Loyola College in 1965, a Master of Arts in Political Science at Fordham University in 1966, studied constitutional law and political science at the...	Cabinet of Mulroney Brian Mulroney Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...	April 21, 1991 – June 24, 1993
31.	Bernard Valcourt Bernard Valcourt Bernard Valcourt, PC is a Canadian politician and lawyer.-Entrance to politics:Valcourt was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a Progressive Conservative candidate in the 1984 election that brought Brian Mulroney to power. He was appointed to the Canadian Cabinet in 1986 as a...	Cabinet of Campbell Kim Campbell Avril Phædra Douglas "Kim" Campbell, is a Canadian politician, lawyer, university professor, diplomat, and writer. She served as the 19th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 25, 1993, to November 4, 1993...	June 25, 1993 – November 3, 1993
32.	Lloyd Axworthy Lloyd Axworthy Lloyd Norman Axworthy, PC, OC, OM is a prominent Canadian politician, statesman and University President from Manitoba. He is best known for having served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien...	Cabinet of Chrétien Jean Chrétien Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....	November 4, 1993 – February 21, 1995
33.	Lucienne Robillard Lucienne Robillard Lucienne Robillard, PC is a Canadian politician and a member of the Liberal Party of Canada. She sat in the Canadian House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Westmount—Ville-Marie in Montreal....	Cabinet of Chrétien Jean Chrétien Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....	February 22, 1995 – January 24, 1996
34.	Alfonso Gagliano Alfonso Gagliano Alfonso Gagliano, PC, FCGA is a Canadian accountant and a former Liberal Party politician.Born in Siculiana, Italy, his political career began in 1977 when he ran for a seat on the Montreal school board. In the 1984 federal election, he ran for Parliament for Saint-Léonard—Anjou narrowly...	Cabinet of Chrétien Jean Chrétien Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....	January 25, 1996 – June 10, 1997
35.	Lawrence MacAulay Lawrence MacAulay Lawrence A. MacAulay, PC is a Canadian politician.MacAulay is a current member of the Liberal Party of Canada in the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Cardigan, Prince Edward Island since 1988. MacAulay is a former farmer...	Cabinet of Chrétien Jean Chrétien Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....	June 11, 1997 – November 22, 1998
36.	Claudette Bradshaw Claudette Bradshaw Claudette Bradshaw, PC, ONB is a former Canadian politician who served as Member of Parliament for the riding of Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, New Brunswick. She was first elected on June 2, 1997 and served until 2005...	Cabinet of Chrétien Jean Chrétien Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....	November 23, 1998 – December 11, 2003
		Cabinet of Martin Paul Martin Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....	December 12, 2003 – July 19, 2004
37.	Joe Fontana Joe Fontana Joseph Frank "Joe" Fontana, PC is the current mayor of London, Ontario. He was previously a Liberal member of the Parliament of Canada for the riding of London North Centre....  (styled as Minister of Labour and Housing)	Cabinet of Martin Paul Martin Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....	July 20, 2004 – February 5, 2006
38.	Jean-Pierre Blackburn Jean-Pierre Blackburn Jean-Pierre Blackburn, PC, MP is a Canadian politician. He was the Conservative member of the Canadian House of Commons from the riding of Jonquière—Alma from 2006 to 2011; earlier, he was the Progressive Conservative MP from Jonquière from 1984 to 1993.In 1993, Blackburn was the Parliamentary...	Cabinet of Harper Stephen Harper Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...	February 6, 2006 -October 29, 2008
39.	Rona Ambrose Rona Ambrose Ronalee "Rona" Ambrose, PC, MP is the Minister of Public Works and Government Services for Canada, Vice-Chair of the Treasury Board Cabinet committee, Minister of State for Status of Women Canada and Minister of Western Economic Diversification.In the previous Parliament, she was Canada's Minister...	Cabinet of Harper Stephen Harper Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...	October 30, 2008 - January 19, 2010
40.	Lisa Raitt Lisa Raitt Lisa Raitt, PC, MP is a Canadian politician, who is the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for the riding of Halton. She is the current Minister of Labour in the Cabinet of Canada.-Background:...	Cabinet of Harper Stephen Harper Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...	January 19, 2010 - present

The Department of Labour was created in 1900 through the efforts of Postmaster General

Postmaster General of Canada

The Postmaster General of Canada was the Canadian cabinet minister responsible for the Post Office Department . In 1851, management of the post office was transferred from Britain to the provincial governments of the Province of Canada, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward...

 William Mulock

William Mulock

Sir William Mulock, PC, KCMG, MP, QC, LL.D was a Canadian lawyer, businessman, educator, farmer, politician, judge, and philanthropist....

 and William Lyon Mackenzie King

William Lyon Mackenzie King

William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...

, becoming, respectively, the first Minister and Deputy Minister. Until June 1909, the Postmaster General acted as Minister of Labour. In 1996 the Department of Labour was abolished, but the ministerial position continued within Human Resources Development Canada from 1996 to 2003, and Human Resources and Social Development Canada from 2003 to date.

In 2004 the portfolio was renamed from “Labour” to “Labour and Housing”.