Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs

The term Indian in this article refers to Aboriginal people of Canada; not to be confused with South Asians from Indian subcontinent
Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
Incumbent
Carolyn Bennett

since November 4, 2015
Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Style The Honourable
Member of
Appointer Governor General of Canada
Term length At Her Majesty's pleasure
Inaugural holder Hector Louis Langevin
Formation 1966
Website www.ainc-inac.gc.ca
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The Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet responsible for overseeing the corresponding federal government department (Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada) and administering the Indian Act and other legislation dealing with "Indians and lands reserved for the Indians" under subsection 91(24) of the Constitution Act, 1867. They also are responsible for supervising federal involvement in the territorial governments of the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

The Minister's legal title, as set out in the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Act, remains the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and this title continues in use in statutes and legal documents. However, on May 18, 2011, the Minister adopted the working title "Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development".[1] Following the establishment of the 29th Canadian Ministry the working title was changed to Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs.

History

Prior to Canadian confederation in 1867, the Indian Department for British North America was responsible for relations between The Crown and indigenous peoples.

A Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs was in the Canadian cabinet from 1867 until 1936 when the Minister of Mines and Resources became responsible for native affairs. In 1950 the Indian Affairs branch was transferred to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, who had responsibility for "status Indians" until the creation of the position of Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development in 1966.[2]

Before 1966 the Northern Development portions of the portfolio were the responsibility of the Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources.[3]

Until amendments to the Indian Act in 1985 restored Indian status to many people whose status had been revoked for discriminatory reasons, about half of the persons claiming to be Indians were entitled to be registered as Indians under the Indian Act and to receive the benefits reserved for registered Indians under the Act. The people to whom status was restored were:

Over 100,000 people have had their Indian status restored as a result of these changes.

A 1983 Commons Committee recommended that Indian or First Nations communities be allowed to write their own membership code provided that the code did not violate fundamental human rights. A second report from the 1983 Penner Committee recommended the gradual abolition of the office of Minister of Indian Affairs and a transfer of responsibility for their own affairs to First Nations communities. Proposed changes died on the House of Commons order paper and have not been re-introduced.

As of July 2004, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development has been assigned the role of Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians concurrently.

Responsibilities

Acts

The Minister has responsibilities, wholly or partially, under a number of Acts:[4](list may not be complete)

Oil and Gas Operations Act, Canada — R.S., 1985, c. O-7 Pictou Landing Indian Band Agreement Act — 1995, c. 4 Sahtu Dene and Metis Land Claim Settlement Act — 1994, c. 27

Boards, Commissions and Other Responsibilities

The Minister is also the lead Minister or responsible Minister for:

Cabinet ministers

No. Portrait Name Term of office Political party Ministry
Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs
  1. Hector Louis Langevin May 22, 1868December 7, 1869 Conservative 1
(Sir John A. Macdonald)
  2. Joseph Howe December 8, 1869May 6, 1873 Liberal-Conservative
  * James Cox Aikins (acting) May 7, 1873June 13, 1873
  3. Thomas Nicholson Gibbs June 14, 1873 June 30, 1873
  4. Alexander Campbell July 1, 1873 November 5, 1873 Conservative
  5. David Laird November 7, 1873 October 6, 1876 Liberal 2
(Alexander Mackenzie)
  * Richard William Scott (acting) October 7, 1876 October 23, 1876
  6. David Mills October 24, 1876 October 8, 1878
  7. Sir John A. Macdonald October 17, 1878 October 2, 1887 Liberal-Conservative 3
(Sir John A. Macdonald)
  8. Thomas White October 3, 1887 April 21, 1888 Conservative
  * Sir John A. Macdonald (acting) May 8, 1888 September 24, 1888 Liberal-Conservative
  9. Edgar Dewdney September 25, 1888 June 6, 1891 Conservative
  June 16, 1891 October 16, 1892 4
(Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott)
  10. Thomas Mayne Daly October 17, 1892 November 24, 1892 Liberal-Conservative
  December 5, 1892 December 12, 1894
5(Sir John Sparrow David Thompson)
  December 21, 1894 April 27, 1896 6
(Sir Mackenzie Bowell)
  11. Hugh John Macdonald May 1, 1896 July 8, 1896 Conservative 7
(Sir Charles Tupper)
  12. Richard William Scott (acting) July 17, 1896 November 16, 1896 Liberal 8
(Sir Wilfrid Laurier)
  13. Clifford Sifton November 17, 1896 February 28, 1905
  14. Sir Wilfrid Laurier (acting) March 13, 1905April 7, 1905
  15. Frank Oliver April 8, 1905 October 6, 1911
  16. Robert Rogers October 10, 1911 October 28, 1912 Conservative 9
(Sir Robert Laird Borden)
  17. William James Roche October 29, 1912 October 12, 1917
  18. Arthur Meighen October 12, 1917July 10, 1920 Unionist 10
(Sir Robert Laird Borden)
  19. Sir James Alexander Lougheed July 10, 1920 December 29, 1921 Liberal-Conservative 11
(Arthur Meighen)
  20. Charles Stewart December 29, 1921 June 28, 1926 Liberal 12
(William Lyon Mackenzie King)
  21. Henry Herbert Stevens (acting) June 29, 1926July 12, 1926 Conservative 13
(Arthur Meighen)
  22. Richard Bedford Bennett (acting) July 13, 1926September 25, 1926
  23. Charles Stewart September 26, 1926 June 26, 1930 Liberal 14
(William Lyon Mackenzie King)
  24. Ian Alistair Mackenzie June 27, 1930 August 7, 1930
  25. Thomas Gerow Murphy August 7, 1930October 23, 1935 Conservative 15
(Richard Bedford Bennett)
  26. Thomas Alexander Crerar October 23, 1935 November 30, 1936 Liberal 16
(William Lyon Mackenzie King)
Minister responsible for Indian Affairs (Minister of the Interior, Minister of Mines)
  27. Thomas Alexander Crerar December 1, 1936April 17, 1945 Liberal 16
(William Lyon Mackenzie King)
  28. James Allison Glen April 18, 1945 June 10, 1948
  29. James Angus MacKinnon June 10, 1948 November 15, 1948
  November 15, 1948March 31, 1949 17
(Louis St. Laurent)
  30. Colin William George Gibson April 1, 1949 January 17, 1950
Minister responsible for Indian Affairs (Minister of Citizenship)
  31. Walter Harris January 18, 1950 June 30, 1954 Liberal 17
(Louis St. Laurent)
  32. Jack Pickersgill July 1, 1954 June 21, 1957
  * E. Davie Fulton (Acting) June 21, 1957 May 11, 1958 Progressive Conservative 18
(John George Diefenbaker)
  33. Ellen Fairclough May 12, 1958August 8, 1962
  34. Dick Bell August 9, 1962 April 22, 1963
  35. Guy Favreau April 22, 1963February 2, 1964 Liberal 19
(Lester Pearson)
 36. René Tremblay February 3, 1964 February 14, 1965
  37. John Robert Nicholson February 15, 1965 December 17, 1965
  38. Jean Marchand December 18, 1965 September 30, 1966
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
  39. Arthur Laing October 1, 1966April 20, 1968 Liberal 19
(Lester Pearson)
  April 20, 1968July 5, 1968 20
(Pierre Trudeau)
  40. Jean Chrétien July 5, 1968August 7, 1974
  41. J. Judd Buchanan August 8, 1974September 13, 1976
  42. Warren Allmand September 14, 1976September 15, 1977
  43. James Hugh Faulkner September 16, 1977June 3, 1979
  44. Jake Epp June 4, 1979March 2, 1980 Progressive Conservative 21
(Joe Clark)
  45. John Munro March 3, 1980June 29, 1984 Liberal 22
(Pierre Trudeau)
  46. Doug Frith June 30, 1984September 16, 1984 23
(John Turner)
  47. David Crombie September 17, 1984June 29, 1986 Progressive Conservative 24
(Brian Mulroney)
  48. Bill McKnight June 30, 1986January 29, 1989
  49. Pierre Cadieux January 30, 1989February 22, 1990
  50. Tom Siddon February 23, 1990June 24, 1993
  51. Pauline Browes June 25, 1993November 3, 1993 25
(Kim Campbell)
  52. Ron Irwin November 4, 1993June 10, 1997 Liberal 26
(Jean Chrétien)
  53. Jane Stewart June 11, 1997August 2, 1999
  54. Bob Nault August 3, 1999December 11, 2003
  55. Andy Mitchell December 12, 2003July 19, 2004 27
(Paul Martin)
  56. Andy Scott July 20, 2004February 5, 2006
  57. Jim Prentice February 6, 2006August 14, 2007 Conservative 28
(Stephen Harper)
  58. Chuck Strahl August 14, 2007August 6, 2010
  59. John Morris Duncan August 6, 2010May 17, 2011
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
  John Morris Duncan May 18, 2011February 15, 2013 Conservative 28
(Stephen Harper)
  * James Moore, Acting Minister February 15, 2013February 22, 2013
  60. Bernard Valcourt February 22, 2013November 3, 2015
Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
  61. Carolyn Bennett November 4, 2015Present Liberal 29
(Justin Trudeau)

Prior to 1966, responsibilities for the Indian Affairs portion of this portfolio fell under the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (List), and the Northern Development portion under the Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources (List).

On May 18, 2011, the Minister adopted the working title "Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development". However, pursuant to section 2 of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Act he remains, for legal purposes, the "Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development".

See also

References

  1. "What’s in a name? Indian Affairs is no more", Globe and Mail, May 18, 2011
  2. Departments that have been responsible for Indian Affairs
  3. departments that have been responsible for Northern Affairs
  4. Acts under Minister Responsibilities

External links

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