Minister for Science (Canada) explained

Post:Minister for Science
Body:Canada
Incumbent:Vacant
Department:Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Style:The Honourable
Appointer:Monarch (represented by the governor general);[1]
Appointer Qualified:on the advice of the prime minister[2]
Termlength:genderp=~}}}} Majesty's pleasure
Formation:August 12, 1971
Inaugural:Alastair Gillespie
Salary:$255,300 (2017)[3] (CAD)
Last:Kirsty Duncan

The minister of Science is a vacant office that was in the Cabinet of Canada and existed under various forms from 1971 to 2019, when the portfolio's responsibilities were absorbed into the innovation, science and industry portfolio.

History

The portfolio was called the Minister of State for Science and Technology from 1971 until 1990, when a cabinet reshuffle saw the creation of two new science-related full cabinet positions: the Minister of Industry, Science and Technology, and the Minister for Science. The former combined aspects of the now-defunct post of Minister of Regional Industrial Expansion and the Minister of State for Science and Technology. While it was active, two of the three full ministers for science were simultaneously Minister of State for Small Business.

When Jean Chrétien came to power in 1993, he did not nominate a full minister for science. Instead, he created the position of Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development), which was assigned by Order-in-Council to assist the Minister of Industry. While this position subsequently changed name in 2008 to Minister of State (Science and Technology), its role did not change much until 2015.

In 2015 under the first Trudeau government, Kirsty Duncan was appointed to the newly created position of Minister of Science. However, this position remained under the same legal framework as its predecessor, responsible for assisting the senior portfolio of Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (the restyled Minister of Industry).[4] Duncan's portfolio was expected to oversee basic research, while Navdeep Bains would oversee applied science.[5] In July 2018, the office's portfolio was expanded to include responsibility for Sport Canada and was renamed to Minister of Science and Sport.[6]

Following the 2019 federal election, the portfolio became vacant and Bains' portfolio was expanded—he was appointed as the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry (previously called, Innovation, Science and Economic Development).[7] [8]

Ministers

Key:

PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical partyMinistryConcurrent positionsNotes
Minister of State (Science and Technology), 1971–1990
12 Aug. 1971 26 Nov. 1972 Lib20 (P. E. Trudeau)
27 Nov. 1972 7 Aug. 1974
8 Aug. 1974 13 Sept. 1976 Minister of Public Works
14 Sept. 1976 15 Sept. 1977 Secretary of State of Canada
16 Sept. 1977 23 Nov. 1978 Minister of Public Works
24 Nov. 1978 3 June 1979 Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources
4 June 1979 8 Oct. 1979 PC21 (Clark) Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources
8 Oct. 1979 2 March 1980
3 March 1980 29 June 1984 22 (P. E. Trudeau)Minister of the Environment (1980–83), Minister of Employment and Immigration (1983–94)
30 June 1984 16 Sept. 198423 (Turner) Minister of Communications
17 Sept. 1984 19 Nov. 1985PC24 (Mulroney)
20 Nov. 1985 29 Jan. 1989 Oberle's term overlaps with Côté and de Cotret. He was assigned by Order in Council to assist the Minister of State for Science and Technology.
Michel Côté11 Aug. 1987 26 Aug. 1987 Minister of Regional Industrial Expansion
27 Aug. 1987 29 Jan. 1989 Minister of Regional Industrial Expansion
30 Jan. 1989 22 Feb. 1990 Winegard's term overlaps with Andre. Andre was formally appointed as both Minister of Regional Industrial Expansion and Minister of State for Science and Technology. Winegard was assigned by Order in Council to assist the Minister of State for Science and Technology.
30 Jan. 1989 22 Feb. 1990
Minister for Science, 1990–1993
23 Feb. 1990 3 Jan. 1993Progressive
Conservative
24 (Mulroney)
4 Jan. 1993 24 June 1993 Minister of State (Small Businesses and Tourism)
25 June 1993 3 Nov. 199325 (Campbell) Minister responsible for Small Businesses
Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development), 1993–2003
4 Nov. 1993 10 June 1997Lib26 (Chrétien) Assigned by Order in Council to assist the Minister of Industry
11 June 1997 2 Aug. 1999
3 Aug. 1999 14 Jan. 2002
15 Jan. 2002 25 May 2002
26 May 2002 11 Dec. 2003
Minister of State (Science and Technology), 2008–2015
30 Oct. 2008 15 July 2013Cons28 (Harper)Assigned by Order in Council to assist the Minister of Industry
15 July 2013 19 March 2014
19 March 2014 3 Nov. 2015
Minister of Science, 2015–2018
4 Nov. 2015 18 Jul. 2018Lib29 (J. Trudeau)Assigned by Order in Council to assist the Minister of Industry
Minister of Science and Sport, 2018–2019
Kirsty Duncan18 Jul. 201821 Nov. 2019Lib29 (J. Trudeau)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Constitutional Duties. The Governor General of Canada. 2020-04-20.
  2. Web site: House of Commons Procedure and Practice - 1. Parliamentary Institutions - Canadian Parliamentary Institutions. www.ourcommons.ca. 2020-04-20.
  3. Web site: Indemnities, Salaries and Allowances. Parliament of Canada.
  4. Web site: Order in Council PC Number: 2015-1225 . 2015-11-04 . Privy Council Office . Government of Canada . 2015-11-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151109121851/http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/oic-ddc.asp?lang=eng&txtToDate=&txtPrecis=&Page=secretariats&txtOICID=&txtAct=&txtBillNo=&txtFromDate=2015-11-04&txtDepartment=&txtChapterNo=&txtChapterYear=&rdoComingIntoForce=&DoSearch=Search%20%2F%20List&pg=8&viewattach=31588&blnDisplayFlg=1 . 2015-11-09 . live .
  5. Web site: Why Canada now has two science ministers. Ottawa Citizen. en-US. 2016-03-21.
  6. News: Complete list of Justin Trudeau's updated cabinet . 21 July 2018 . CBC News . July 18, 2018.
  7. News: Deputy PM Freeland to oversee relations with U.S. and provinces in Trudeau’s new cabinet. 2019-11-20.
  8. Web site: Trudeau expands cabinet, promotes several rookies and shakes up existing ministers CTV News. www.ctvnews.ca. 2019-11-20.