Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec explained

Post:Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Flag:Government of Canada signature.svg
Flagsize:200px
Incumbent:Soraya Martinez Ferrada
Incumbentsince:July 26, 2023
Department:Economic Development Agency for the Regions of Quebec
Style:The Honourable
Appointer:Monarch (represented by the governor general)
Appointer Qualified:on the advice of the prime minister
Termlength:genderp=~}}}} Majesty's pleasure
Formation:June 25, 1993
Inaugural:Jean Charest

The title Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec was accorded to full members of the Cabinet of Canada from the Campbell Ministry through the first months of Paul Martin government. Prior to the agency's renaming in 1998, the position was termed Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development – Quebec.

Ministers responsible have included Jean Charest, Paul Martin, and John Manley.

In 2002, Claude Drouin became the only Secretary of State for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the regions of Quebec that was created to succeed from the former position of Secretary of State (Federal Office of Regional Development – Quebec) which had existed since 1996 with Martin Cauchon in the position. When Prime Minister Paul Martin did away with the sub-Cabinet position of Secretary of State, he reverted the structure to how it had been constituted before 1996, with Industry Minister Lucienne Robillard assuming the title.

After the 2004 Canadian election the portfolio was cut loose as an autonomous office, the Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and given to Jacques Saada.

The pre-2004 portfolio was revived when Pascale St-Onge was appointed responsible for it in 2021.

Ministers

Key:

Ministers responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development – Quebec (1993–1998)

No.MinisterSecretaryTerm of officePolitical partyMinistry
1Jean CharestJune 25, 1993 November 3, 1993Progressive Conservative25 (Campbell)
2Paul MartinNovember 4, 1993 January 24, 1996Liberal26 (Chrétien)
3John ManleyMartin CauchonJanuary 25, 1996 February 12, 1998Liberal

Ministers responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec (1998–2004)

3John Manley (cont'd)Martin CauchonFebruary 13, 1998 October 16, 2000Liberal26 (Chrétien)
4Brian TobinOctober 17, 2000 January 14, 2002Liberal
VACANTClaude DrouinJanuary 15, 2002 December 11, 2003Liberal
5Lucienne RobillardDecember 12, 2003 July 19, 2004Liberal27 (Martin)

Ministers responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec (2021–present)

9 <-- Continuing off the 2004-2015 ministers -->Pascale St-OngeOctober 26, 2021 July 26, 2023Liberal29 (Trudeau)
10 <-- Continuing off the 2004-2015 ministers -->Soraya Martinez FerradaJuly 26, 2023 IncumbentLiberal

Martin Cauchon handled most day-to-day responsibilities for this portfolio as Secretary of State (Federal Office of Regional Development – Quebec) from January 25, 1996 to February 12, 1998, and continued as Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency for the Regions of Quebec) until January 14, 2002. His replacement, Claude Drouin, would handle virtually all responsibilities for this portfolio as Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency for the Regions of Quebec) for the remainder of the Chrétien Ministry.

The portfolio became a full-fledged ministerial posting, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, in 2004.