Minister_of_Human_Resources_and_Skills_Development

Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages

Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages

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The minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages (French: ministre de l’Emploi, du Développement de la main-d’œuvre et des Langues officielles) is the minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for Employment and Social Development Canada, the Government of Canada department that oversees programs such as employment insurance, the Canada pension plan, old age security, and Canada student loans.

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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 and Citizenship to Minister of Manpower and Immigration, Along with this change, minister Marchand was tasked by Prime Minister 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.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8]

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 Citizenship and Immigration following the reorganization of the government and formation of the department for Citizenship and Immigration Canada.[9][10][11]

On February 6, 2006, Prime Minister Stephen Harper transferred the responsibilities of the 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 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, and Labour.[12]

In 2019, following the 2019 Canadian federal election, the portfolio was split between the Minister of Labour and Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, with Carla Qualtrough being appointed the new minister on November 20.[13]

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.[14]

List of ministers

  Liberal Party of Canada
  Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
  Conservative Party of Canada
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Notes

  1. [1]
    "The Canadian Parliamentary system - Our Procedure - House of Commons". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  2. [2]
    "Review of the Responsibilities and Accountabilities of Ministers and Senior Officials" (PDF).
  3. [3]
    "Constitutional Duties". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  4. [4]
    "House of Commons Procedure and Practice - 1. Parliamentary Institutions - Canadian Parliamentary Institutions". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  5. [5]
    "Indemnities, Salaries and Allowances". Library of Parliament. April 11, 2018. Archived from the original on June 1, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  6. [6]
    "Ottawa fera un meilleur accueil aux immigrants japonais et philippins". La Presse. Reuters. September 20, 1966. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  7. [7]
    Gogia, N., and Slade, B. (2011), About Canada: Immigration, Fernwood Pub, Halifax, NS
  8. [8]
    "Immigration Policy in Canada | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  9. [9]
    "Employment and Immigration (1977-08-15 - 1996-07-11)." ParlInfo. Ottawa: Library of Parliament. Retrieved 2020 October 30.
  10. [10]
    "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."
  11. [11]
    "Canada. Employment and Immigration Canada (Department)." Library of Congress.
  12. [12]
    "Here are all 30 cabinet ministers at a glance".The Ottawa Citizen , November 11, 2015
  13. [13]
    "Vancouver-area MPs Jonathan Wilkinson, Carla Qualtrough, Harjit Sajjan, and Joyce Murray back in Trudeau cabinet". The Georgia Straight. 2019-11-20. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
  14. [14]
    "Prime Minister announces changes to the Ministry". Prime Minister of Canada. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  15. [15]
    "Justin Trudeau adds fresh faces in cabinet shuffle". Maclean's, Joan Bryden, Jan 10, 2017

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