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Guide to Canadian Ministries Since Confederation

Sixteenth Ministry

LIBERAL[1]
23 October 1935 to 15 November 1948

PRIME MINISTER
The Right Honourable William Lyon Mackenzie King[2]

THE MINISTRY

Minister of Agriculture
Vacant 23 Oct. 1935 - 24 Oct. 1935
Hon. Thomas Alexander Crerar Acting Minister 25 Oct. 1935 - 3 Nov. 1935
Rt. Hon. James Garfield Gardiner[3] 4 Nov. 1935 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Secretary of State for External Affairs[4]
Rt. Hon. William Lyon Mackenzie King 23 Oct. 1935 - 3 Sept. 1946
Rt. Hon. Louis Stephen St-Laurent[5] 4 Sept. 1946 - 9 Sept. 1948
Hon. Lester Bowles Pearson 10 Sept. 1948 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Minister of Finance and Receiver General
Hon. Charles Avery Dunning 23 Oct. 1935 - 5 Sept. 1939
Hon. James Layton Ralston[6] 6 Sept. 1939 - 4 July 1940
Vacant 5 July 1940 - 7 July 1940
Rt. Hon. James Lorimer Ilsley[7] 8 July 1940 - 9 Dec. 1946
Hon. Douglas Charles Abbott 10 Dec. 1946 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Minister of Fisheries
Hon. Joseph-Enoil Michaud[8] 23 Oct. 1935 - 5 Oct. 1942
Vacant 6 Oct. 1942
Hon. Ernest Bertrand[9] 7 Oct. 1942 - 28 Aug. 1945
Vacant 29 Aug. 1945
Hon. Hedley Francis Gregory Bridges 30 Aug. 1945 - 10 Aug. 1947
Vacant 11 Aug. 1947 - 13 Aug. 1947
Hon. Ernest Bertrand Acting Minister 14 Aug. 1947 - 1 Sept. 1947
Hon. Milton Fowler Gregg[10] 2 Sept. 1947 - 18 Jan. 1948
Hon. James Angus MacKinnon[11] 19 Jan. 1948 - 10 June 1948
Hon. Robert Wellington Mayhew 11 June 1948 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Minister of Immigration and Colonization
Hon. Thomas Alexander Crerar[12] 23 Oct. 1935 - 30 Nov. 1936
 
Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs[13]
Hon. Thomas Alexander Crerar 23 Oct. 1935 - 30 Nov. 1936
 
Minister of the Interior[14]
Hon. Thomas Alexander Crerar[15] 23 Oct. 1935 - 30 Nov. 1936
 
Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Rt. Hon. Ernest Lapointe 23 Oct. 1935 - 26 Nov. 1941
Hon. Joseph-Enoil Michaud Acting Minister 27 Nov. 1941 - 9 Dec. 1941
Rt. Hon. Louis Stephen St-Laurent[16] 10 Dec. 1941 - 9 Dec. 1946
Rt. Hon. James Lorimer Ilsley 10 Dec. 1946 - 30 June 1948
Rt. Hon. Louis Stephen St-Laurent Acting Minister 1 July 1948 - 9 Sept. 1948
Rt. Hon. Louis Stephen St-Laurent 10 Sept. 1948 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Minister of Labour
Hon. Norman McLeod Rogers[17] 23 Oct. 1935 - 18 Sept. 1939
Hon. Norman Alexander McLarty[18] 19 Sept. 1939 - 14 Dec. 1941
Hon. Humphrey Mitchell 15 Dec. 1941 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Minister of Marine
Hon. Clarence Decatur Howe[19] 23 Oct. 1935 - 1 Nov. 1936
 
Minister of Mines[20]
Hon. Thomas Alexander Crerar 23 Oct. 1935 - 30 Nov. 1936
 
Minister of Mines and Resources[21]
Hon. Thomas Alexander Crerar 1 Dec. 1936 - 17 Apr. 1945
Hon. James Allison Glen 18 Apr. 1945 - 10 June 1948
Hon. James Angus MacKinnon 11 June 1948 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Minister of Munitions and Supply[22]
Hon. Clarence Decatur Howe[23] 9 Apr. 1940 - 31 Dec. 1945
 
Minister of National Defence
Hon. Ian Alistair Mackenzie[24] 23 Oct. 1935 - 18 Sept. 1939
Hon. Norman McLeod Rogers 19 Sept. 1939 - 10 June 1940
Hon. Charles Gavan Power Acting Minister 11 June 1940 - 4 July 1940
Hon. James Layton Ralston 5 July 1940 - 1 Nov. 1944
Hon. Andrew George Latta McNaughton 2 Nov. 1944 - 20 Aug. 1945
Hon. Douglas Charles Abbott[25] 21 Aug. 1945 - 11 Dec. 1946
Hon. Brooke Claxton 12 Dec.. 1946 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Associate Minister of National Defence[26]
Hon. Charles Gavan Power[27] 12 July 1940 - 26 Nov. 1944
 
Minister of National Defence for Air[28]
Vacant 22 May 1940
Hon. Charles Gavan Power[29] 23 May 1940 - 26 Nov. 1944
Vacant 27 Nov. 1944 - 29 Nov. 1944
Hon. Angus Lewis Macdonald Acting Minister 30 Nov. 1944 - 10 Jan. 1945
Hon. Colin William George Gibson Acting Minister 11 Jan. 1945 - 7 Mar. 1945
Hon. Colin William George Gibson[30] 8 Mar. 1945 - 11 Dec. 1946
 
Minister of National Defence for Naval Services[31]
Hon. Angus Lewis Macdonald 12 July 1940 - 17 Apr. 1945
Hon. Douglas Charles Abbott[32] 18 Apr. 1945 - 11 Dec. 1946
 
Minister of National Health and Welfare
Hon. Brooke Claxton[33] 18 Oct. 1944 - 11 Dec. 1946
Hon. Paul Joseph James Martin 12 Dec. 1946 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Minister of National Revenue
Hon. James Lorimer Ilsley[34] 23 Oct. 1935 - 7 July 1940
Hon. Colin William George Gibson[35] 8 July 1940 - 7 Mar. 1945
Hon. James Angus MacKinnon Acting Minister 8 Mar. 1945 - 18 Apr. 1945
Hon. David Laurence MacLaren 19 Apr.. 1945 - 29 July 1945
Hon. James Angus MacKinnon Acting Minister 30 July 1945 - 28 Aug. 1945
Hon. James Joseph McCann[36] 29 Aug. 1945 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Minister of National War Services[37]
Hon. James Garfield Gardiner[38] 12 July 1940 - 10 June 1941
Hon. Joseph Thorarinn Thorson 11 June 1941 - 5 Oct. 1942
Vacant 6 Oct. 1942
Hon. Léo Richer Laflèche 7 Oct. 1942 - 17 Apr. 1945
Hon. James Joseph McCann[39] 18 Apr. 1945 - 18 Jan. 1948
Vacant 19 Jan. 1948 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Minister of Pensions and National Health[40]
Hon. Charles Gavan Power[41] 23 Oct. 1935 - 18 Sept. 1939
Hon. Ian Alistair Mackenzie[42] 19 Sept. 1939 - 17 Oct. 1944
 
Postmaster General
Hon. John Campbell Elliott 23 Oct. 1935 - 22 Jan. 1939
Hon. Norman Alexander McLarty[43] 23 Jan. 1939 - 18 Sept. 1939
Hon. Charles Gavan Power[44] 19 Sept. 1939 - 22 May 1940
Hon. James Lorimer Ilsley Acting Minister 23 May 1940 - 7 July 1940
Hon. William Pate Mulock 8 July 1940 - 8 June 1945
Vacant 9 June 1945 - 28 Aug. 1945
Hon. Ernest Bertrand 29 Aug. 1945 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
President of the Privy Council
Rt. Hon. William Lyon Mackenzie King 23 Oct. 1935 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Minister of Public Works
Hon. Pierre Joseph Arthur Cardin[45] 23 Oct. 1935 - 12 May 1942
Hon. Joseph-Enoil Michaud Acting Minister 13 May 1942 - 6 Oct. 1942
Hon. Alphonse Fournier 7 Oct. 1942 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Minister of Railways and Canals[46]
Hon. Clarence Decatur Howe[47] 23 Oct. 1935 - 1 Nov. 1936
 
Minister of Reconstruction[48]
Vacant 30 June 1944 - 12 Oct. 1944
Hon. Clarence Decatur Howe[49] 13 Oct. 1944 - 31 Dec. 1945
 
Minister of Reconstruction and Supply[50]
Hon. Clarence Decatur Howe[51]
 
Secretary of State of Canada[52]
Hon. Fernand Rinfret 23 Oct. 1935 - 12 July 1939
Vacant 13 July 1939 - 25 July 1939
Rt. Hon. Ernest Lapointe Acting Minister 26 July 1939 - 8 May 1940
Hon. Pierre-François Casgrain 9 May 1940 - 14 Dec. 1941
Hon. Norman Alexander McLarty 15 Dec. 1941 - 17 Apr. 1945
Hon. Paul Joseph James Martin[53] 18 Apr. 1945 - 11 Dec. 1946
Hon. Colin William George Gibson 12 Dec. 1946 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Solicitor General of Canada
Vacant 23 Oct. 1935 - 17 Apr. 1945
Hon. Joseph Jean 18 Apr. 1945 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Minister of Trade and Commerce
Hon. William Daum Euler 23 Oct. 1935 - 8 May 1940
Hon. James Angus MacKinnon[54] 9 May 1940 - 18 Jan. 1948
Rt. Hon. Clarence Decatur Howe[55] 19 Jan. 1948 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Minister of Transport[46]
Hon. Clarence Decatur Howe[56] 2 Nov. 1936 - 7 July 1940
Hon. Pierre Joseph Arthur Cardin[57] 8 July 1940 - 12 May 1942
Hon. Clarence Decatur Howe Acting Minister 13 May 1942 - 5 Oct. 1942
Hon. Joseph-Enoil Michaud 6 Oct. 1942 - 17 Apr. 1945
Hon. Lionel Chevrier 18 Apr. 1945 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Minister of Veterans Affairs[58]
Rt. Hon. Ian Alistair Mackenzie 18 Oct. 1944 - 18 Jan. 1948
Hon. Milton Fowler Gregg 19 Jan. 1948 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Minister without Portfolio
Rt. Hon. Raoul Dandurand Senator 23 Oct. 1935 - 11 Mar. 1942
Hon. James Angus MacKinnon[59] 23 Jan. 1939 - 8 May 1940
Hon. James Horace King Senator 26 May 1942 - 23 Aug. 1945
Hon. Wishart McLea Robertson Senator 4 Sept. 1945 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
PARLIAMENTARY ASSISTANTS[60]
NOT OF THE MINISTRY
Agriculture
Robert McCubbin 30 Oct. 1947 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
External Affairs
Walter Edward Harris 30 Oct. 1947 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Finance
Douglas Charles Abbott 1 Apr. 1943 - 7 Mar. 1945
Robert Wellington Mayhew 25 Sept. 1945 - 10 June 1948
Gleason Belzile 30 Oct. 1947 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Fisheries
Thomas Reid 22 Apr. 1948 - 10 June 1948
John Watson MacNaught 11 June 1948 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Justice
Joseph Jean 6 May 1943 - 30 Nov. 1944
 
Labour
Paul Joseph James Martin 7 May 1943 - 16 Apr. 1945
Paul-Émile Côté 30 Oct. 1947 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Munitions and Supply
Lionel Chevrier 1 Apr. 1943 - 16 Apr. 1945
 
National Defence
William Chisholm Macdonald 1 Apr. 1943 - 14 Nov. 1944
Douglas Charles Abbott 8 Mar. 1945 - 16 Apr. 1945
Hugues Lapointe 25 Sept. 1945 - 15 Nov. 1948
William Chisholm Macdonald 25 Sept. 1945 - 19 Nov. 1946
 
National Defence for Air
Hon. Cyrus Macmillan 1 Apr. 1943 - 6 June 1946
 
National Health and Welfare
Ralph Maybank 30 Oct. 1947 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
National Revenue
Robert Henry Winters 30 Oct. 1947 - 10 June 1948
Thomas Reid 11 June 1948 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Privy Council
Brooke Claxton 6 May 1943 - 12 Oct. 1944
 
Reconstruction
George James McIlraith 28 Sept. 1945 - 31 Dec. 1945
 
Reconstruction and Supply
George James Mcllraith 1 Jan. 1946 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Trade and Commerce
George James Mcllraith 3 Feb. 1948 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Transport
Robert Henry Winters 11 June 1948 - 15 Nov. 1948
 
Veterans Affairs
Walter Adam Tucker 27 Sept. 1945 - 21 Apr. 1948
Leslie Alexander Mutch 11 June 1948 - 15 Nov. 1948



[1] The Government having been defeated in the general election of 14 Oct. 1935, Bennett formally tendered his resignation to the Governor General on 23 Oct. 1935. The Sixteenth Ministry assumed office the same day. It was returned to office in the general elections of both 1940 and 1945 but on the latter the Prime Minister failed to be re-elected. He was subsequently elected in a by-election on 6 Aug. 1945.

[2] King was also Secretary of State for External Affairs and President of the Privy Council.

[3] Gardiner was also Minister of National War Services.

[4] The Prime Minister was ex officio the Secretary of State for External Affairs until 28 May 1946. Statute 10 Geo. VI, c, 6, assented to on 28 May 1946, terminated this ex officio relationship.

[5] St-Laurent was also Minister of Justice and Attorney General to 9 Dec. 1946. He was reappointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General on 10 Sept. 1948.

[6] Ralston was appointed Minister of National Defence on 5 July 1940.

[7] Ilsley was appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General on 10 Dec. 1946.

[8] Michaud was appointed Minister of Transport on 6 Oct. 1942.

[9] Bertrand was appointed Postmaster General on 29 Aug. 1945.

[10] Gregg was appointed Minister of Veterans Affairs on 19 Jan. 1948.

[11] MacKinnon was appointed Minister of Mines and Resources on 11 June 1948.

[12] Crerar was also Minister of the Interior. He was appointed Minister of Mines and Resources on 1 Dec. 1936.

[13] See Minister of the Interior and Minister of Mines and Resources.

[14] The Minister of the Interior was ex officio the Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs. See Minister of Mines and Resources.

[15] Crerar was also Minister of Immigration and Colonization. He was appointed Minister of Mines and Resources on 1 Dec. 1936.

[16] St-Laurent was also Secretary of State for External Affairs.

[17] Rogers was appointed Minister of National Defence on 19 Sept. 1939.

[18] McLarty was appointed Secretary of State of Canada on 15 Dec. 1941.

[19] Howe was also Minister of Railways and Canals. He was appointed Minister of Transport on 2 Nov. 1936.

[20] The Department of Mines was to be presided over by the minister of another department who was to be named by the Governor in Council and who was to be called "The Minister of Mines". During the Sixteenth Ministry Crerar, who was both Minister of Immigration and Colonization and Minister of the Interior, was named Minister of Mines. See Minister of Mines and Resources.

[21] The offices of Minister of immigration and Colonization, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Mines and Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs were abolished and the office of Minister of Mines and Resources was created by Statute 1 Edw. VIII, c. 33, assented to on 23 June 1936 and proclaimed in force on 1 Dec. 1936.

[22] The office of Minister of Munitions and Supply was created by Statute 3 Geo. VI, c. 3, assented to on 13 Sept. 1939 and proclaimed in force on 9 Apr. 1940. See Minister of Reconstruction and Supply.

[23] Howe was also Minister of Transport and Minister of Reconstruction. He was appointed Minister of Reconstruction and Supply on 1 Jan. 1946.

[24] Mackenzie was appointed Minister of Pensions and National Health on 19 Sept. 1939.

[25] Abbott was also Minister of National Defence for Naval Service. He was appointed Minister of Finance and Receiver General on 10 Dec. 1946.

[26] The office of Associate Minister of National Defence was created by Statute 4 Geo. VI, c. 21, and assented to on 12 July 1940. By this Act an Associate Minister of National Defence, a Minister of National Defence for Naval Services and a Minister of National Defence for Air could be appointed on the issuance by the Sovereign or the Governor in Council, pursuant to the War Measures Act, of a proclamation declaring the existence of war, invasion or insurrection, real or apprehended. Appointments to these three offices could be made until six months after the issuance of a further proclamation declaring that the war, invasion or insurrection no longer existed.

Proclamations declaring the existence of wars were issued on both 1 Sept. and 10 Sept. 1939. Active hostilities generally ceased in 1945. However, unlike after World War I, no proclamation was issued declaring an end to the state of war, though in 1947 the remaining Orders in Council approved pursuant to the War Measures Act were rescinded, thus in effect recognizing the termination of the state of war. Moreover, on, 10 July 1951 a proclamation was issued proclaiming an end to the formal state of war between Canada and Germany, and in 1952 a Treaty of Peace with Japan was proclaimed in force. Consequently, it is difficult to determine when appointments to these offices could not have any longer been made. Nevertheless, on 15 Feb. 1952, pursuant to the National Defence Act of 1950 (14 Geo. VI, c. 43), a proclamation was issued repealing the relevant sections of the Act creating these offices and, indeed, they had in effect been superseded by sections of the National Defence Act of 1950 which had been proclaimed in force on 1 Aug. 1950.

[27] Power was also Minister of National Defence for Air.

[28] The office of Minister of National Defence for Air was created by Statute 4 Geo. VI, c. 1, assented to on 22 May 1940, abolished and re-created by Statute 4 Geo. VI, c. 21, and assented to on 12 July 1940. See Associate Minister of National Defence.

[29] Power was also Associate Minister of National Defence.

[30] Gibson was appointed Secretary of State of Canada on 12 Dec. 1946.

[31] The office of Minister of National Defence for Naval Services was created by Statute 4 Geo.. VI, c. 21, and assented to on 12 July 1940. See Associate Minister of National Defence.

[32] Abbott was also Minister of National Defence, and was appointed Minister of Finance and Receiver General on 10 Dec. 1946.

[33] Claxton was appointed Minister of National Defence on 12 Dec. 1946.

[34] Ilsley was appointed Minister of Finance and Receiver General on 8 July 1940.

[35] Gibson was appointed Minister of National Defence for Air on 8 Mar. 1945.

[36] McCann was also Minister of National War Services.

[37] The office of Minister of National War Services was created by Statute 4 Geo. VI. c. 22, and assented to on 12 July 1940. The Act was not included in the 1952 Revised Statutes of Canada. as it was considered spent.

[38] Gardiner was also Minister of Agriculture.

[39] McCann was also Minister of National Revenue.

[40] The office of Minister of Pensions and National Health was abolished and the offices of Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of National Health and Welfare created by Statute 8 Geo VI, c. 19, assented to on 30 June 1944, and Statute 8 Geo. VI, c. 22, assented to on 24 July 1944, respectively. Both Acts were proclaimed in force on 18 Oct. 1944.

[41] Power was appointed Postmaster General on 19 Sept. 19129.

[42] Mackenzie was appointed Minister of Veterans Affairs on 18 Oct. 1944.

[43] McLarty was appointed Minister of Labour on 19 Sept. 1939.

[44] Power was appointed Minister of National Defence for Air on 23 May 1940.

[45] Cardin was also Minister of Transport.

[46] The offices of Minister of Marine and Minister of Railways and Canals were abolished and the office of Minister of Transport created by Statute 1 Edw. VIII, c. 34, assented to on 23 June 1936 and proclaimed in force on 2 Nov. 1936.

[47] Howe was also Minister of Marine. He was appointed Minister of Transport on 2 Nov. 1936.

[48] The office of Minister of Reconstruction was created by Statute 8 Geo. VI, c. 18, and assented to on 30 June 1944. See Minister of Reconstruction and Supply.

[49] Howe was also Minister of Munitions and Supply. He was appointed Minister of Reconstruction and Supply on 1 Jan. 1946.

[50] The offices of Minister of Munitions and Supply and Minister of Reconstruction were abolished and the office of Minister of Reconstruction and Supply created by Statute 9-10 Geo. VI, c. 16, and assented to on 18 Dec. 1945. The section of the Act creating the office was proclaimed in force on 1 Jan. 1946.

[51] Howe was also Minister of Trade and Commerce.

[52] The Secretary of State of Canada was ex officio the Registrar General of Canada.

[53] Martin was appointed Minister of National Health and Welfare on 12 Dec. 1946.

[54] MacKinnon was appointed Minister of Fisheries on 19 Jan. 1948.

[55] Howe was also Minister of Reconstruction and Supply.

[56] Howe was also Minister of Munitions and Supply.

[57] Cardin was also Minister of Public Works.

[58] See Note 40.

[59] MacKinnon was appointed Minister of Trade and Commerce on 9 May 1940.

[60] Statutory provision was not made for the office of Parliamentary Assistant. Appointment was by Order in Council and salaries were provided by an annual vote in the House of Commons Estimates.

 

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