Jake Epp

Arthur Jacob Epp Template:Post-nominals (September 1, 1939 – July 5, 2025) was a Canadian politician, cabinet minister, and corporate executive. A Member of Parliament (MP) from 1972 to 1993, he served in several senior roles in the governments of Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney, including as Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Minister of National Health and Welfare, and Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources. He later held key appointments in the energy sector and served as Chancellor of Tyndale University. In 2010, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Early life and education

Epp was born in St. Boniface, Winnipeg, and raised in Steinbach, Manitoba, in a Mennonite family. His father was a pastor in the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba in 1961. Epp taught high school history at Steinbach Collegiate for over a decade, served on the Steinbach town council (1970–1971), including a term as deputy mayor,<ref>"Jake Epp biography," The Canadian Encyclopedia, Retrieved July 2025. [1] </ref> <ref>"City of Steinbach mourns former councillor Jake Epp," Steinbach.ca, July 7, 2025.[2]</ref> and he helped to establish the Emmanual Evangelical Free Church in Steinbach.<ref>"A Short History of the Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church: From 1927 to March, 1985." [3] </ref>

Member of Parliament

Epp was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1972 federal election as the Progressive Conservative MP for Provencher, a predominantly rural riding in southeastern Manitoba. He was re-elected in five subsequent elections, often with large majorities. Known for his discipline, policy focus, and Christian convictions, Epp emerged as a leading figure in the party’s western and socially conservative wing.<ref>Manitoba Historical Society. "Arthur Jacob Epp," July 7, 2025, [4]. </ref>

Ministerial roles

Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (1979–1980) Appointed to Cabinet by Prime Minister Joe Clark, Epp became the first Mennonite in Canadian history to serve as a federal cabinet minister. In June 1979, he issued the "Epp Letter," which instructed the commissioner of the Yukon to cede authority to the territory’s elected executive council. This move significantly advanced responsible government in Yukon.<ref>Government of Canada, "Yukon Governance: The Epp Letter", [5]. </ref>

Minister of National Health and Welfare, (1984–1989). Under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Epp chaired the Cabinet Committee on Social Development and led early federal responses to the HIV/AIDS crisis. He initiated Canada’s first national AIDS strategy in the late 1980s and expanded tobacco control regulations. His tenure was marked by efforts to promote preventive health and social policy reform, though he faced public criticism for the government’s early handling of AIDS funding and access.<ref>David Rodier, “The Legacy of the HIV/AIDS fight in Canada,” Policy Options, [6]. </ref>

Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources (1989–1993). In 1989, Epp was appointed Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources. He was responsible for Canada's energy and natural resource policies during a period of increased attention to energy security, deregulation, and environmental impact. He oversaw federal initiatives on resource development and national energy planning until his departure from Cabinet in 1993.<ref>“Parliamentarians: Epp, Arthur Jakob (Jake,” Parliament of Canada, [7]. </ref>

Post-parliamentary career

After leaving politics in 1993, Epp joined TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. as senior vice president, a position he held until 2000.<ref>TransCanada names new executive team,” Natural Gas Intelligence, July 26, 1999, [8]. </ref> In 2003, he was appointed by the Ontario government to chair a review panel investigating cost overruns and project delays at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station. The resulting "Epp Report" identified management issues and provided recommendations for nuclear refurbishment. He later served as Chair of the Board of Ontario Power Generation (2004–2005), where he promoted stronger governance and oversight during a politically sensitive period for Ontario’s energy sector.<ref>Ontario Power Generation Review Report (2003), [9]. </ref><ref>Ontario Power Generation Review Committee, Transforming Ontario’s Power Generation Company, March 2004, p. 47</ref>

Epp was a dedicated advocate for global health and played a vital role in Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC). Although not one of its founders, he joined the organization's board of directors in the mid-1980s and later served as Chairman of the Board—a position from which he provided strategic leadership for many years. Recognizing his contributions, HPIC established the Jake Epp Mission Development Fund to support its international relief programs.<ref>Kelvin Goetzen, “An Enduring Legacy,” My Steinbach, November 25, 2022, [10]. </ref>

Academic and community leadership

From 2005 to 2009, Epp served as Chancellor of Tyndale University College and Seminary (today Tyndale University) in Toronto. He was active in Mennonite, evangelical, and educational communities throughout his life, advocating for the integration of faith and public service.<ref>Tyndale University Archives, "Past Chancellors: The Honourable Jake Epp”, [11]. </ref><ref>Jake Epp Appointed as new Tyndale Chancellor Template:Webarchive, April 25, 2005.</ref>

In his hometown of Steinbach, Manitoba, he was a key supporter of local initiatives, and the public library was renamed in his honour as the Jake Epp Library in recognition of his contributions to education and civic life. <ref>Jake Epp Library. “About Us”, [12]. </ref>

Honours and recognition

Epp was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2010 for his “contributions to public life as a politician, corporate leader, and advocate for higher education.”<ref>“Full List: Members of the Order of Canada,” Global News, May 27, 2011, [13]. </ref> He also received the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (1977) and Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012).

Personal life and death

Jake Epp was married to Lydia Martens for over 60 years, and together they had one daughter. He maintained an active presence in his church and community life in Steinbach following retirement. Epp died on July 5, 2025, at the age of 85. Tributes were paid across political and community lines, and flags in Steinbach were lowered in his honour.<ref>Obituary of Jake Epp, Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB, July 2025, [14]. </ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Legacy

Epp’s career spanned major developments in Canadian health policy, northern governance, and energy infrastructure. While some of his socially conservative positions were controversial, his long service in Cabinet, his support for Indigenous self-governance, and his leadership in public and private sectors were widely recognized. He remains one of the most prominent Canadian Mennonite politicians of the 20th century.

External links

• Template:Canadian Parliament links
• Jake Epp fonds, Library and Archives Canada