Minister of Fisheries (Canada)

The minister of fisheries (Template:Langx) is the minister of the Crown responsible for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). The minister is a member of the King's Privy Council for Canada and the Canadian Cabinet.

Joanne Thompson has been the minister of fisheries since March 14, 2025. The minister is selected by the prime minister and appointed by the Crown. The title was first used in 1930, however, the role as it exists today was established in 1979 as the minister of fisheries and oceans.<ref name="goa1979" /> From 2015 to 2025, the officeholder was known as the minister of fisheries, oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, before it was changed to the current title in 2025.

History

There was a minister of marine and fisheries from Confederation in 1867 onwards. The role was split in two in 1930, with duties related to fisheries going to the new minister of fisheries,<ref name=fisheriesact1930>Template:Cite canlaw</ref> and all other responsibilities going to the new minister of marine,<ref name=marineact1930>Template:Cite canlaw</ref> which was merged into the role of minister of transport a few years later.<ref name=min16>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The minister of fisheries lasted from 1930 to 1969, at which point the post was merged with forestry to create the post of minister of fisheries and forestry.<ref name=goa1969>Template:Cite canlaw</ref> This lasted only two years, until 1971, when the minister of fisheries became a secondary role held concurrently by the minister of the environment.<ref name=goa1970>Template:Cite canlaw</ref> In 1974, the fisheries portfolio was assigned to Roméo LeBlanc as the minister of state (fisheries) assisting the minister of the environment. When LeBlanc was appointed as the minister of the environment in 1976, the post was restyled minister of fisheries and environment.

The current post of minister of fisheries and oceans was established in 1979,<ref name=goa1979>Template:Cite canlaw</ref> and it has continued under various names since then. Hunter Tootoo was the first Indigenous person to hold this portfolio, from November 4, 2015 until May 31, 2016.<ref name=CbCTrudeauCabinet2015-11-04> Template:Cite news </ref>

From 1995 to 2025, the minister was responsible for the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), which was a special operating agency of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Until 1995, the CCG was housed under Transport Canada. In 2025, the government transitioned the CCG to the Department of National Defence.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Ministers of Marine and Fisheries (1867–1930)

Key:

No.	Portrait	Name	Term of office		Political party	Ministry
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 1	File:Peter Mitchell.jpg	Peter Mitchell	July 1, 1867	November 5, 1873	Liberal-Conservative	1 (Macdonald)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 2	File:Albert James Smith.jpg	Sir Albert James Smith	November 7, 1873	October 8, 1878	Liberal	2 (Mackenzie)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 3	File:JamesColledgePope.jpg	James Colledge Pope	October 19, 1878	July 9, 1882	Conservative (historical)	3 (Macdonald)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 4	File:Archibald Woodbury McLelan.jpg	Archibald McLelan	July 10, 1882	December 9, 1885	Conservative (historical)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 5	File:George Eulas Foster.jpg	George Foster	December 10, 1885	May 28, 1888	Conservative (historical)
rowspan=3 style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 6	File:Sir Charles Hibbert Tupper.jpg	Sir Charles Hibbert Tupper	June 1, 1888	June 6, 1891	Conservative (historical)
June 16, 1891			November 24, 1892	4 (Abbott)
December 5, 1892			December 12, 1894	5 (Thompson)
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 7	File:John Costigan.jpg	John Costigan	December 21, 1894	April 27, 1896	Liberal-Conservative	6 (Bowell)
May 1, 1896			July 8, 1896	7 (Tupper)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 8	File:LouisHenryDavies.jpg	Sir Louis Henry Davies	July 13, 1896	September 24, 1901	Liberal	8 (Laurier)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 9	File:James Sutherland.jpg	James Sutherland	January 15, 1902	November 10, 1902	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 10	File:Raymond Prefontaine.JPG	Raymond Préfontaine	November 11, 1902	January 5, 1905	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| –	File:The Honourable Sir Wilfrid Laurier Photo C (HS85-10-16873) - tight crop.jpg	Sir Wilfrid Laurier (acting)	January 6, 1906	February 5, 1906	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 11	File:Louis Philippe Brodeur.jpg	Louis-Philippe Brodeur	February 6, 1906	August 10, 1911	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 12	File:Rodolphe Lemieux.jpg	Rodolphe Lemieux	August 11, 1911	October 6, 1911	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 13	File:John Douglas Hazen.jpg	John Douglas Hazen	October 10, 1911	October 12, 1917	Conservative (historical)	9 (Borden)
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 14	File:Charles Ballantyne.jpg	Charles Ballantyne	October 13, 1917	July 10, 1920	Unionist	10 (Borden)
July 10, 1920			December 29, 1921	11 (Meighen)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 15	File:ErnestLapointe.jpg	Ernest Lapointe	December 29, 1921	January 29, 1924	Liberal	12 (King)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 16	File:Arthur Cardin.jpg	Arthur Cardin (1st time)	January 30, 1924	June 28, 1926	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| –	File:No image.svg	William Anderson Black (acting)	June 29, 1926	July 12, 1926	Conservative (historical)	13 (Meighen)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 17	File:Esioff-Léon Patenaude.png	Esioff-Léon Patenaude	July 13, 1926	September 25, 1926	Conservative (historical)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| (16)	File:Arthur Cardin.jpg	Arthur Cardin (2nd time)	September 25, 1926	June 13, 1930	Liberal	14 (King)
Marine portfolio moved to Minister of Marine, Fisheries portfolio moved to Minister of Fisheries.

Ministers of Fisheries (1930–1969)

Key:

No.	Portrait	Name	Term of office		Political party	Ministry
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 1		Cyrus Macmillan	June 17, 1930	August 7, 1930	Liberal	14 (King)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 2	File:Edgar Nelson Rhodes.jpg	Edgar Nelson Rhodes	August 7, 1930	February 2, 1932	Conservative (historical)	15 (Bennett)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| –		Alfred Duranleau (acting)	February 2, 1932	November 16, 1934	Conservative (historical)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| –	File:Hon. Grote Stirling (cropped).jpg	Grote Stirling (acting)	November 17, 1934	August 13, 1935	Conservative (historical)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 3		William Gordon Ernst	August 14, 1935	October 23, 1935	Conservative (historical)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 4	File:Joseph Enoil Michaud.jpg	Joseph-Enoil Michaud	October 23, 1935	October 5, 1942	Liberal	16 (King)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 5	File:Ernest Bertrand.jpg	Ernest Bertrand	October 7, 1942	August 28, 1945	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 6		Hedley Francis Gregory Bridges	August 30, 1945	August 10, 1947	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| –	File:Ernest Bertrand.jpg	Ernest Bertrand (acting)	August 14, 1947	September 1, 1947	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 7		Milton Fowler Gregg	September 2, 1947	January 18, 1948	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 8		James Angus MacKinnon	January 19, 1948	June 10, 1948	Liberal
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 9		Robert Mayhew	June 11, 1948	November 15, 1948	Liberal
November 15, 1948			October 14, 1952	17 (St. Laurent)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 10	File:James Sinclair.jpg	James Sinclair	October 15, 1952		June 21, 1957	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 11	File:Angus MacLean 1980 (cropped).jpg	Angus MacLean	June 21, 1957	April 22, 1963	Progressive Conservative	18 (Diefenbaker)
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 12		Hédard Robichaud	April 22, 1963	April 20, 1968	Liberal	19 (Pearson)
April 20, 1968			July 5, 1968	20 (P. E. Trudeau)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 13		Jack Davis	July 6, 1968		March 31, 1969	Liberal
Fisheries portfolio moved to Minister of Fisheries and Forestry.

Ministers of Fisheries and Forestry (1969–1971)

Key:

No.	Portrait	Name	Term of office		Political party	Ministry
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 1		Jack Davis	April 1, 1969	June 10, 1971	Liberal	20 (P. E. Trudeau)
Fisheries portfolio held concurrently with Minister of Environment.

Ministers responsible for Fisheries through the Department of Environment (1971–1979)

Key:

No.	Portrait	Name	Term of office		Political party	Ministry
Minister of Environment & Minister of Fisheries (held concurrently)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"|	File:No image.svg	Jack Davis	June 11, 1971	August 7, 1974	Liberal	20 (P. E. Trudeau)
Minister of State (Fisheries)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"|	File:Roméo LeBlanc 1979 (cropped).jpg	Roméo LeBlanc	August 8, 1974	September 13, 1976	Liberal	20 (P. E. Trudeau)
Minister of Fisheries and the Environment
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"|	File:Roméo LeBlanc 1979 (cropped).jpg	Roméo LeBlanc	September 14, 1976	April 1, 1979	Liberal	20 (P. E. Trudeau)
Fisheries portfolio moved to Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Ministers of Fisheries and Oceans (1979–present)

Key:

No.	Portrait	Name	Term of office		Political party	Ministry
Ministers of Fisheries and Oceans
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 1	File:Roméo LeBlanc 1979 (cropped).jpg	Roméo LeBlanc (1st time)	April 2, 1979	June 3, 1979	Liberal	20 (P. E. Trudeau)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 2		James McGrath	June 4, 1979	March 2, 1980	Progressive Conservative	21 (Clark)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| (1)	File:Roméo LeBlanc 1979 (cropped).jpg	Roméo LeBlanc (2nd time)	March 3, 1980	September 29, 1982	Liberal	22 (P. E. Trudeau)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 3		Pierre de Bané	September 30, 1982	June 29, 1984	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 4		Herb Breau	June 30, 1984	September 16, 1984	Liberal	23rd (Turner)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 5		John Fraser	September 17, 1984	September 23, 1985	Progressive Conservative	24 (Mulroney)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| –		Erik Nielsen (acting)	September 23, 1985	November 19, 1985	Progressive Conservative
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 6		Tom Siddon	November 20, 1985	February 22, 1990	Progressive Conservative
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 7		Bernard Valcourt	February 23, 1990	April 20, 1991	Progressive Conservative
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 8	File:Crosbie 1983-2 crop.jpg	John Crosbie	April 21, 1991	June 24, 1993	Progressive Conservative
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 9		Ross Reid	June 25, 1993	November 3, 1993	Progressive Conservative	25 (Campbell)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 10	File:Briantobin.jpg	Brian Tobin	November 4, 1993	January 8, 1996	Liberal	26 (Chrétien)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| –		David Dingwall (acting)	January 9, 1996	January 24, 1996	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 11		Fred Mifflin	January 25, 1996	June 10, 1997	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 12		David Anderson	June 11, 1997	August 2, 1999	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 13		Herb Dhaliwal	August 3, 1999	January 14, 2002	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 14		Robert Thibault	January 15, 2002	December 11, 2003	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 15	File:Geoff Regan MP.jpg	Geoff Regan	December 12, 2003	February 5, 2006	Liberal	27 (Martin)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 16		Loyola Hearn	February 6, 2006	October 30, 2008	Conservative	28 (Harper)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 17		Gail Shea	October 30, 2008	May 18, 2011	Conservative
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| 18		Keith Ashfield	May 18, 2011	July 15, 2013	Conservative
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"| (17)		Gail Shea (2nd time)	July 15, 2013	November 4, 2015	Conservative
Ministers of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 19	File:Hunter Tootoo 2015.jpg	Hunter Tootoo	November 4, 2015	May 31, 2016	Liberal	29 (J. Trudeau)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 20	File:Dominic LeBlanc.jpg	Dominic LeBlanc	May 31, 2016	July 18, 2018	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 21	File:Canadian Minister Jonathan Wilkinson (cropped).jpg	Jonathan Wilkinson	July 18, 2018	November 20, 2019	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 22	File:Bernadette Jordan.jpg	Bernadette Jordan	November 20, 2019	October 26, 2021	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 23	File:Joyce Murray IGF 2020 (cropped).jpg	Joyce Murray	October 26, 2021	July 26, 2023	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 23	File:Diane Lebouthillier (cropped).jpg	Diane Lebouthillier	July 26, 2023	March 14, 2025	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| 24		Joanne Thompson	March 14, 2025	May 13, 2025	Liberal	30 (Carney)
Minister of Fisheries
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; color:white"| (24)		Joanne Thompson	May 13, 2025	Incumbent	Liberal	30 (Carney)

References

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