Minister of Transport (Canada)

The minister of transport (Template:Langx) is a minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet. The minister is responsible for overseeing the federal government's transportation regulatory and development department, Transport Canada, the Saint Lawrence Seaway, Nav Canada, and the Port Authority system.<ref name="portfolio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Since September 16, 2025, the position has been held by Steven MacKinnon of the Liberal Party.

History

The Constitution Act, 1867 under section 92(10) established federal responsibility for land and sea transportation between provinces and internationally. Most transportation duties and powers were placed under the minister of public works,<ref name=pubworks>Template:Cite canlaw</ref> with responsibilities for ports and harbours going to the minister of marine and fisheries.<ref name=marfish>Template:Cite canlaw</ref> In 1879, the Department of Public Works was divided in two, with powers and duties over rail and inland sea transport going to the newly formed minister of railways and canals.<ref name=rail-canals-founding>Template:Cite canlaw</ref> The minister of railways and canals was one of the most important cabinet posts because of the importance of railways to the economic development of Canada, with three prime ministers assuming the position either before or during their premiership.

In Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King's third cabinet in 1935, C. D. Howe was appointed to both the minister of railways and canals and the minister of marine, which was a short-lived position split from the minister of marine and fisheries in 1930.<ref name=min14>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The office of Minister of Transport was created by Mackenzie King in 1936, which was formally a successor to the minister of railways and canals,<ref name=transact1936>Template:Cite canlaw</ref> and C. D. Howe was appointed as the first Minister of Transport.<ref name=min16>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

From 2006 to 2013, the position was styled Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, a name change corresponding with responsibility for Infrastructure Canada being transferred to the portfolio at that time. "Minister of Transport" remained the title for legal purposes. With the Cabinet shuffle of July 15, 2013, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio was separated from Transport and assigned to the minister of intergovernmental affairs.<ref>Technically it was assigned to the President of the Privy Council, which also had responsibility for intergovernmental affairs. http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/oic-ddc.asp?lang=eng&txtToDate=2013-07-15&txtPrecis=&Page=&txtOICID=&txtAct=&txtBillNo=&txtFromDate=2013-07-15&txtDepartment=&txtChapterNo=&txtChapterYear=&rdoComingIntoForce=&DoSearch=Search+/+List&pg=2&viewattach=28125&blnDisplayFlg=1</ref>

Transport Canada used to manage most of Canada's major airports, but in the 1990s, most airports were off-loaded to non-profit private airport authorities. The department is now responsible for transportation safety, appointments to Boards of Governors, and regulation management.

Portfolio

In addition to Transport Canada, the minister of transport is responsible for overseeing 55 other entities,<ref name=portfolio /> the majority of which are port authorities and airport authorities:

• Transport Canada
• Shared governance organizations:
  • 18 port authorities
  • 21 airport authorities
  • Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority
  • Nav Canada
  • St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation
• Crown corporations:
  • Atlantic Pilotage Authority
  • Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
  • Federal Bridge Corporation
  • Great Lakes Pilotage Authority
  • Laurentian Pilotage Authority
  • Marine Atlantic
  • Pacific Pilotage Authority
  • Via Rail
• Other entities:
  • Canadian Transportation Agency
  • Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund
  • The Fund for Railway Accidents Involving Designated Goods
  • Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada

Minister of Railways and Canals (1879–1936)

Key:

Portrait		Name	Term of office		Political party	Ministry
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |		Sir Charles Tupper	20 May 1879	28 May 1884	Liberal-Conservative	3 (Macdonald)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |		John Henry Pope (acting)	29 May 1884	24 September 1885	Liberal-Conservative
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |		John Henry Pope	25 September 1885	1 April 1889	Liberal-Conservative
		vacant	2 April 1889	9 April 1889	–
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |		John A. Macdonald (acting)	10 April 1889	27 November 1889	Liberal-Conservative
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |		John A. Macdonald	28 November 1889	6 June 1891	Liberal-Conservative
		vacant	7 June 1891	16 June 1891	–	4 (Abbott)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |		Mackenzie Bowell (acting)	17 June 1891	10 January 1892	Conservative (historical)
rowspan=3 style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	Error creating thumbnail:	John Graham Haggart	11 January 1892	4 December 1892	Conservative (historical)
5 December 1892			20 December 1894	5 (Thompson)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation		CitationClass=web }}</ref>
21 December 1894			5 January 1896	6 (Bowell)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation		CitationClass=web }}</ref>
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |		Joseph-Aldric Ouimet (acting)	6 January 1896		14 January 1896	Conservative (historical)
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	Error creating thumbnail:	John Graham Haggart	15 January 1896		30 April 1896	Conservative (historical)
1 May 1896			8 July 1896	7 (Tupper)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		vacant	6 January 1896	14 January 1896	–	8 (Laurier)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:Andrew George Blair.jpg	Andrew George Blair	20 July 1896	20 July 1903	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:William Stevens Fielding, premier of Nova Scotia.jpg	William Stevens Fielding (acting)	21 July 1903	14 January 1904	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:HREmmersonWIK.jpg	Henry Emmerson	15 January 1904	2 April 1907	Liberal
		vacant	3 April 1907	8 April 1907	–
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:William Stevens Fielding, premier of Nova Scotia.jpg	William Stevens Fielding (acting)	9 April 1907	29 August 1907	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:HREmmersonWIK.jpg	George Perry Graham	30 August 1907	10 October 1911	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:Francis Cochrane.jpg	Francis Cochrane	10 October 1911	12 October 1917	Conservative (historical)	9 (Borden)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:John Dowsley Reid.jpg	John Dowsley Reid	12 October 1917	9 July 1920	Unionist	10 (Borden)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
10 July 1920			20 September 1921	11 (Meighen)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation		CitationClass=web }}</ref>
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |		John Alexander Stewart	21 September 1921		29 December 1921	Unionist
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |		William Costello Kennedy	29 December 1921	18 January 1923	Liberal	12 (King)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		vacant	19 January 1923	27 April 1923	–
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:Hon. Geo. P. Graham, 7-13-22 LCCN2016846558 (cropped).jpg	George Perry Graham	28 April 1923	19 February 1926	Liberal
		vacant	20 February 1926	28 February 1926	–
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:People-Dunning.jpg	Charles Avery Dunning	1 March 1926	28 June 1926	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:Henry Lumley Drayton.jpg	Henry Lumley Drayton (acting)	29 June 1926	12 July 1926	Conservative (historical)	13 (Meighen)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |		William Anderson Black (acting)	13 July 1926	25 September 1926	Conservative (historical)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour"|	File:People-Dunning.jpg	Charles Avery Dunning	25 September 1926	25 November 1929	Liberal	14 (King)<ref name="min14"/>
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour"|	File:People-Dunning.jpg	Charles Avery Dunning (acting)	26 November 1929	29 December 1929	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour"|	File:CRERAR.jpg	Thomas Crerar	30 December 1929	7 August 1930	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:MP Robert Manion.jpg	Robert James Manion	7 August 1930	23 October 1935	Conservative (historical)	15 (Bennett)<ref name="Privy Council Office">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour"|	File:C.D. Howe, wartime.jpg	C. D. Howe	23 October 1935	1 November 1936	Liberal	16 (King)<ref name=min16 />
Railways and Canals portfolio moved to Minister of Transport.

Minister of Marine (1930–1936)

Key:

Portrait		Name	Term of office		Political party	Ministry
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:Arthur Cardin.jpg	Arthur Cardin	14 June 1930	7 August 1930	Liberal	14 (King)<ref name=min14 />
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour"|	File:Alfred Duranleau.png	Alfred Duranleau	7 August 1930	19 July 1935	Conservative (historical)	15 (Bennett)<ref name="Privy Council Office"/>
		vacant	20 July 1935	29 August 1935	—
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour"|		Lucien Henri Gendron	30 August 1935	23 October 1935	Conservative (historical)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:C.D. Howe, wartime.jpg	C. D. Howe	23 October 1935	1 November 1936	Liberal	16 (King)<ref name=min16 />
Marine portfolio moved to Minister of Transport.

Minister of Transport (1936–present)

Key:

Portrait		Name	Term of office		Political party	Ministry
Minister of Transport
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:C.D. Howe, wartime.jpg	C. D. Howe	2 November 1936	7 July 1940	Liberal	16 (King)<ref name=min16 />
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:Arthur Cardin.jpg	Arthur Cardin	8 July 1940	12 May 1942	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:C.D. Howe, wartime.jpg	C. D. Howe (acting)	13 May 1942	5 October 1942	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:Joseph Enoil Michaud.jpg	Joseph-Enoil Michaud	6 October 1942	17 April 1945	Liberal
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:Lionel Chevrier.jpg	Lionel Chevrier	18 April 1945	14 November 1948	Liberal
15 November 1948			30 June 1954	17 (St. Laurent)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation		CitationClass=web }}</ref>
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |		George Carlyle Marler	1 July 1954		20 June 1957	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"|	File:George Hees.jpg	George Hees	21 June 1957	10 October 1960	Progressive Conservative	18 (Diefenbaker)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"|	File:Léon Balcer portrait.jpg	Léon Balcer	11 October 1960	21 April 1963	Progressive Conservative
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:George McIlraith portrait.jpg	George McIlraith	22 April 1963	2 February 1964	Liberal	19 (Pearson)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:Jack Pickersgill portrait.jpg	Jack Pickersgill	3 February 1964	18 September 1967	Liberal
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:Paul Hellyer portrait.jpg	Paul Hellyer	19 September 1967	19 April 1968	Liberal
20 April 1968			29 April 1969	20 (P. E. Trudeau)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation		CitationClass=web }}</ref>
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |		James Armstrong Richardson (acting)	30 April 1969		4 May 1969	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:Don Jamieson portrait.jpg	Don Jamieson	5 May 1969		26 November 1972	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:Jean Marchand1.jpg	Jean Marchand	27 November 1972		25 September 1975	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |		Otto Lang	26 September 1975		3 June 1979	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |		Don Mazankowski	4 June 1979	2 March 1980	Progressive Conservative	21 (Clark)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:Jean-Luc Pepin portrait 1968 (edited).jpg	Jean-Luc Pépin	3 March 1980	11 August 1983	Liberal	22 (P. E. Trudeau)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:Lloyd Axworthy 1980 (cropped).jpg	Lloyd Axworthy	12 August 1983	29 June 1984	Liberal
30 June 1984			16 September 1984	23 (Turner)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation		CitationClass=web }}</ref>
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"|		Don Mazankowski (2nd time)	17 September 1984	29 June 1986	Progressive Conservative	24 (Mulroney)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"|	File:Crosbie 1983-2 crop.jpg	John Crosbie	30 June 1986	30 March 1988	Progressive Conservative
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"|		Benoît Bouchard	31 March 1988	22 February 1990	Progressive Conservative
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"|		Doug Lewis	23 February 1990	20 April 1991	Progressive Conservative
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"|		Jean Corbeil	21 April 1991	24 June 1993	Progressive Conservative
25 June 1993			3 November 1993	25 (Campbell)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation		CitationClass=web }}</ref>
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |		Doug Young	4 November 1993	24 January 1996	Liberal	26 (Chrétien)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:David Anderson April 2011.jpg	David Anderson	25 January 1996	10 June 1997	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |		David Collenette	11 June 1997	11 December 2003	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |		Tony Valeri	12 December 2003	19 July 2004	Liberal	27 (Martin)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |		Jean Lapierre	20 July 2004	5 February 2006	Liberal
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"|	File:Lawrence Cannon on March 29, 2010.jpg	Lawrence Cannon	6 February 2006	30 October 2008	Conservative	28 (Harper)<ref name=min28>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"|	File:John Baird cropped 2011-08-04.jpg	John Baird	30 October 2008	6 August 2010	Conservative
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"|	File:Chuck Strahl 2014.jpg	Chuck Strahl	6 August 2010	18 May 2011	Conservative
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"|	File:Denis Lebel 2017.jpg	Denis Lebel	18 May 2011	15 July 2013	Conservative
Minister of Transport
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;"|	File:Lisa Raitt - 2017 (36917974502) (cropped)2.jpg	Lisa Raitt	15 July 2013	4 November 2015	Conservative	28 (Harper)<ref name=min28 />
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:Marc Garneau - 2018 (42748534304) (cropped).jpg	Marc Garneau	4 November 2015	12 January 2021	Liberal	29 (J. Trudeau)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:Canada bilateral at COP 26 (51671787786) (cropped).jpg	Omar Alghabra	12 January 2021	26 July 2023	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:Réseau Express Métropolitain (inauguration) 12 - Pablo Rodriguez (3-4 crop).jpg	Pablo Rodriguez	26 July 2023	19 September 2024	Liberal
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:US Secretary of Defense hosts world leaders during UDCG 001 - Anita Anand (cropped).jpg	Anita Anand	19 September 2024	20 December 2024	Liberal
Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:US Secretary of Defense hosts world leaders during UDCG 001 - Anita Anand (cropped).jpg	Anita Anand	20 December 2024	14 March 2025	Liberal	29 (J. Trudeau)
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:Chrystia Freeland 2023 (cropped).jpg	Chrystia Freeland	14 March 2025	16 September 2025	Liberal	30 (Carney)
Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour" |	File:REUNIÓN CON STEVEN MACKINNON, MINISTRO DE ASUNTOS PARLAMENTARIOS, 05 DE MARZO DE 2024 (cropped).jpg	Steven MacKinnon	16 September 2025	Incumbent	Liberal	30 (Carney)

See also

• Infrastructure and Communities

References

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