28th Canadian Ministry


The Twenty-Eighth Canadian Ministry was the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, that governed Canada from the beginning of the 39th Parliament to the end of the 41st Parliament. Its original members were sworn into the Queen's Privy Council for Canada on February 6, 2006, exactly two weeks after the 2006 federal election and nine weeks and six days after the end of the 38th Canadian Parliament. Smaller than its recent predecessors, the Conservative Cabinet originally consisted of 27 members, including the Prime Minister. On January 4, 2007, five Secretaries of State were added to the ministry who are not members of the Cabinet itself. The cabinet resigned on the morning of November 4, 2015.
Only 24 of the original members were elected to serve as Conservative Members of Parliament in 2006; Senator Marjory LeBreton was the Leader of the Government in the Senate. The other two choices that raised some controversy were David Emerson, who was elected as a Liberal, but crossed the floor between the election and the swearing-in of the Cabinet to serve as Minister of International Trade, of the Pacific Gateway, and of the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics, and Michael Fortier, a Montreal-area member of the former Progressive Conservatives and co-chair of the Conservatives' 2006 federal campaign, who was not elected as an MP but was named a Senator on February 27, 2006 and subsequently served as Minister of Public Works and Government Services.
The reason given for the appointments of Emerson and Fortier was that the Conservatives were completely shut out of the three most populous cities in Canada – Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. The Liberals were the only party to win seats in all three, with the Bloc represented in Montreal and the NDP in Toronto and Vancouver. Emerson's riding was Vancouver Kingsway, while Fortier lived and worked in the Montreal-Laval area and ran for the riding of Laval West for the Tories in 2000. The only major city this left out was Toronto, although the Conservatives indicated that they considered enough Cabinet Ministers to be from the Greater Toronto Area, including Jim Flaherty and Bev Oda, to adequately represent the city in Cabinet.
Contrary to precedent, Harper did not name a Deputy Prime Minister, confounding rumours that Quebec lieutenant Lawrence Cannon or Conservative deputy leader Peter MacKay might be awarded the honorary post. Harper's explanation was that, instead, any replacement Prime Minister would be named as required and this assignment could be conferred upon different ministers. As of, it remains the most recent Canadian cabinet formed by the Conservative Party of Canada.

List of ministers

By minister

Note: This is in Order of Precedence, which is established by the chronological order of appointment to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, then in order of election or appointment to parliament for ministers who joined the Privy Council on the same day.
MinisterPortfolioTenure
Stephen HarperPrime MinisterFebruary 6, 2006 – November 4, 2015
Bernard ValcourtMinister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern DevelopmentFebruary 22, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Bernard ValcourtAssociate Minister of National DefenceJuly 4, 2012 – February 22, 2013
Bernard ValcourtMinister of State May 18, 2011 – February 22, 2012
Bernard ValcourtMinister of State May 18, 2011 – February 22, 2012
Rob NicholsonMinister of Foreign AffairsFebruary 9, 2015 – November 4, 2015
Rob NicholsonMinister of National DefenceJuly 15, 2013 – February 9, 2015
Rob NicholsonMinister of Justice and Attorney-GeneralJanuary 4, 2007 – July 15, 2013
Rob NicholsonLeader of the Government in the House of CommonsFebruary 6, 2006 – January 4, 2007
Rob NicholsonMinister for Democratic ReformFebruary 6, 2006 – January 4, 2007
Peter MacKayMinister of Justice and Attorney-GeneralJuly 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Peter MacKayMinister of National DefenceAugust 14, 2007 – July 15, 2013
Peter MacKayMinister of Foreign AffairsFebruary 6, 2006 – August 14, 2007
Peter MacKayMinister of the Atlantic GatewayFebruary 6, 2006 – January 19, 2010
Peter MacKayMinister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities AgencyFebruary 6, 2006 – October 30, 2008
Rona AmbroseMinister of HealthJuly 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Rona AmbroseMinister of Public Works and Government ServicesJanuary 9, 2010 – July 15, 2013
Rona AmbroseMinister of State April 9, 2010 – July 15, 2013
Rona AmbroseMinister of Western Economic DiversificationNovember 5, 2010 – May 17, 2011
Rona AmbroseMinister of LabourOctober 30, 2008 – January 19, 2010
Rona AmbrosePresident of the Queen's Privy Council for CanadaJanuary 4, 2007 – October 30, 2008
Rona AmbroseMinister of Intergovernmental AffairsJanuary 4, 2007 – October 30, 2008
Rona AmbroseMinister of Western Economic DiversificationJanuary 4, 2007 – October 30, 2008
Rona AmbroseMinister of the EnvironmentFebruary 6, 2006 – January 4, 2007
Diane FinleyMinister of Public Works and Government ServicesJuly 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Diane FinleyMinister of Human Resources and Skills DevelopmentOctober 30, 2008 – July 15, 2013
Diane FinleyMinister of Citizenship and ImmigrationJanuary 4, 2007 – October 30, 2008
Diane FinleyMinister of Human Resources and Social DevelopmentFebruary 6, 2006 – January 4, 2007
Tony ClementPresident of the Treasury BoardMay 18, 2011 – November 4, 2015
Tony ClementMinister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern OntarioFebruary 6, 2006 – July 14, 2013
Tony ClementMinister of IndustryOctober 30, 2008 – May 18, 2011
Tony ClementMinister of HealthFebruary 6, 2006 – October 30, 2008
Peter Van LoanLeader of the Government in the House of CommonsMay 18, 2011 – November 4, 2015
Peter Van LoanMinister of International TradeJanuary 19, 2010 – May 18, 2011
Peter Van LoanMinister of Public SafetyOctober 30, 2008 – January 19, 2010
Peter Van LoanLeader of the Government in the House of CommonsJanuary 4, 2007 – October 30, 2008
Peter Van LoanMinister for Democratic ReformJanuary 4, 2007 – October 30, 2008
Peter Van LoanPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for CanadaNovember 27, 2006 – January 4, 2007
Peter Van LoanMinister of Intergovernmental AffairsNovember 27, 2006 – January 4, 2007
Peter Van LoanMinister for SportNovember 27, 2006 – January 4, 2007
Jason KenneyMinister of National DefenceFebruary 9, 2015 – November 4, 2015
Jason KenneyMinister of Multiculturalism and CitizenshipFebruary 9, 2015 – November 4, 2015
Jason KenneyMinister of Employment and Social DevelopmentJuly 15, 2013 – February 9, 2015
Jason KenneyMinister of Citizenship and ImmigrationOctober 30, 2008 – July 14, 2013
Jason KenneySecretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian IdentityJanuary 4, 2007 – October 30, 2008
Gerry RitzMinister of Agriculture and Agri–FoodAugust 14, 2007 – November 4, 2015
Gerry RitzMinister for the Canadian Wheat BoardAugust 14, 2007 – November 4, 2015
Gerry RitzSecretary of State for Small Business and TourismJanuary 4, 2007 – August 14, 2007
Christian ParadisMinister of International CooperationJuly 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Christian ParadisMinister of IndustryMay 18, 2011 – July 14, 2013
Christian ParadisMinister of State May 18, 2011 – July 14, 2013
Christian ParadisMinister of Natural ResourcesJanuary 19, 2010 – May 18, 2011
Christian ParadisMinister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of QuebecOctober 30, 2008 – May 18, 2011
Christian ParadisMinister of Public Works and Government ServicesJune 25, 2008 – January 19, 2010
James MooreMinister of IndustryJuly 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
James MooreMinister of Official LanguagesOctober 30, 2008 – July 14, 2013
James MooreMinister of Canadian HeritageOctober 30, 2008 – July 14, 2013
James MooreMinister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern DevelopmentFebruary 15, 2013 – February 21, 2013
James MooreSecretary of State for the Asia Pacific Gateway
Vancouver-Whistler Olympics
Official Languages
June 25, 2008 – October 30, 2008
Denis LebelMinister of Intergovernmental Affairs
President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
March 14, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Denis LebelMinister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of QuebecMay 18, 2011 – November 4, 2015
Denis LebelMinister of Transport, Infrastructure and CommunitiesMay 18, 2011 – July 14, 2013
Denis LebelMinister of State October 30, 2008 – May 18, 2011
Leona AglukkaqMinister of the EnvironmentJuly 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Leona AglukkaqMinister of HealthMay 18, 2011 – July 14, 2013
Leona AglukkaqMinister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development AgencyOctober 30, 2008 – July 14, 2013
Lisa RaittMinister of TransportJuly 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Lisa RaittMinister of LabourJanuary 19, 2010 – July 14, 2013
Lisa RaittMinister of Natural ResourcesOctober 30, 2008 – January 19, 2010
Gail SheaMinister of Fisheries and OceansJuly 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Gail SheaMinister of National RevenueMay 18, 2011 – July 14, 2013
Gail SheaMinister of Fisheries and OceansOctober 30, 2008 – May 18, 2011
Julian FantinoAssociate Minister of National DefenceJanuary 4, 2015 – November 4, 2015
Julian FantinoMinister of Veterans AffairsJuly 15, 2013 – January 5, 2015
Julian FantinoMinister of International CooperationJuly 4, 2012 – July 14, 2013
Julian FantinoAssociate Minister of National DefenceMay 18, 2011 – July 4, 2012
Julian FantinoMinister of State January 4, 2011 – May 18, 2011
Steven BlaneyMinister of Public SafetyJuly 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Steven BlaneyMinister of Veterans AffairsMay 18, 2011 – July 14, 2013
Edward FastMinister of International TradeMay 18, 2011 – November 4, 2015
Edward FastMinister for the Asia–Pacific GatewayMay 18, 2011 – November 4, 2015
Joe OliverMinister of FinanceMarch 19, 2014 – November 4, 2015
Joe OliverMinister of Natural ResourcesMay 18, 2011 – March 19, 2014
Kerry-Lynne FindlayMinister of National RevenueJuly 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Kerry-Lynne FindlayAssociate Minister of National DefenceFebruary 22, 2012 – July 14, 2013
Shelly GloverMinister of Canadian Heritage and Official LanguagesJuly 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Chris AlexanderMinister of Citizenship and ImmigrationJuly 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Kellie LeitchMinister of LabourJuly 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Kellie LeitchMinister of Status of WomenJuly 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Pierre PoilievreMinister of Employment and Social DevelopmentFebruary 9, 2015 – November 4, 2015
Pierre PoilievreMinister of State July 15, 2013 – February 9, 2015
Erin O'TooleMinister of Veterans AffairsJanuary 5, 2015 – November 4, 2015
Maxime BernierMinister of State 18 May 2011 – 4 Nov. 2015
Maxime BernierMinister of State July 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Maxime BernierMinister of Foreign AffairsAugust 14, 2007 – May 26, 2008
Maxime BernierMinister of IndustryFebruary 6, 2006 – August 14, 2007
John DuncanChief Government WhipJuly 14, 2013 – November 4, 2015
John DuncanMinister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development1August 6, 2010 – February 15, 2013
John DuncanFederal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status IndiansAugust 6, 2010 – May 18, 2011
John DuncanMinister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development AgencyAugust 6, 2010 – May 18, 2011
Lynne YelichMinister of State of Foreign Affairs July 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Lynne YelichMinister of State October 30, 2008 – July 14, 2013
Gary GoodyearMinister of State October 30, 2008 – November 4, 2015
Gary GoodyearMinister of State October 20, 2008 – July 14, 2013
Rob MooreMinister of State July 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Rob MooreMinister of State January 19, 2010 – May 17, 2011
Tim UppalMinister of State July 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Tim UppalMinister of State May 18, 2011 – July 14, 2013
Alice WongMinister of State May 18, 2011 – November 4, 2015
Bal GosalMinister of State May 18, 2011 – November 4, 2015
Kevin SorensonMinister of State July 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Greg RickfordMinister of Natural ResourcesMarch 19, 2014 – November 4, 2015
Greg RickfordMinister of State July 15, 2013 – March 19, 2014
Candice BergenMinister of State July 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Michelle RempelMinister of State July 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015
Ed HolderMinister of State March 19, 2014 – November 4, 2015

1 Styled as Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development until May 18, 2011