8th Canadian Ministry


The Eighth Canadian Ministry was the cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier. It governed Canada from 11 July 1896 to 5 October 1911, including all of the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th Canadian Parliaments. The government was formed by the Liberal Party of Canada.

The Cabinet

  • Prime Minister
  • *11 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: Sir Wilfrid Laurier
  • Minister of Agriculture
  • *11 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: Sydney Arthur Fisher
  • Minister of Customs
  • *30 June 1897 – 10 October 1911: William Paterson
  • Secretary of State for External Affairs
  • *19 May 1909 – 10 October 1911: Charles Murphy
  • Minister of Finance
  • *11 July 1896 – 20 July 1896: Vacant
  • *20 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: William Stevens Fielding
  • Receiver General of Canada
  • *11 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: The Minister of Finance
  • **11 July 1896 – 20 July 1896: Vacant
  • **20 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: William Stevens Fielding
  • Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs
  • *11 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: The Minister of the Interior
  • **11 July 1896 – 17 July 1896: Vacant
  • **17 July 1896 – 17 November 1896: Richard William Scott
  • **17 November 1896 – 28 February 1905: Clifford Sifton
  • **28 February 1905 – 13 March 1905: Vacant
  • **13 March 1905 – 8 April 1905: Sir Wilfrid Laurier
  • **8 April 1905 – 10 October 1911: Frank Oliver
  • Minister of Inland Revenue
  • *30 June 1897 – 22 June 1900: Sir Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière
  • *22 June 1900 – 19 January 1904: Michel-Esdras Bernier
  • *19 January 1904 – 6 February 1906: Louis-Philippe Brodeur
  • *6 February 1906 – 10 October 1911: William Templeman
  • Minister of the Interior
  • *11 July 1896 – 17 July 1896: Vacant
  • *17 July 1896 – 17 November 1896: Richard William Scott
  • *17 November 1896 – 28 February 1905: Clifford Sifton
  • *28 February 1905 – 13 March 1905: Vacant
  • *13 March 1905 – 8 April 1905: Sir Wilfrid Laurier
  • *8 April 1905 – 10 October 1911: Frank Oliver
  • Minister of Justice
  • *11 July 1896 – 18 November 1897: Sir Oliver Mowat
  • *18 November 1897 – 8 February 1902: David Mills
  • *8 February 1902 – 4 June 1906: Charles Fitzpatrick
  • *4 June 1906 – 10 October 1911: Sir Allen Bristol Aylesworth
  • Attorney General of Canada
  • *11 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: The Minister of Justice
  • **11 July 1896 – 18 November 1897: Sir Oliver Mowat
  • **18 November 1897 – 8 February 1902: David Mills
  • **8 February 1902 – 4 June 1906: Charles Fitzpatrick
  • **4 June 1906 – 10 October 1911: Allen Bristol Aylesworth
  • Minister of Labour
  • *19 May 1909 – 2 June 1909: Vacant
  • *2 June 1909 – 10 October 1911: William Lyon Mackenzie King
  • Leader of the Government in the Senate
  • *11 July 1896 – 18 November 1897: Sir Oliver Mowat
  • *18 November 1897 – 7 February 1902: David Mills
  • *7 February 1902 – 20 January 1909: Richard William Scott
  • *20 January 1909 – 10 October 1911: Richard John Cartwright
  • Minister of Marine and Fisheries
  • *11 July 1896 – 25 September 1901: Sir Louis Henry Davies
  • *25 September 1901 – 15 January 1902: Vacant
  • *15 January 1902 – 11 November 1902: James Sutherland
  • *11 November 1902 – 26 December 1905: Raymond Préfontaine
  • *26 December 1905 – 6 January 1906: Vacant
  • *6 January 1906 – 6 February 1906: Sir Wilfrid Laurier
  • *6 February 1906 – 11 August 1911: Louis-Philippe Brodeur
  • *11 August 1911 – 10 October 1911: Rodolphe Lemieux
  • Minister of Militia and Defence
  • *11 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: Sir Frederick William Borden
  • Minister of Mines
  • *27 April 1907 – 3 May 1907: Vacant
  • *3 May 1907 – 10 October 1911: William Templeman
  • Minister of the Naval Service
  • *4 May 1910 – 11 August 1911: Louis-Philippe Brodeur
  • *11 August 1911 – 10 October 1911: Rodolphe Lemieux
  • Postmaster General
  • *11 July 1896 – 16 October 1905: Sir William Mulock
  • *16 October 1905 – 4 June 1906: Allen Bristol Aylesworth
  • *4 June 1906 – 19 August 1911: Rodolphe Lemieux
  • *19 August 1911 – 10 October 1911: Henri Sévérin Béland
  • President of the Privy Council
  • *11 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: Sir Wilfrid Laurier
  • Minister of Public Works
  • *11 July 1896 – 22 October 1902: Joseph-Israël Tarte
  • *22 October 1902 – 11 November 1902: Vacant
  • *11 November 1902 – 4 May 1905: James Sutherland
  • *4 May 1905 – 22 May 1905: Vacant
  • *22 May 1905 – 30 August 1907: Charles Smith Hyman
  • *30 August 1907 – 10 October 1911: William Pugsley
  • Minister of Railways and Canals
  • *11 July 1896 – 20 July 1896: Vacant
  • *20 July 1896 – 21 July 1903: Andrew George Blair
  • *21 July 1903 – 15 January 1904: William Stevens Fielding
  • *15 January 1904 – 3 April 1907: Henry Emmerson
  • *3 April 1907 – 9 April 1907: Vacant
  • *9 April 1907 – 10 October 1911: George Perry Graham
  • Secretary of State of Canada
  • *11 July 1896 – 9 October 1908: Richard William Scott
  • *9 October 1908 – 10 October 1911: Charles Murphy
  • Registrar General of Canada
  • *11 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: The Secretary of State of Canada
  • **11 July 1896 – 9 October 1908: Richard William Scott
  • **9 October 1908 – 10 October 1911: Charles Murphy
  • Minister of Trade and Commerce
  • *11 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: Sir Richard John Cartwright
  • Minister without Portfolio
  • *11 July 1896 – 12 January 1902: Richard Reid Dobell
  • *21 August 1896 – 19 July 1899: Christophe-Alphonse Geoffrion
  • *30 September 1899 – 15 January 1902: James Sutherland
  • *25 February 1902 – 6 February 1906: Charles Smith Hyman
  • *5 February 1904 – 22 May 1905: William Templeman

    Offices not of the Cabinet

Controller of Customs
  • 11 July 1896 – 30 June 1897: William Paterson
Controller of Inland Revenue
Solicitor General of Canada
  • 11 July 1896 – 10 February 1902: Charles Fitzpatrick
  • 10 February 1902 – 29 January 1904: Henry George Carroll
  • 29 January 1904 – 4 June 1906: Rodolphe Lemieux
  • 4 June 1906 – 14 February 1907: Vacant
  • 14 February 1907 – 10 October 1911: Jacques Bureau

    Succession